Board approves broad slate of revised and new CTE courses; construction pathway partnership discussed

The board approved a large package of curriculum items Dec. 10 that revised and added numerous career technical education (CTE) courses across agriculture, automotive diagnostics, film/video production, gaming/simulations, public service, medical/patient care, systems programming and more.

Staff said the batch aligns local course titles with updated California Department of Education CTE standards and reflected renamings and sequencing needed to keep course sequences current. The list included new middle-school advanced courses, model pathway capstones and technical electives intended to strengthen college and career pathways.

Construction pathway: Trustees also heard staff describe progress on a construction CTE pathway in partnership with the Carpenters Union, with Heritage High School proposed as the initial site. Staff noted early interest from industry partners including DeWalt and said the partnership aims to deliver pre-apprenticeship and certification opportunities so graduates can enter the workforce or apprenticeships directly. Staff cautioned that some union partnership terms required careful review to avoid unintended contracting conditions; legal and procurement review will guide next steps.

Why it matters: The approvals standardize and expand CTE options across the district, supporting students seeking trade certifications, college credit and industry-recognized credentials. The construction pathway could create direct labor-market access for students, but staff emphasized the need for careful contract and compliance review before formal agreements are signed.

Next steps: Staff will continue course approvals with state agencies as needed, refine CTE partnerships and return to the board with specifics on apprenticeship structures, tool and donor agreements, and any required interagency or contractor terms that affect district procurement or labor obligations.