The modernization of the National Career Clusters® Framework (the Framework) creates new opportunities for improving and refining policy and practice to ensure secondary and postsecondary Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and pathways serve as the bedrock for a career preparation ecosystem. As states refine and update policy and practice through the lens of the Framework, CTE will become more accessible, responsive to the varied needs of learners, and industry-informed, while remaining flexible for tailored implementation at the state and local level.
As Framework implementation progresses, each state should leverage its structure to examine and transform policies and practices to meet the needs of learners, those supporting learners, and those who will work with them in the future.
Tool Overview
(For best results, use Adobe Acrobat Reader when completing the tool)
This policy tool is designed to assist state teams in realizing the potential of implementing the modernized Framework through policy and practice. Local education agencies and postsecondary institutions will also benefit from the evaluation process, though not every question or strategy will be fully applicable to a local context. Completion of the tool should be a collaborative process involving partners from education and work across state, regional, and local levels.
This tool will allow you to:
- Consider how career preparation policies and practices in your state are impacted by Framework adoption and implementation;
- Identify strengths and areas of improvement in policy and practice connected to the Framework;
- Assess your state’s policy landscape and the change processes needed to undergo for implementation; and
- Utilize assessments to refine goals and build an implementation plan that is grounded in strengths, growth areas, and priorities.
The tool is designed in three sections: Defining Goals and Needs for Implementation Processes, Assessing Current Policies and Practices, and Developing a Roadmap.
Use Cases
This policy tool can be connected to system audits, annual and strategic planning, goal development and evaluation, Perkins state planning evaluation, and development of legislative policy agendas.
This tool is produced with the generous support of the Gates Foundation.
