Career and Technical Education

Students graduating from Central Valley High School must earn 1 credit (2 semesters) in the Professional Technical Department (Occupational Education)1 credit is required for graduation .  These credits may be fulfilled by completing courses numbered 8000 through 8900.  Credits can also be earned at the Spokane Skills Center.  Central Valley’s Professional Technical Department provides the following classes in Family and Consumer Science, Business Education, Marketing Education, Construction Technology, and Engineering and Design. The skills gained in these courses are typically used in the career paths for:Arts, Administration & Sales, Business Operations, Science & Technology, Social Service and Technical.

DEFINITION:

Career & Technical programs in Washington focus on the integration and articulation of curricular pathways among secondary and post secondary programs. The Career & Technical program provides academic and vocational preparation in an identified career pathway. Career & Technical students begin their program of study in a secondary institution and then transition into a post secondary institution to earn an advanced technical degree or certification. Career pathways are academically rigorous and provide students with not only the fundamental skills that are required for post secondary admission but also the technical skills that will enable them to have successful careers in Washington's new, highly technical economy.

BENEFITS:
Career & Technical provides educational benefits as well as monetary benefits to students, educational institutions, and the business community.

STUDENTS:
Can earn college credit for specific Career & Technical courses taken in high school that will transfer to certificate and degree programs. Students do not pay for high school Career & Technical courses so they save on college tuition and textbook costs. Students also save time by not having to repeat those courses when they enroll in college certificate or degree programs.

SCHOOLS:
Colleges benefit by attracting more and better prepared students into their certificate and degree programs. Colleges also benefit by developing collaborative relationships with secondary faculty in discipline-specific areas. These partnerships allow faculty at each educational level to become more aware of the challenges facing faculty at each level and to develop curriculum that is both rigorous and relevant.

COMMUNITY:
Communities benefit by gaining a better skilled workforce through a focused educational effort between secondary and post secondary institutions. Communities also benefit by having the members of their community gainfully employed