Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides secondary and postsecondary students with structured pathways that integrate academic knowledge, technical skills, and career-connected learning experiences leading to industry-recognized credentials and postsecondary advancement. CTE programs of study, which typically begin in high school, enable students to explore areas of career interest while earning college credit and/or industry credentials that support their transition to both higher education and the workforce.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) collaborates with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, business and industry leaders, and local education agencies to design, implement, and continuously improve programs that respond to Maryland’s evolving workforce and economic development needs. Through these partnerships, MSDE ensures that all CTE programs remain current with industry standards and effectively prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers.

Career and Technical Education is a coordinated effort that begins well before high school. Career awareness activities in elementary school and exploratory, work-based learning experiences in middle school—such as workplace tours, job shadowing, and career interest inventories—help students make informed choices about their education and future career goals. Prior to entering high school, students develop an academic and career plan, which is reviewed and updated annually. With more than 45 CTE programs of study offered statewide, Maryland provides students with multiple pathways that promote lifelong learning, workforce readiness, and economic mobility.

Primary Responsibilities

• CTE program development and support, including the K–12 instructional programs in Computer Science, Technology Education, STEM/Robotics, and Financial Literacy;
• Assisting LEAs with program implementation by providing curricular resources aligned to the CTE Programs of Study and partnering with affiliates and local organizations to deliver professional development for CTE teachers; and
• Providing operational or technical support to LEAs and community colleges through ongoing monitoring of Perkins and Affiliate grants.

CTE Program of Study Guides

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study Guides are blueprints for classroom practice. They lay out a course sequence with standards-based expectations that deepen and become more complex from one course to the next. Teachers should use these standards as instructional checkpoints—breaking each bullet into daily objectives, labs, and formative assessments—so students steadily build the knowledge and skills required for aligned, industry credentials. Because every guide follows the same structure (course descriptions, vertically aligned standards, certification targets, and sources), educators can plan lessons, projects, and work-based experiences with confidence that they meet both state requirements and workforce demands.

CTE Program of Study Proposal Guidance and Application

The CTE Program of Study Proposal Guidance and Application - ZIP - 544.6 KB provides guidance for local education agencies (LEAs) seeking statewide approval of new Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study through the Maryland State Department of Education. It outlines the required components of a complete proposal, including program rationale, course descriptions, industry-recognized credentials, labor market data, and course standards, along with expectations for stakeholder engagement and review. The guidance is designed to ensure that proposed programs are rigorous, aligned with workforce needs, and support clear pathways to postsecondary education and careers.

CTE Educator License Areas

The CTE Educator License Areas document - PDF - 342.22 KB outlines the educator licensure areas that qualify teachers to instruct specific Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study in Maryland. It explains the different types of Maryland educator licenses and identifies which license areas align with each CTE program within the state’s career clusters. The document also serves as guidance for school systems and program administrators to ensure that CTE programs are taught by appropriately licensed educators and comply with Maryland licensure requirements.

CTE Postsecondary Crosswalk

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of College and Career Pathways (DCCP), Postsecondary Crosswalk connects Maryland’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs of Study to related postsecondary opportunities across the state. Designed as a planning and advising resource, the crosswalk helps students, families, educators, and school support staff explore how high school CTE pathways connect to industry-recognized certificates and credentials, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degree programs that support continued education and career preparation.

K-12 Instructional Programs

Computer Science
It is essential that every student has access to and participates in computer science learning experiences as an essential part of their education to meet the demands of the current and future workplace. MSDE has been working to build capacity for statewide implementation of computer science.

Technology Education
Purposefully integrates content and skills from engineering, technology, science, computer science, and mathematics to foster technological literacy. Students apply integrated content to develop solutions to real-world problems while employing skills critical for postsecondary study and career success.

STEM/Robotics
STEM education is an approach to teaching and learning that integrates the content and skills of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. An important STEM initiative in Maryland Schools is the Robotics Grant Program, which funds robotic activities in K-12 schools and community organizations.

Financial Literacy
For over a decade, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has worked with a variety of partners to support the delivery of personal financial literacy education in public schools. Partners include representatives from nonprofit organizations, credit unions, banks, secondary and post-secondary education, and government agencies. This commitment is bolstered by Maryland’s key industry areas—BioHealth and Life Sciences, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Advanced Manufacturing, Military and Federal, Aerospace and Defense, Financial Services, Energy and Sustainability, and Agribusiness—many of which require security clearances for which good credit is a vital component.

Contact:

Marquita Friday
Director of School Support, Division of College and Career Pathways
Office: (410) 767-0183
[email protected]