On December 16, 2022 Bureau of Career and Technical Education Director Dr. Lee Burket sent a PennLink to all LEAs titled Access to Career and Technical Education. The memo reads as follows:
“As you prepare for the 2023-24 school year, please ensure your local education agency is complying with state statutes regarding access to career and technical education.
As provided in the Pennsylvania Code (22 Pa Code 4.23 (d)(1)), Pennsylvania Department of Education (Department)-approved career and technical education (CTE) shall be made available to every student in a public high school program. If a school district or the career and technical center (CTC) in which the district participates does not offer a specific Department approved CTE program, the district of residence must work with another school district or CTC to make this program available to interested students. Additionally, the district of residence must pay for this education and must not limit the number of students who receive CTE.
If the Department-approved CTE program is offered at a CTC, the member districts of the CTC, through representation on the Joint Operating Committee, have determined how CTE courses should be sequenced. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has approved CTE programs based on a given sequence of courses and by grade levels. Thus, CTC member districts should offer career and technical education to their students for the grade levels the Department has approved the programs. The member districts must work with the CTC to make CTE available for each year the Department has approved the programs.”
Questions regarding the PennLink message should be directed to Lee Burket, PDE Bureau Director for Career and Technical Education, at [email protected] or 717-783-6977.