Chandler Unified presents K–12 CTE pathway and launches two-year semiconductor program in partnership with University of Arizona

Chandler Unified School District officials on Monday described an expanding K–12 career and technical education pathway and outlined plans for a new two-year semiconductor program at Hamilton High School developed with the University of Arizona.

Dr. Jessica Edgar, director of elementary for Chandler Unified School District, opened the study-session presentation and said the district has been building a K–12 CTE pathway since 2019 and is piloting career-literacy standards in elementary and junior-high sites. “CTE is more than just a class. We are actually a program of study,” Lindsay Duran, CTE director, said during the presentation.

The district currently lists 21 CTE programs across its high schools and plans to add semiconductor technologies next year. Jan (Janet) Harkoff, coordinator of emerging technologies, described work that began in late 2023 to design a semiconductor curriculum and to form an industry advisory. “Everything that we're doing is Vanguard. It is brand new,” Harkoff said, noting partnerships with the University of Arizona, the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and more than 25 industry partners, including local suppliers and firms such as Intel, NXP and Microchip.

Why it matters: presenters said the semiconductor program is intended to create a local pipeline to high-tech jobs and to give students industry-recognized skills and…