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Business and Marketing FAQ

This document is intended to provide answers to some frequently asked questions regarding business and marketing education.  If you have any additional questions or need clarification on any of this content, please contact the associate for business and marketing education

 

General Questions

What is business and marketing education?

Business and marketing education is the teaching of general business and professional skills to allow all students to be ready to be successful in the 21st century workplace. This includes, but is not limited to, instruction in the career clusters of business management and administrationfinance, and marketing. Students who take business and marketing education courses are prepared for success in the world of work, higher education, and as adult consumers. 

Why is business and marketing education important?

Business and marketing education teaches the skills and competencies that prepare all students for future success in college, careers, and civic activities regardless of their chosen profession. Business courses teach important skills such as personal management, career development, financial literacy, consumer skills, entrepreneurship, and professional communication skills. Nearly one in five college students major in business and in all jobs, there is a business function. Understanding that business function is essential to career mobility and flexibility.

What are the state and national standards for business and marketing education?

 Please view the standards page for business education.

Where can I find New York State’s business and marketing education curriculum?

New York is not a curriculum state. As such, there is no set curriculum for business and marketing education in New York. It is a local decision as to which resources and/or curricula are used in order to deliver various business education courses. Please contact the Office of Career and Technical Education if you have any questions or would like additional guidance.

Are business teachers CTE teachers?

Yes. CTE (career and technical education) is defined in section 100.1 of Commissioner’s Regulations as agricultural education, business and marketing education, computer science education, family and consumer science education, health sciences education, technical education, technology education, and trade/industrial education.

Is there a professional organization for business and marketing education teachers?

Yes. The professional association for business teachers in New York is the Business Teachers’ Association of New York State (BTANYS). In addition, there are several regional business teacher organizations as well.

 

Meeting Graduation Requirements

Can accounting or business/financial math count as a third unit of math credit?

Certain career and technical education courses (referred to as interdisciplinary specialized courses) can, with local approval, be used to count for academic credit as long as the Regents requirement has been met. In the case of a math course, an interdisciplinary specialized course (such as accounting or business math) can only count as a third or fourth unit of math. Section 100.5(b)(7)(iv) of Commissioner's Regulations allows for this.

It is a local decision as to whether or not a course can count for math credit with the above regulations. In order to justify that a course meets “commencement-level standards as established by the commissioner”, you must be able to demonstrate that at least one unit’s worth of commencement-level standards in mathematics is met in the course.

Can a business teacher teach economics?

There is a course code for business economics which can be used, at local discretion, to count for the high school half-unit of economics requirement. This is allowed by Part 100.5(a)(6)(ii) of Commissioner’s Regulations.  In development of courses to be equivalent to the economics requirement for graduation, schools should utilize the New York State Social Studies Standards and the New York State Social Studies Framework in course development. 

Can business law count as the participation in government requirement?

This would be a local decision made using the flexibility in Part 100.5(a)(6)(ii) of Commissioner’s Regulations.  In development of courses to be equivalent to the participation in government requirement for graduation, schools should utilize the New York State Social Studies Standards and the New York State Social Studies Framework in course development. 

What courses count towards a 5-unit sequence in business to replace the LOTE requirement for an Advanced Regents Diploma?

New York no longer has specified course sequences that must be used in order to meet this requirement (100.5(b)(7)(v)(c )). Five units of any CTE course in any CTE area taught by a certified teacher in any of the CTE content areas (agriculture, business, computer science, FACS, health science, technology, and trade/technical education) may be used. Most business courses will count, but courses taught out of primary certification may not count. Please contact the associate for business education with any school-specific questions.

Is there a mandate for business and marketing education at the high school level?

No. Schools must provide opportunities to allow students to pursue a CTE program and/or sequence, but this may be done in any CTE area.

Can business and marketing education be used to meet requirements for the CDOS graduation pathway or credential?

Yes. Option 1 requires that 216 hours (equivalent to two high school units) of career and technical education is required to taught by a certified CTE teacher. At least 54 of those hours must be work-based learning.  Since business and marketing education is a CTE content area, coursework may be used to meet the CTE instruction in option 1.  Business teachers may also oversee unregistered experiences used to meet work-based learning hours.  If a business teacher holds the work-based learning extension, they may also oversee registered experiences.  For Option 2, schools could consider using business and marketing education coursework to prepare students for one of the Option 2 assessments. 

Can business coursework be used to meet requirements for the Seal of Civic Readiness?

There are many opportunities for business education coursework to address requirements for the Seal of Civic Readiness, particularly in the area of civic participation.  Local Seal of Civic Readiness committees should strongly consider the ability for business coursework to meet requirements in order to maximize the number of students who earn the seal. 

Can Business Communications be used to meet the 4th unit of English for graduation?

Certain career and technical education courses (referred to as interdisciplinary specialized courses) can, with local approval, be used to count for academic credit as long as the Regents requirement has been met. In the case of English, an interdisciplinary specialized course (such as Business Communications) can only count as a  fourth unit of English. Section 100.5(b)(7)(iv) of Commissioner's Regulations allows for this. 

It is a local decision as to whether or not a course can count for English credit with the above regulations. In order to justify that a course meets “commencement-level standards as established by the commissioner”, you must be able to demonstrate that at least one unit’s worth of commencement-level standards in English is met in the course. 

 

Teacher Certification 

Can a business teacher coordinate work-based learning programs?

A business teacher may only coordinate the four registered work-based learning programs (CEIP, Co-op, GEWEP, and WECEP) if they hold the extension of work-based learning coordinator. Business certification alone does not allow someone to coordinate registered work-based learning programs. Two courses must be taken to obtain the extension. They are offered through Oswego State, Buffalo State, CUNY City College of Technology, and Hofstra University among other locations.  In order to coordinate CEIP and Co-op, you must hold the extension of Coordinator of Work-Based Learning for Career Development. There is also an extension for Career Awareness that is designed for general education teachers and does not allow for coordination of CEIP or Co-op programs. Non-registered experiences such as job shadowing, school-based projects, community service/volunteering, and school-based enterprises do not need to be supervised by a certified coordinator, but it is recommended. More information can be found on the work-based learning home page.

Can the CTE business education associate answer teacher certification questions?

No. The business education associate can assist you in understanding what some of the requirements mean, but the associate does not review teacher certification applications or set policy for teacher certification. Teacher certification questions are best answered by the Office of Teaching Initiatives.

Can a business teacher teach any CTE course?

No. A business teacher may only teach business courses in the business content area (accounting/finance, business administration and management, marketing, and related business computer systems courses). A business teacher may not teach courses in family and consumer sciences, technology, or any other content area unless the teacher holds certification in those areas. For full details of what courses can be taught in certification by business teachers, please consult the course-certification crosswalk available through your data specialist.

Can a business teacher teach middle school?

Yes. In 2017, section 100.4(c) of Commissioner’s Regulations were amended to allow greater flexibility as to who can teach the middle level CTE requirement. Prior to the 2018-19 school year, the middle level requirement had to be fulfilled by 40 weeks of technology education and 30 weeks of family and consumer sciences. Instruction may start as early as grade 5 provided that the CTE teacher has proper certification or extension to teach fifth and sixth grade students (100.4(c)(3)). Beginning with the 2018-19 school year 100.4(c)(xii) was added to allow for any CTE teacher (defined as agriculture, business, computer science, family and consumer sciences, health sciences, technology, and trade and technical subjects) to teach the 1 ¾ unit requirement. More information and resources on the new middle-level CTE framework can be found at this link.

I am looking to become a business education teacher. What can I do?

There are several colleges throughout New York State that offer teacher preparation programs in business and marketing education. You can also search the teacher certification requirements to determine which of the multiple pathways to teacher certification may be the best for you.

I am a school administrator and am having trouble finding a business teacher. What can I do?

If you are unable to find a certified business teacher to fill a position, you are able to hire a person for what is called a Transitional A certification. This allows a person in a high need area (such as career and technical education) to work on their certification while they are teaching. The Transitional A certification lasts for three years at which point teachers must have met the requirements to apply for initial certification.

If you go to the teacher certification requirements lookup page, and search for, under area of interest “Career and Technical Teacher”, the subject will be “Business Management and Administration,” the grade will be adolescent  7-12, you will find a listing of multiple pathways that a prospective teacher can use in order to get Transitional A certification in CTE Business based on their educational background and experience. This will allow someone with business background or experience to get into the classroom.

 

CTE Program Approval

Where can I find a list of NYSED-approved technical assessments?

As of 2018, the process for approving CTE programs and assessments have been merged into one process. As such, there is no longer a state-approved list of technical assessments for business programs. Our office has compiled a list of exams that have been approved or are approvable for NYSED-approved CTE programs. If you are looking to use an exam that is not on the list, or have questions about any of the assessments, please contact the Office of Career and Technical Education.

How do I determine if my students passed their technical assessment?

Cut scores for NOCTI and Precision Exams by YouScience are posted on the NYSED CTE Home Page. For other exams, please contact the appropriate vendor directly.

I cannot find the cut scores for the Virtual Enterprises exam. Where can I find them?

Since the Virtual Enterprise test is a partner exam, meaning that NOCTI contracts with Virtual Enterprises to create the test, it does not appear on the New York cut score form. The cut score can be found at this link.

I would like to obtain NYSED-approval for my CTE program in business. How do I get started?

In order to get started, please check out the information located on the program approval page. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Career and Technical Education.

What is the benefit of having a NYSED-approved CTE program at my school?

Having a NYSED-approved CTE program allows students to obtain a technical endorsement on their diploma which recognizes achievement beyond attainment of a Regents diploma. A NYSED-approved CTE program also offers students a 4+1 pathway option graduation. Students who complete a NYSED-approved CTE program also help their school earn a higher score in the ESSA college, career, and civic readiness index.

How many units of instruction are needed in a NYSED-approved CTE program?

A NYSED-approved CTE program needs to have at least one-half unit of Career and Financial Management content, three units of business content arranged in a sequence that increases in specificity, work-based learning, and the technical assessment. It is recommended that students have the option to take up to five units so that the requirements for an advanced regents diploma (replacing the LOTE requirement) can be met (100.5(7)(v)(c )).

What approved CTE pathways in business currently exist?

New York does not have set sequences of courses that must be used for an approved CTE program of study. Schools are allowed to customize their programs as long as there is no-fewer than three content units in business (excluding Career and Financial Management). A program must contain no fewer than two units of courses clearly focused in the appropriate content area (example: a marketing program needs to have at least two units of marketing). Some suggested (non-regulatory) guidance can be found on the business and marketing education program approval page. Feel free to contact the Office of Career and Technical Education with any specific questions.

What is the difference between an integrated and a specialized course?
  • Integrated course "An integrated career and technical education course shall mean a course that combines career and technical education and academic commencement level learning standards and may be jointly developed and taught by an academic subject teacher and/or a career and technical education teacher. Successful completion of one unit of study in an integrated career and technical education course may be awarded only one unit of credit but may be used to meet the distribution requirements in more than one subject. For students who have not successfully completed the Regents examination(s) in the academic subject areas, the course(s) must be taught by a teacher certified in that subject" (Commissioner's Regulations, Section 100.5).
  • An integrated course would be a commencement-level academic course that is inherent for knowing the content of a program (example: learning physics as part of an electrical technology program).
  • Specialized course: A specialized course is a course that meets the requirements of a unit of credit as defined in section 100.1(a) and the New York State commencement-level learning standards as established by the commissioner. A specialized course develops the subject in greater depth and/or breadth and/or may be interdisciplinary. For example: If math is not part of a commercial art program, a specialized course can be developed (e.g., Geometry for Artists) that can meet a third unit of math.
Do I need to have an integrated/specialized course in my program?

No. To clarify, as a rule, integrated and specialized credits are not required as part of a CTE-approved program. As a matter of fact, very few school districts (which we refer to as local education agencies or LEAs) offer integrated or specialized credits. Most BOCES CTE programs do so that 1. They can bolster the content of a program and 2. they can be used to satisfy some of the graduation requirements that may be difficult for a school to schedule with a student being out of the building for half a day. In a typical LEA structure of blocks or 40-minute periods, it is very difficult to truly integrate a full unit of non-CTE instruction within a program.

If we use a school-based enterprise for work-based learning, how many hours do students need?

There are no specific parameters as to how many hours that would count as that is decided by the school. For NYSED-approved programs, our office highly recommends that students complete at least 54 hours of work-based learning experiences throughout their time enrolled. According to the Work-Based Learning Manual, a school-based enterprise (such as a school store) should have the following: It is highly recommended that all unregistered WBL experiences, such as job shadowing, community service/volunteering, industry-based projects, career-focused research project, school-based enterprise, entrepreneurship, and community-based work program, include the following components:

  • Certified teacher or guidance counselor with the proper WBL extension
  • Advisory committee
  • Appropriate worksite placement
  • Supervised on-the-job training
  • Related in-school instruction
  • Coordination of in-school and worksite components
  • Student training plan
  • Emergency medical form
  • Employer evaluation
  • Copy of student working papers where appropriate
  • Memorandum of agreement where appropriate

Records of hours worked and tasks performed should also be kept as part of both the work-based learning component of the program as well as the local portfolio component of the technical assessment. More information can be found in the work-based learning manual.

Does DECA or FBLA count as work-based learning?

Membership and general participation in either organization does not automatically count as work-based learning hours.  However, many DECA and FBLA chapters build in work-based learning experiences such as community service and job shadowing.  Those experiences, and any others referenced in the work-based learning manual completed through DECA or FBLA may count as work-based learning hours. 

Does Virtual Enterprises count as work-based learning?

There are experiences built into the Virtual Enterprises program that may be used to meet work-based learning hours.  For more information, please visit the Guidance Document on Work-Based Learning Experiences through the Virtual Enterprises International Program. 

I am Struggling to Find an Articulation Agreement for an Approved Program. What resources are available to help?

The CTE Technical Assistance Center of New York has developed an articulation agreement database which shows, statewide, which postsecondary institutions articulate with our programs.  If you are having continued difficulty, please reach out to the Office of Career and Technical Education