5 steps to building a robust online CTE program

For more than 16 years, my goal has been to help students discover their passions and see their potential through career and technical education (CTE). From when I taught math and programming in a brick-and-mortar school, to creating and designing CTE courses, to teaching AP computer science and the foundations of programming at Florida Virtual School (FLVS), to now researching, developing, and maintaining the FLVS CTE program alongside my incredible colleagues, CTE has never been more important to me. 

You may be asking yourself, why are you so passionate about CTE? The short answer is that during my teaching career, I quickly learned that some students do not want to go to college. Rather than forcing them to do something that their skills sets, talents, and desires don’t align with, I encouraged them to explore their passions to see if they could turn it into a career later in life. All students deserve the opportunity to do what they love, and it’s our jobs, as educators, to help them get there. 

Additionally, according to the U.S. Department of Education, eight years after their expected graduation date, students who focused on career and technical education courses in high school had higher median annual earnings than students who did not. There are also 30 million jobs in the United States that do not require a bachelor’s degree that pay median earnings of $55,000 or more, further highlighting how CTE programs can set students up for success. 

If you are a teacher, administrator, technology coordinator, or an education leader interested in building a robust online CTE program that helps your students succeed, I want to help you do that. 

1. Understand your students 

It is one thing to build a CTE program, but it is another to design a program that includes courses that interest your students, and that they can use and implement in their future. First, you need to consider the area that you live in. If you live in a rural community, there may not be as many coding jobs as there are in agricultural science. 

After considering the area that you live in, then it’s time to get your students’ thoughts and opinions. Start by sending out surveys, hosting focus groups, and engaging with your instruction staff to gauge what their students are interested in. The more you hear from your students, the better and more successful your CTE program will be. 

2. Reach out to your community 

It’s also important to connect with business partners in the community to understand what jobs they need help filling. For example, maybe you’re considering adding a CTE course related to hospitality and tourism, but after speaking with local hotel general managers you learn that they’re seeing a decline in the number of guests visiting, and therefore do not need to hire more staff.