CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
§ 4.31. Career and technical education.
(a) Career and technical education courses shall be developed in the planned instruction format and be accessible to all high school students attending those grades in which career and technical education courses are offered. All students and their parents or guardians shall be informed of the students’ rights to participate in career and technical education programs and courses and that students with disabilities enrolled in the programs are entitled to services under Chapter 14 (relating to special education services and programs). Students who complete approved career and technical education programs shall have their occupational competency assessed by completion of the appropriate assessment under the Pennsylvania Skills Certificate Program or by completion of another occupational competency assessment approved by the Department. A student with a disability shall be provided appropriate accommodations when provided for in the student’s individualized education program. Students shall also demonstrate proficiency in meeting academic standards as required under § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), including § 4.12(f) (relating to academic standards) and § 4.24(d) for students with disabilities with an individualized education program.
(b) Career and technical education courses may be taught at ACTSs or other high schools.
(c) Career and technical education programs must consist of a series of planned academic and career and technical education courses that are articulated with one another so that knowledge and skills are taught in a systematic manner. When appropriate, career and technical education programs must adopt, in program areas for which they are available, industry recognized skills standards and may also include cooperative career and technical education and participation in career and technical student organizations to develop leadership skills.
(d) Career and technical education courses must include content based upon occupational analysis, clearly stated performance objectives deemed critical to successful employment and assessment of student competencies based upon performance standards.
(e) The record of a student enrolled in a career and technical education program must include the student’s educational and occupational objectives and the results of the assessment of student competencies under subsection (d).
(f) Safety education, consisting of safety practices, accident prevention, occupational health habits and environmental concerns shall be integrated into the instruction and practices in career and technical education programs.
(g) School districts and ACTSs administering career and technical education programs shall develop written policies regarding admissions. Course announcements, guidance materials and other communications must convey the philosophy of equal access to students considering enrolling in ACTSs and include a description of admissions policies. The policies must assure that when admissions to ACTSs must be limited, the admissions shall be on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Authority The provisions of this § 4.31 amended under sections 121, 2603-B and 2604-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § § 1-121, 26-2603-B and 26-2604-B).
Source The provisions of this § 4.31 amended February 15, 2008, effective February 16, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 872; amended February 28, 2014, effective March 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 1131; amended July 15, 2022, effective July 16, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 3946. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (371094) to (371095).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 4.23 (relating to high school education); 22 Pa. Code § 4.32 (relating to standards and reports).
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