Adopted March 1985 – Revised and deemed relevant May 2021– Education Commission
California State PTA believes in equal access to education that prepares students to meet the needs of a highly skilled, high technology workplace. A broad-based School-to-Career Technical Education program prepares all students for lifelong learning and successful transition to career and advanced education.
California State PTA believes students need academically rigorous instructional programs that will enable them to think critically, to formulate and solve problems, and to work collaboratively. Students need opportunities to apply their academic and technical skills to the world of work. School to career instruction should be integrated into the curriculum in the elementary grades to provide an awareness of the wide variety of careers available. Opportunities for career exploration should expand in the middle grades. In high school, students should have the opportunity to participate in a rigorous instructional program that forms a strong foundation for lifelong learning and advanced education, in addition to preparation for career success.
California State PTA further believes that School-to-Career Technical Education programs should be available to all students to enable them to fulfill their potential and to make informed career decisions. Therefore, such programs should:
- Be broad-based in structure, integrating academic and career coursework for lifelong learning;
- Promote mastery of both academic and career performance standards;
- Create a kindergarten-to-career sequence;
- Link industry needs with education;
- Provide teachers opportunities through professional development to collaborate with each other to develop powerful School-to-Career Technical Education teaching and learning skills;
- Offer career counseling and guidance in making informed educational and occupational choices to meet individual student needs;
- Establish a strong link to community colleges, technical schools and four-year colleges/universities via articulation agreements;
- Have equipment, facilities and supplies that are state-of-the-art;
- Meet health and safety standards;
- Integrate information on workplace health/safety and child labor laws into all work related programs;
- Establish strong partnerships with business and industry;
- Include measurement of a broad range of education goals related to student achievement and program effectiveness; and
- Include parents, educators, community and business in the development and implementation of the program.
