Q: How do I navigate the Resource Center?
Q: What do I need to do in order to submit a resource?
Q: How long will it take for my submission to be processed and posted on the site?
Q: Who do I contact if I have a question about a resource?
Q: How did you choose the 12 main topics?
Q: Who is funding the Resource Center?
Q: How often do you update the Resource Center?
Q: How can I stay updated on the latest information coming from the Resource Center?
Q: Why did you choose to feature the state policies that you did?
Q: I’m new to CTE. Where should I start?
Q: How do I navigate the Resource Center?
The home page features 15 different categories of resources related to CTE. Hover your mouse over a topic tile to see a description of the types of resources included in that category.
Once you’ve settled on a topic to explore, click on the tile to enter the Resource Center and view a list of resources. The most relevant and most recent documents will be listed at the top, but you can filter even further by using the “By State” and “By Resource Type” filters at top of the page. Note that the icon next to the resource indicates the resource type: Guide/Tool, Policy or Report/Case Study
Click on any resource title to read a summary and download the full version of the resource. Related resources are located at the bottom of each resource page, but you can always explore another topic by clicking on the menu to the left.
The Resource Center includes advanced search options to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Start by clicking the “Advanced Search” button at the bottom of the home page to access additional search filters. From here you can search by title, keyword, primary topic, resource type and/or state. Be aware: while this feature allows you to hone in on specific resources, including additional filters limits the search response. You may end up seeing only one or two results.
The “Search by State” and “Search by Topic” buttons on the bottom of the home page also allow for further filtering. “Search by State” allows you to identify all resources related to a specific state, as well as resources that pertain to all states (i.e., that include information on all 50 states), national trends, local initiatives, federal policy or international models. "Search by Topic" allows you to search by any of the 15 resource topics in the Resource Center. "Advance CTE Reports" includes tools and resources developed by Advance CTE. The "Featured Series" button will take you to tools and resources that are a part of an Advance CTE initiative such as the JP Morgan Chase New Skills ready network or State Policies Impacting CTE: Year in Review.
Q: What do I need to do in order to submit a resource?
There are established criteria and processes in place for a resource to be included. A resource must be publicly available and no cost to users, and:
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Align with the priorities of the New Skills ready network and the five principles of Without Limits: A Shared Vision for the Future of Career Technical Education;
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Promote equitable access to high-quality career pathways;
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Provide actionable information and have clear utility for state and local leaders in today’s policy environment; and
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Not promote, solicit for or adversite for commerical products, programs or services.
If you have a resource that you believe meets those criteria, please submit it here. Make sure you provide a description of the resource and an explanation for why it belongs in the Resource Center.
Q: How long will it take for my submission to be processed and posted on the site?
Once you submit a resource, our team will initiate a review and determine if it meets our criteria for inclusion. We try to review resources as quickly as possible, but depending on the schedules of the review team, this process might take a couple of weeks. Once the team has decided on a resource, we will email you to let you know if your resource will be included.
Q: Who do I contact if I have a question about a resource?
If you are browsing the site and have a question about a resource or notice an error, please send an email to resources@careertech.org. In order to expedite our ability to review your email and respond, please include a link to the resource in question, as well as any other supporting materials, such as screenshots or external information.
Q: How did you choose the 15 main topics?
CTE and career readiness is a large and complex content area. The 15 main topics we chose encompass the many different facets of career readiness policy, and are relatively easy to distinguish from one another. That being said, few of our resources will be found under just one topic - many see overlap into multiple topics.
Q: Who is funding the Resource Center?
The development and maintenance of the Center is funded through the New Skills ready network, a partnership Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group, and funded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. The individual resources within the Center come from a wide variety of organizations.
Q: How often do you update the Resource Center?
Updates to the Resource Center are happening regularly. We routinely look for new materials to include in addition to the materials submitted directly. Twice a year we also review existing materials to make sure that they are still relevant in today’s policy landscape. Sign up for the CTE Works newsletter to get new resources delivered directly to your inbox.
Q: How can I stay updated on the latest information coming from the Resource Center?
Stay up-to-date on new and popular resources with the CTE Works Newsletter. Every month, you will receive an email that includes the latest information, resources, and tools around key topic areas. Additionally, each moneth features a short interview with an Advance CTE staff member on the topic area. To sign up for the newsletter, click here.
Q: Why did you choose to feature the state policies that you did?
In addition to fulfilling the criteria listed above, any policies we include in the Resource Center must have some evidence of success in the state where it was enacted. If a policy has only recently been passed or implemented, it can still be included if it shows a sufficient level of innovation and promising practice. Staff will review the policies twice per year to ensure that any new evidence of policy effectiveness is included.
Q: I’m new to CTE. Where should I start?
First, welcome to our site and the world of CTE! Be sure to also explore the rest of the Advance CTE site for information on Career Clusters, programs of study and federal policy. For even more information, consider becoming a member of Advance CTE and gain access to members only webinars and more in-depth state policy information.