Taking the Mystery Out of Career Clusters

Dawn LindsleyCareer & Technical Education Coordinator

January 2012

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Discussion Topics

What are Career Clusters?

Why bother with Career Clusters?

What is important for me to know as an education professional?

NASDCTEc/NCTEF States' Career Clusters Initiative, copyright 2005

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Brief History of Career Clusters

U.S. Department of Education National Association of State Directors of

Career Technical Education Consortium National Advisory Committees

– Business and Industry– Labor– Government– Education (secondary and postsecondary)

NASDCTEc/NCTEF States' Career Clusters Initiative, copyright 2005

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What are Career Clusters?

Career Clusters are groupings of occupations and industries.

These groupings are used as an organizing tool for curriculum design.

Sixteen Career ClustersAgriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Finance

Architecture & Construction

Education & Training

Arts, AV Tech & Communications

Government & Public Administration

Business, Mgt & Admin.

Health Science

Hospitality & Tourism

Manufacturing

Human Services

Marketing Sales & Services

Information Technology

Science, Tech, Engineering & Mathematics

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Kansas State Department of Career & Technical Education

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NASDCTEc/NCTEF States' Career Clusters Initiative, copyright 2005

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Career Clusters as a Tool

Provides for a seamless educational system that:– Blends rigorous academic/technical

preparation– Provides career planning– Offers options for students to discover

different aspects of an industry– Facilitates/assists students with

transitions

Office of Vocational & Adult Education, August 2010

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NASDCTEc/NCTEF States' Career Clusters Initiative, copyright 2005

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What Career Clusters DON’T Do

Do not take away current programs

Do not take away occupational areas

Do not track learners into a single job

NASDCTEc/NCTEF States' Career Clusters Initiative, copyright 2005

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What Career Clusters DO

Provide MORE career options for learnersProvide a framework for addressing the

entire world of workProvide a picture of how knowledge and

skills transfer vertically and horizontallyProvide a framework that current

programs fit intoProvide a framework for seamless

education

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Career Cluster Framework

Career Specialties/Occupations

Pathway

Career Cluster

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Why Bother with Career Clusters?

Short-term Reasons– Perkins IV $– Programs of Study

Long-term Reasons– Personal/Family Investment– Connecting Education & Employment– Workforce Development– Economic Development

NASDCTEc/NCTEF States' Career Clusters Initiative, copyright 2005

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What This Means

Career Clusters are a part of the future.

They are a win-win for learners, parents, educators, and businesses.

They are flexible.

They fit into any educational setting.

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Important to Know

Approved career cluster pathway programs of study include introductory, technical, and application level courses

Articulation agreements are already in existence

More emphasis is being placed on this framework

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Resources Manhattan High School

– http://www.usd383.org/Schools/Secondary/MHS/Academics/CareerClusters.aspx – http://manhattanhighplc.wikispaces.com/Dept.+Career+%26+Technical+Educatio

n+%28CTE%29

Kansas Career & Technical Education– http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=249

US Department of Education – Office of Vocational & Adult Education– http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cte/index.html

Perkins Collaborative Resource Network– http://cte.ed.gov/

National Initiative– http://www.careertech.org

National Research Center on Career & Technical Education– http://www.nrccte.org/

National Assessment of Career & Technical Education– http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/index.html

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Questions

Dawn LindsleyManhattan High School

Career & Technical Education Coordinator

2100 & 901 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502

(785) 587-2100 West Campus(785) 587-2150 East Campus

(785) 466-0147 Cell

dawnl@manhattan.k12.ks.us - Schooldawnlindsley@gmail.com - Home