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Career and Technical Education

CTE Content Areas

Oversight and Guidance

New York State Middle Level CTE Requirement FAQ

Middle Level CTE Content

What is the current career and technical education requirement for middle school students?

In 2017, section 100.4(c) of Commissioner’s Regulations was amended to allow greater flexibility in how districts deliver courses satisfying the middle level requirement. The changes provide districts the option to offer students introductory CTE experiences in any of the six CTE content areas. In 2022, Computer Science was added as a seventh CTE content area. Consequently, appropriately certified teachers from any of those content areas can be deployed to deliver introductory CTE in their area of certification. Districts may also continue to offer middle level experiences using only family and consumer sciences (FACS) and technology education content and instructors.

What is the middle level CTE curriculum?

New York has provided a curricular guidance framework to assist school districts in developing local curricula for middle-level CTE. Six middle level theme modules, which can be integrated into the study of any CTE content area, can help districts make decisions when personalizing middle-level CTE instruction in their settings. The six theme modules are:

  • Career and Community Opportunities
  • Communication and Interpersonal Relationships
  • Financial and Consumer Literacy
  • Health, Safety, and Wellness
  • Problem Solving and Innovation
  • Sustainability
What grades are covered by the middle level CTE requirement?

The middle level requirement applies to Grades 5-8. Instruction may begin as early as Grade 5 as long as it is taught by a certified career and technical education teacher who holds certification to teach Grades 5 and 6.

What are the considerations that should be taken into account when planning a middle school CTE program to meet the requirement?

Things that may be considered include, but are not limited to:

  • Ways to expand the range of career areas for students to explore
  • Available instructional staff and facilities/infrastructure
  • School/community priorities and student interests
  • Continuity of middle level CTE offerings with high school CTE offerings
Are there a minimum number of different CTE instructional areas that middle school students need to be exposed to?

No. Schools decide which CTE instructional areas their students will be exposed to in meeting the 1 ¾ unit requirement.

Is the Home and Career Skills curriculum still in use for the middle level requirement?

With the revision of the middle level requirement, six new family and consumer sciences content modules were developed to address the six-overarching middle level CTE themes. As such, the Home and Career Skills curriculum is no longer being updated. However, certain activities and lessons from the curriculum can be used in the new middle level framework.

Is the Introduction to Technology curriculum still in use for the middle level requirement?

With the revision of the middle level requirement, five new technology education content modules were developed that address the six-overarching middle level CTE themes. As such, the Introduction to Technology curriculum is no longer being updated. However, certain activities and lessons from the curriculum can be used in the new middle level framework.

Can the 20-week middle school health course count toward the 1 ¾ unit CTE requirement?

No. The middle school health education requirement as defined in section 135.3(b) of Commissioner’s Regulations is separate from the 1 ¾ unit CTE requirement in section 100.4(c).  These two middle-level requirements are met separately; each has its own distinct time requirement.

Can keyboarding count as part of the middle level requirement?

Keyboarding may be addressed as part of one or more of the middle level CTE theme modules, and is specifically addressed in the Computer Literacy for the Workplace content module. It must be taught by a certified career and technical education teacher if it is to count towards the middle level CTE requirement.

Our school is happy having 40 weeks of technology education and 30 weeks of family and consumer sciences education? Do we need to change anything?

No. 40 weeks (1 unit) of technology education and 30 weeks (¾ unit) of family and consumer sciences meets the middle level (1 ¾  unit) requirement. While the current requirement allows schools to have more flexibility in meeting this requirement, positive practices do not need to be changed.

Can we provide students “elective” choices to meet the 1 ¾ unit requirement or does instruction need to be the same for all students in our school/district?

Students may be provided with different options to meet the 1 ¾ unit middle level requirement provided that all student groups have equal access.

Can high school CTE courses be used to meet the 1 ¾ unit middle level requirement?

Yes. They may be used to meet the 1 ¾ unit middle level requirement in accordance with Section 100.4(d) of Commissioner’s Regulations.

 

Middle Level CTE Instruction

What teachers can teach the middle level requirement?

Any teacher who is defined as a career and technical education teacher in Section 100.1(l) of Commissioner’s Regulations may teach the middle level requirement. These are agriculture, business, computer science, family and consumer sciences, health sciences, technology, and trade/technical teachers.

Can an educational technology specialist teach the middle level requirement?

No. An educational technology specialist is not a CTE teacher as defined in Section 100.1(l) of Commissioner’s Regulations.

Can a health education (not health sciences) teacher teach the middle level requirement?

No. A health education teacher (not to be confused with health sciences teacher) is not a CTE teacher as defined in Section 100.1(l) of Commissioner’s Regulations.

Can an elementary 1-6 teacher teach the 1 ¾ unit CTE requirement?

No. An elementary education teacher is not a CTE teacher as defined in Section 100.1(l) of Commissioner’s Regulations. Therefore, any coursework taught by an elementary teacher without one of the CTE titles referenced above cannot count towards the 1 ¾ unit CTE requirement.

Can a CTE teacher teach content outside of their CTE area?

No. CTE teachers may only teach the middle level content that aligns with the subject area of their teacher certification(s). The six overarching themes apply to all subject areas. Additional support for instructors is found in content modules developed by teams of teachers in each of the seven CTE areas. These content modules provide specifics about how the CTE themes can be taught in each CTE content area.

Are there opportunities for individuals from business and industry to teach the middle level requirement?

Individuals who have significant work experience, education, and/or credentials in a particular CTE area may be able to, with school district support, obtain a transitional A certificate in a CTE area of specialty. Please visit the Office of Teaching Initiatives’ CTE web page to learn more about Transitional A certification and the different CTE areas in which certificates can be obtained. Please also note that Transitional A certificates only cover Grades 7-8 (in addition to Grades 9-12 at the high school level), so individuals possessing them would not be able to teach Grades 5 and 6.

 

Middle Level CTE Data

How should middle school CTE course data be reported?

Depending on the grade level and CTE content area of the course and teacher, courses should be reported as follows. Please note that as of the 2020-21 school year, the BEDS course code reporting system has been replaced, and schools will be reporting using SCED codes to report course-level data. 

CTE MIDDLE LEVEL COURSES

 

Code

Description

68004

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Agriculture 5-6

62002

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Business 5-6

71007

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Technology 5-6

64003

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Health Care 5-6

72204

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences 5-6
60000 CTE Middle Level Introduction to Computer Science 5-6 

72200

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Trades 5-6

18006

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Agriculture 7-8

12000

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Business 7-8

21000

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Technology 7-8

14004

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Health Care 7-8

22212

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences 7-8

22200

CTE Middle Level Introduction to Trades 7-8
10000 CTE Middle Level Introduction to Computer Science 7-8