Public Input Sought for Career and Technical Education Standards

Iowa Department of Education Director, Ryan Wise, announced he is seeking the public’s input on proposed standards for career and technical education (CTE).

The standards were developed over the last year by program management teams consisting of secondary and postsecondary educators and administrators, business and industry partners, and staff from the Department and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Public input is being sought specifically in the areas of agriculture, food and natural resources; business, finance, marketing, and management; health sciences; human services; and information solutions. Work will begin on standards for applied sciences, technology, engineering, and manufacturing later this year.

Feedback on the standards will come through area-specific online surveys, which will be open through June 13. Input from the surveys will be incorporated into the teams’ final recommendations.

“Our goal is to provide standards that ensure CTE programs are dynamic, rigorous and driven by labor market demands,” Wise said. “These standards will provide a framework for programs to keep current with industry changes, provide for ongoing learning for CTE faculty, and integrate core academic and employability skills to prepare students for college and careers.”

This work is in response to HF 2392, state legislation signed into law in 2016, which is helping shape the future of CTE in Iowa. The legislation provides the State Board of Education with authority to adopt standards for school districts to incorporate into their CTE programs. The new CTE standards and benchmarks will set clear and consistent foundational expectations for what students need to learn in high-quality CTE programs across the state.

The teams intend to get the proposed CTE standards to the State Board of Education this fall. If adopted, the CTE standards will be a mandatory requirement for school districts.