Bridging Education and Industry: The Power of TACs in Career Technical Education
A technical advisory committee (TAC) is a group of industry experts who work with educators to make sure career technical education (CTE) programs teach up-to-date skills that help students start their careers or continue their education.
A TAC can be established for a single program area, as a school-wide committee with representatives from multiple industries aligned to the programs offered, as a joint committee with other schools in the district or nearby districts, or as a joint committee with a nearby postsecondary institution.
Committees vary between 5-10 members depending on the community, the diversity of industries, and the purpose of the committee. Potential members include a program representative (educator), an administrator or school board member, industry personnel, students, state agency representatives and postsecondary representatives.
What can TACs do?
TACs play a crucial role in supporting and shaping CTE programs by:
Providing industry opportunities for students and staff
- Providing internships or apprenticeships
- Offering jobs
- Conducting trainings
- Introducing new and relevant technology to programs
- Certifying students and/or teachers for industry certifications
- Creating project opportunities
- Organizing industry tours
Obtaining resources
- Establishing plans for acquiring needed equipment
- Locating sources for donations/grants
- Finding judges or speakers for career technical student organization events
- Donating time when needed
Advocating on behalf of programs
- Generating news coverage
- Sponsoring events
- Organizing career days
- Promoting programs with community leaders
Developing program standards
- Developing industry-aligned standards
- Collaborating with business/industry, secondary and postsecondary instructors
- Contributing to the creation of assessments that reflect real-world skills