Overview
We review requests for new career technical education pathways that respond to emerging fields and prepare students for high-skill, in-demand careers.
If your proposed pathway isn’t currently approved by the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (IDCTE), the Potential Pathway Application is the first step in the review process. The application helps us understand the proposed pathway, its connection to in-demand occupations and continued education, available industry certifications and the economic factors that support the need for the pathway.
Our Program Quality Team will review your application using the Potential Pathway Rubric and recommend next steps.
Multiple local education agencies (LEAs) may work together to develop a potential pathway. If you’re submitting a joint proposal, identify one lead applicant and LEA. You can list additional participants in the notes field under LEA Information.
Before you begin, contact us to find out whether the pathway you’re considering is already in development.
Instructions:
Before you begin
Developing a new pathway takes planning and collaboration. Before you start your application:
- Work with your CTE teachers, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), building administrators and LEA administrators. Schedule time for conversations and planning before you begin the application.
- Check with your business office about LEA purchasing policies before completing the Facilities and Resources section. Your LEA may require equipment or technology to be purchased through specific vendors or contracts. Check with your IT manager to make sure your LEA can support any computer equipment you’re requesting. Include cost estimates for consumables and the minimum equipment needed to start the program, as well as anticipated ongoing costs.
- If the pathway requires permanent installation or capital improvements, obtain a cost estimate and documented LEA approval.
- Involve your TAC or other community and industry representatives in developing the proposed program. You’ll need to provide evidence that a TAC has been formed to support the pathway. A TAC should include no more than three LEA employees and at least three industry representatives. If you haven’t formed a TAC, provide the names of the people who contributed industry or community input during your decision-making process.
- Review the Potential Pathway Rubric before you begin so you understand how your proposal will be evaluated.
What you’ll need
The application asks for information about:
- Applicant information
- Proposed pathway description
- Benefits to the community, region and state
- Idaho in-demand industry sectors and occupations
- National job outlook
- Idaho postsecondary alignment
- Industry credentials
- Regional industry partners
- Technical Advisory Committee
- Facilities and resources
- Work-based learning
- Proposed pathway course sequence
- Teacher credential
- Available grant funds
- Pathway fit
How to apply
- Open the Potential IDCTE Pathway Application You can preview the entire application before completing it so you know what information and documentation you’ll need.
- Complete all sections of the application. Review your responses for accuracy and completeness before submitting.
- Submit your application. You’ll receive an email confirming your submission, and a copy of the application will be sent to your superintendent for approval.
Only the superintendent may approve the application, regardless of whether the superintendent or CTE administrator submits it. You’re responsible for making sure your superintendent completes the approval.
Email notifications will come from JotForm at noreply@formresponse.com. Add this address to your approved sender list so messages aren’t filtered as spam.
- We’ll review your application and contact you about next steps. We may return the application to you if edits, additional information or amendments are needed.
Glossary and resources
Advanced Opportunities (AO): Find approved industry credentials through the Idaho Department of Education’s Advanced Opportunities resources.
CIP code: Classification of Instructional Programs codes identify academic and occupational instructional programs offered for credit at the postsecondary level.
CTE: Career technical education.
CTS: Career technical school.
Growth rate: The percentage change in the number of jobs added or lost in a U.S. occupation or industry over a given projections period. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook uses the following categories:
- Faster than average: 10% to 15%
- As fast as average: 5% to 10%
- Slower than average: 1% to 5%
- Little or no change: -1% to 1%
- Decline: -1% or more
Idaho Department of Labor In-Demand Occupations: Use the Idaho Department of Labor’s In-Demand Occupations tool to explore occupations by region, education requirements and industry.
NAICS code: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) classifies businesses by industry. Businesses are assigned six-digit NAICS codes based on their primary activities.
OOH: Use the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to research occupations and projected growth rates.
SIC code: The Standard Industrial Classification system uses four-digit codes to classify industries.
SOC code: The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is a federal statistical standard used to classify workers into occupational categories for collecting and reporting data. Use the SOC system to learn more about how occupations are classified and use the Occupational Titles list to identify the SOC code that best matches the proposed pathway.
TAC: A Technical Advisory Committee brings education and industry partners together to help ensure CTE programs reflect the technical skills, knowledge and workplace expectations of the industry.