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State board hears redesigned Career and Technical Education clusters for arts, health and human services
Summary
Course-of-study committees presented updated CTE clusters—Arts/AV/Communications, Health Science, and Human Services—highlighting new course sequences, certifications and career pathways; presenters said the materials will come to the board for approval in December.
Representatives of Career and Technical Education (CTE) committees presented revised courses of study for three clusters—Arts, Audio‑Visual Technology and Communications; Health Science; and Human Services/Family and Consumer Sciences—at a State Board of Education work session.
Lisa Connell, identified in the presentation as superintendent of Washington County and chair of the CTE course‑of‑study effort, said committees of educators and industry professionals from across Alabama worked monthly for months to align courses with workforce needs. “All of these committees have the goal of providing courses that will prepare our students for careers in these 3 clusters,” Connell said.
Arts, AV and communications presenters described three program areas—visual arts, entertainment and media, and printing technologies—with 24 courses that include new offerings such as audio production, technical theater and screen printing. The presenters said the cluster aims to prepare students for industry certifications including Adobe Creative Suite credentials and industry contests through SkillsUSA; they provided an industry employment estimate of about 25,000 jobs in Alabama for the cluster and noted growth in annual openings.
Health Science presenters described a coordinated program structure with a required Foundations of Health Science prerequisite, concentrator courses and capstone experiences. Presenters said health‑care instructors must hold valid health licenses in addition to teaching certificates and noted that students can earn industry credentials: “A credential may serve as a gateway to employment and as a stepping stone to advanced education,” a presenter said, describing nearly 1,900 industry recognized career readiness indicators earned by health science students last year.
Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Services presenters said they streamlined earlier program lists into four program areas—nutrition and wellness, consumer services, clothing/textiles/design, and family/community services—and emphasized progression of rigor, prerequisites where appropriate, and alignment to postsecondary options. The presenters said CTSOs such as FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) will continue to play a role in hands‑on, project‑based learning.
Presenters emphasized local flexibility within statewide course structures so local education agencies can shape sequences to meet workforce and community needs. Several presenters encouraged use of credentials and work‑based learning to create direct pathways to local employment in health care and technical fields.
The board did not take a formal vote in the work session. Department staff confirmed the revised CTE courses of study and related course clusters will be presented to the board in December for formal approval; textbook committee work will follow that approval where applicable.
