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Career Cluster Overview
Helping students make their dreams become a reality was the driving force behind the nation’s Career Clusters initiative launched June 1, 2001. The U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) identified 16 career clusters representing career opportunities for the 21st Century economy. A committee consisting of twelve lead states and the District of Columbia were partners in the development of the tools supporting eleven career clusters which, when combined with the five clusters that had already been developed, would represent all career possibilities. A National Advisory Committee consisting of members from each of the cluster committees, along with other stakeholders, were responsible for identifying the frameworks, pathways, and foundation knowledge and skills, and other supportive materials. The committee consisted of representatives from states, schools, education and training, business and industry, associations, and others directly impacted by the initiative.
Texas has adopted the U.S. Department of Education’s 16 Career Clusters. The 16 broad career clusters and 81 pathways support the Texas Governor’s Industry Cluster Initiative, which identifies high-growth/high-paying jobs in the 21st- Century Texas economy. The initiative is being further supported at the state level through their efforts to align curricula, standards, and professional development. . It embraces the idea that connecting what a student learns in school today with what he or she wants to do for a living tomorrow increases motivation to learn. The only chance our children have of staying ahead of the competition is if our schools make it a priority to keep up with the developments in the world and truly prepare each graduate for lifelong learning.
The Career and Technology Education Department of Fort Bend Independent School District is launching the TEA initiative Achieve Texas: Livelong Success for All Students. Achieve Texas is the education initiative designed to prepare students for a lifetime of success by improving how students learn and what they achieve. It is a system based on the belief that the curricula of the 21st Century should combine rigorous academics with relevant career education. The initiative uses the 16 federally defined Career Clusters as a foundation. |
Career and Technical Education
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