The Development of Pennsylvania Programs of Study (POS):

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 requires the development and implementation of career and technical programs of study (POS). Programs of Study incorporate secondary education and post-secondary education elements; include coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant career and technical content in a coordinated, non-duplicative progression of courses that align secondary education with post-secondary education to adequately prepare students to succeed in post-secondary education; may include the opportunity for secondary education students to participate in dual or concurrent enrollment programs or other ways to acquire post-secondary education credits and lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the post-secondary level or an associate or baccalaureate degree.

Each local recipient receiving Perkins funds under the Act will be required to offer the relevant courses of at least one POS. POS are similar to PA initiatives such as Tech Prep, career pathways, career academies and career clusters.

The development of statewide POS requirements from the 2006-2013 Perkins IV Act aligns the Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Codes to the PA Department of Labor and Industry’s High Priority Occupations list. Currently, there are 22 Programs of Study recognized by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE). All of the Programs of Study at Jersey Shore Area Senior High School are identified on the local, regional, and/or state High Priority Occupations list. The reauthorization of the federal Perkins V law requires Programs of Studies to meet the identified needs of a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment.

For each POS, a committee is established which includes statewide representation from business and industry, instructors and administrators from secondary and post-secondary education, and other interested parties. A blended competency list is developed from submissions of competency lists from career and technical education programs across the state. Then national competencies are included from sources such as VTECS, MAVCC and O* NET . This list is then presented to the POS committee for validation and alignment to an end-of-program assessment, the NOCTI. BCTE personnel, including Program Specialists, and the PA State Tech Prep Coordinator assist all committees throughout the development of each phase of this project.