Advancing the Framework
Advancing the Framework
Through the multi-year Advancing the Framework initiative, Advancing CTE conducted an inclusive, transparent, and responsive process to modernize the National Career Clusters® Framework.
Background
In December 2022, Advance CTE announced the relaunch of an initiative to modernize the National Career Clusters Framework. This work is led by two national partners Indigo Education Company and WestEd and supported by a National Advisory Committee, Industry Advisory Groups and other avenues to receive input from thousands of professionals connected involved in delivering and experiencing Career Technical Education (CTE) and the Framework.
Our Vision for a Modernized Framework
Through the Advancing the Framework initiative, we strive for a modernized Framework that will provide:
Learners with more personalized paths to living wage jobs and gain skills for a variety of careers.
CTE educators with the ability to align, design, and deliver programs that better reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the clusters and work, include stronger career exploration and advising models, and enhance the connection between in- and out of-classroom experiences such as work-based learning.
Industries can hire learners with a lifelong learning worldview whose interests, skills, and work-based experiences align with industry sector organization and their hiring needs. This Framework also strives to be a step forward in achieving more connected career readiness language that acts as a bridge between industry and education.
State CTE leaders can design programs and experiences that are more responsive to industry needs and provide resources/guidance to local leaders that reflect the needs of the modern workplace.
Latest News
The modernized Framework will be live on October 22, 2024! Visit our Career Clusters section to explore the new Framework, learn how key CTE actors connect to and use the Framework, and discover explainer and policy resources.
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Promotional Toolkit and Explainer Resources
Career Clusters
Fact Sheet
This one-pager provides an overview of the Advancing the Framework goals and work conducted so far.
An Inclusive Input Process
The modernization initiative endeavored to build an industry-informed, learner-centered, and responsive Framework. This required input from all partners of the Framework.
Our national structures, surveys, and sector-specific feedback sessions engaged over 4,000 CTE professionals, who gave invaluable input on the content, language, and structure of the Framework.
These structures included the Advance CTE Board of Directors; 23-member National Advisory Committee (NAC); 13 distinct Industry Advisory Groups (IAGs) totaling over 200 members; a National Implementation Survey in Fall 2023; a National Vaildation survey in Summer 2024; and focus groups and listening sessions including 50+ organizations.
Purpose Statement for a Revised Framework
In 2020, the Advance CTE Board of Directors unanimously approved a revised purpose statement for The National Career Clusters Framework:
The National Career Clusters Framework provides structural alignment and a common language to bridge education and work, empowering each learner to explore, decide and prepare for dynamic and evolving careers.
