Common Career Technical Core
What is the CCTC?
The Common Career Technical Core (CCTC) initiative is a state-led effort to ensure rigorous, high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs through a set of common standards built from industry-validated Career Cluster™ Knowledge and Skills statements that will include:
• Standards for Career Ready Practice;
• Career Cluster™ Anchor Standards, applicable to each of the 16 Career Clusters™; and
• Career Pathway Anchor Standards, linked to specific Career Pathways and industry benchmarked when possible.
Who is leading the CCTC initiative?
The initiative is being coordinated by the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc), which represents the state and territory heads of secondary, postsecondary and adult CTE across the nation. The state members of NASDCTEc are leading the development of the CCTC. Business and industry and members of the Career Readiness Partner Council (CRPC)—an organization of leading education and workforce organizations—will provide guidance and feedback during the development of the CCTC.
Why do we need the CCTC?
The goal of the Common Career Technical Core is to better define career readiness for all students. Nearly 14 million students are enrolled in CTE—encompassing every state, with programs in nearly 1,300 public high schools and 1,700 two-year-colleges. A set of common standards will help to ensure that all students receive a high quality, rigorous education in every state, and every program across the nation. Building a connection among states through common CTE standards will better support students in preparing for high skill, high wage, and high demand occupations in the broad spectrum of existing and emerging career areas.
What is the process and timeframe for the development of the CCTC?
Subject matter experts from across the country in all sixteen career clusters, along with a writing team began laying the foundation for the CCTC by revising the National Career Clusters™ Knowledge and Skill statements—a comprehensive collection of industry-validated expectations of what students should know and be able to do after completing instruction in a career program area. These statements reflect the expectations of postsecondary education and business and industry for entering into a career, and are used to guide curriculum development, assessment, and program planning. The National Career Clusters™ Knowledge and Skills statements will be used as the foundation for the development of the CCTC. The CCTC development will begin in the winter of 2012. The standards are expected to be released in June 2012.
Who do I contact for more information?
For additional information about the Common Career Technical Core, contact Dean Folkers, Deputy Executive Director for NASDCTEc at dfolkers@careertech.org.
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Several useful resources to describe the Common Career Technical Core Initiative as well other information about the process are provided for use and dissemination. Information will continue to be added to support the communication and development of the Common Career Technical Core.
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A initial list of FAQ's associated with the Common Career Technical Core Initiative. Additional questions and information will continue to be added as questions arise with the process.
