Career and Technical Education

The needs of the 21st Century workplace are evolving, and we must prepare our students to thrive in the new economy. While a little more than half of Louisiana's high school graduates attend two-year and four-year universities, a major part of our High School Redesign effort is putting a strong focus on career and technical education.

Based on workplace forecasts, through its Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is providing high school students with career education and training that prepares them for immediate entry into the workforce, job training or postsecondary education.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Budget allocates $17.5 million for CTE programs, providing more than 140,000 students (about 75 percent of the state's high school students) with the opportunity to participate in CTE courses and programs during the 2010-2011 school year. Statistics show more than 90 percent of Louisiana students who complete at least three CTE credits earn a high school diploma.

Career Pathways and Dual Enrollment

Through eight Programs of Study, Louisiana offers students more than 200 courses that allow them to pursue a career endorsement upon high school graduation. Through these eight Programs of Study (Trade and Industrial, Agriscience, Business, Family and Consumer Science, Health Science, Marketing, and Technology Education). high-school students can pursue sixteen major career clusters. These career clusters afford students the opportunity to earn more than 50 Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs), such as welding, pipefitting, carpentry, and engineering, among others.

Dual enrollment programs allow high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit and acquire higher-level knowledge and skills by enrolling in college-level courses at local technical, community and four-year colleges, as well as work skills courses at Louisiana Technical College campuses.

Our Goals

• Increase the number of CTE/LCTCS Dual Enrollment students by 10% per year
• Expand implementation of Industry Based Certifications (IBC) for Teachers and Students by 10% per year
• Increase the number of students participating in career awareness, career exploration and work-based learning activities

Leadership

The Career & Technical Education Office is a component of the Career & College Readiness Goal Office. Working in conjunction with the High School Redesign and Dropout Prevention initiatives, the CTE director, staff, and Business Unit are tasked to transform Louisiana's high schools, improve Louisiana's graduation rate, and insure that all graduates are college and career ready.,