CTE Program Approval & Quality
The CTE Program Approval Process was developed to ensure career and technical education (CTE) programs are of high quality and meet the policy requirements approved by the Board of Regents in 2001.
The NYCDOE CTE Program Approval & Quality (PAQ) Team supports schools with CTE programs in all stages of the NYSED Program Approval process. Each school with a CTE Program is assigned a borough-based CTE Program Quality Manager who will work with the school and CTE Team as a whole to strengthen program quality components, go through the external review process and submit all required documentation to NYSED. Once the CTE program is approved, the Program Quality Manager will continue to monitor the school’s progress with annual submission of the NYC Self Study Report by the schools to the NYCDOE and regular school visits and contact. Please contact the Program Approval & Quality office at CTEPAQ@strongschools.nyc with "Program Approval & Quality" noted in the subject line.
NYSED Regents Policy for the Program Approval Process
The Program Approval Process elements include:
- Quality technical and academic curriculum, including integrated English language arts, mathematics, science, economics, and government and technical instruction;
- Faculty with State certification in appropriate academic and/or technical fields;
- Technical assessments that certify students meet current industry standards;
- Postsecondary articulation agreements;
- Work-based learning experiences for students; and
- Data on student progress and performance in order to evaluate their success on Regents examinations or alternatives approved by the State Assessment Panel, technical assessments and placement in employment, military or higher education.
The Board of Regents requires the New York City Department of Education to monitor the implementation and approval of career and technical education programs. The NYCDOE Central CTE Program Quality Team conducts the NYSED approval process on behalf of the CTE programs in New York City. The NYCDOE organizes the NYSED program approval requirements into five quality areas: curriculum & instruction, work-based learning, assessment & accountability, partnerships, and program and school capacity. These indicators are used to evaluate programs to ensure students receive access to high-quality Career and Technical Education.
Visit the CTE Program Approval Resource Guide website to learn more about this process:
