Pathway and Course Resources

Program Approval Processes and Guidelines:

New Program and Renewals: 

New programs:  be sure to you have reached out to your cluster area program director for coaching on a new program for your school.

Please find detailed information on specific requirements in the Administrator’s Handbook in section 3.14 (add hyperlink)

There are two options for middle school programs. The Career Cluster based option will prepare learning for technical and occupational based programs in high school. This program will have at minimum of three courses and two levels in each pathway, similar to our high school pathways. New Scope and Sequence documents have been developed and are piloting for 2024-25 school year.

Combined Exploratory Programs will choose from the cluster/pathway-based Scope & Sequences to design the program, as well as an option to select courses in which learners have interest based on their ICAP, courses where qualified teachers also teach the (PWR)- Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness competencies that are not occupationally specific.

Combined Exploratory Programs submitted in the Gateway program approval system will choose from the course names and descriptions found in the cluster/pathway-based Scope & Sequences (mentioned above) to design the program, as well as an option to submit customized course(s) titles and descriptions. **It is advised to contact the cluster area Program Director related to the customized course content for a review of the planned customized course(s). 

Combined Exploratory programs need to have at least three different cluster/sector areas included to be official. 

Steps to enter your Program Approval

1. General Information:

Enter all information in the boxes provided.

Tips: 

  • Be sure to choose a CTSO from the dropdown menu.
  • Enter a detailed description of your work-based learning in the field provided.

2. Contact Information

Tips:

  • Be sure to enter the qualified teacher under the school contacts area. Cluster area programs- require CTE career cluster credentials. Middle school exploratory credential found at this website 
  • Only include teachers for specific pathway in the list.
  • Renewals: ensure teacher credential expiration date is updated
  • Encourage teacher and verify they are track to move from initial to professional credential.
  • Advisory chair should come from industry and middle school programs are encouraged to collaborate/combine with high school programs for their advisory.

3. Pathways

Be sure you have chosen the correct pathway within the cluster area, or you are using the exploratory option for more than one cluster area.

4. Courses:

  • Overview of State Course Entry: Course Overview Video
  • Advanced courses – Deep Dive: Custom courses, name changes, etc.
    • Custom Course Video
    • If you select a state name, but chose a local name, it is a requirement that the locally named course use 100% of the competencies listed on the state scope and sequence document.
    • Local names and custom names may have additional requirements to upload competencies.  Contact your program director for any questions.

Assurances

Read all the assurances in the program approval and check all boxes that apply.  If you cannot check a box, please list a reason in the bottom comments.

You will need to upload several documents into the system.  Please combine all documents for one question as there are is only upload option for each bullet.

General Assurances: including Quality Action Plan (QAP):

Briefing on the Revision process

  • Note: You do not have to upload all assurance documents for all revisions.  You are welcome to update if you have something that has changed.
  • Revision Process Video

Additional Information:

CTE Education Standards and Academic Alignment and other assurances
Briefing on the Revision Process
  • Note: You do not have to upload all assurance documents for all revisions.  You are welcome to update if you have something that has changed.
  • Revision Process Video