On March 18, 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the 2024-25 CATS Secondary Program Approval file is now open for new secondary CTE program approval requests, updates to existing approved programs, and for re-approval purposes. The CATS file is a series of individual pages containing data elements pertaining to various aspects of approved CTE programs.

All FRCPP CATS information should be updated annually to include:

• CATS contact information.
• Upload new annual course catalog.
• Update any common support services and upload new LAC and other meetings provided on the Common LEA page.
• Updated letters of support that are dated, signed and on letterhead.
• Update any OAC member changes and upload latest OAC meeting minutes and dates.
• Crosswalk Phase IV task grids just released and uploaded.
• Review and update accountability annual targets by selecting the correct year and review with school program performance and click yes if targets were met or click no if they were not met.
• Update CTSO rosters.
• Update any scope and sequence changes, due to course revisions or articulation agreement changes.
• Update all one-to-one articulations and dual enrollment agreements annually.
• Update any teacher changes or expired teacher certifications and any industry credential revisions.
• Update any revisions to any apprenticeships/accreditations that may have occurred.

Schools must seek one of two deliveries. Where a Program of Study (POS) exists (state developed task grid, statewide articulation agreement), the school must apply for the POS delivery. Where a POS does not exist, the school must apply for a Career and Technical Education delivery. The deadline for seeking new program approval is May 31, 2024. CATS can be accessed at the login on MyPDESuite.

The Career Pathway Option is a radial button in CATS to connect two or more Classification of Instructional Programs (CIPs) that are POS approved programs and offer the same foundational technical curriculum the first year. This pathway allows students to experience several related CIPs in a POS Pathway and requires specific elements for pathway approval.

Any secondary school may submit a request for POS Pathway approval. Currently, there are 38 POS available on PDE’s website.

The competency/task grid for each POS is the foundational curriculum framework for the CIP. Therefore, all competencies/tasks must be addressed in the approved program.

POS competency/task grids have been revised and are posted on the PDE website. Local Education Agencies must use the most recent list available. Additional competencies should be added as recommended by your Occupational Advisory Committee. Each course in the scope and sequence must be cross walked to the task grid and aligned to the course where the tasks are taught and uploaded in the FRCPP CATS system on the specific information tab/student technical competencies page. 

Approved POS will provide the benefit of the articulated credits indicated by the statewide group of postsecondary institutions on CollegeTransfer.net. Anyone with questions is asked to contact Tammy Keisling at (717) 783-6996 or [email protected].