District presents expansion of CTE pathways and new state certifications

The district's career and technical education director (introduced as Miss Spriggs) told the board the CTE program has expanded substantially in the past year and that the district has applied for additional state certifications.

Spriggs said the district came into the year with three state-certified CTE programs, applied for two more this year (one approved, one awaiting final approval) and expects a fifth approval soon. She described six pathways (education and training/teacher cadet; media productions; marketing and entrepreneurship including a school store; culinary/restaurant operations with ServSafe credentials; graphic production and Adobe credentialing; and mechatronics/robotics with industry partnerships) that provide students with industry-recognized credentials and university articulation agreements.

Spriggs highlighted that a Michigan YDA certificate opportunity requires 180 hours of work outside the classroom, and said the district's teacher-cadet summer program and grant-funded equipment purchases have helped students meet those requirements. Board members asked clarifying questions about the difference between credentials (industry certificates students can take into the workplace) and articulations (agreements that let students earn college credit), and about extending introduction courses into middle school; Spriggs said many intro-level courses are being offered earlier to give students exposure to pathways.

The presentation emphasized partnerships with local universities and industry (including Wayne State and Oakley Enterprises), grant writing that purchased industry equipment, and the role of Perkins V funding in enabling growth.