CTE Content Areas
- Agriculture
- Business and Marketing Education
- Learning Standards
- Middle Level
- Program Approval Information
- Use of Business and Marketing Education Coursework to Meet Economics and Participation in Government Requirements
- Business and Marketing Career and Technical Student Organizations
- Business and Marketing Honor Society
- Teacher Preparation Programs
- Business Teachers Association of New York State
- FAQ
- Computer Science
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Health Sciences Education
- Middle Level
- Learning Standards
- Program Approval Information
- Professional Organizations
- Resources
- Technology Education
- Trade and Technical
- Work-Based Learning Programs
- Career and Technical Student Organizations
Oversight and Guidance
- Submission Deadlines
- CTE Policy and Guidance
- CTE Program Approval
- Perkins
- Civil Rights
- CTE Data
- Driver and Traffic Safety Education
- CTE Technical Assistance Center
- CTE Team Contacts
New York State Middle Level CTE Requirement FAQ
Middle Level CTE Content
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.
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
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.
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
No. Schools decide which CTE instructional areas their students will be exposed to in meeting the 1 ¾ unit 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Students may be provided with different options to meet the 1 ¾ unit middle level requirement provided that all student groups have equal access.
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
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.
No. An educational technology specialist is not a CTE teacher as defined in Section 100.1(l) of Commissioner’s Regulations.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 |