Overview 

Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (IDCTE) accepts applications from local educational agencies (LEAs) for new or modified career technical education (CTE) programs every year. An approval of a new or reinstated program may be eligible for program added-cost funds (contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds). Other funding is also available for approved programs (e.g. grants, incentives).

LEAs need to submit this application, approved by the superintendent, to apply for a new, reinstated, or change in CTE program by the annual deadline of February 15, 5:00 PM MST, for implementation in the upcoming school year (2027-2028). *The 15th falls on a holiday weekend. There will not be any technical support after 4 PM MST on February 12th. 

Please Note: If your LEA does not have an approved program on file with IDCTE and would like to be considered for future program added-cost funding, this is the time to apply for those programs.

LEAs should first consider and be able to address the following before applying for a new CTE Program: 

1. Input from a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) or community and/or industry representatives that the LEA has brought together to provide input in creating the proposed new program. This input should recommend offering the proposed new CTE program in the LEA.
   
   
2. The costs associated with creating and equipping a classroom, lab, and/or shop for the proposed program.
   
   
3. The teacher endorsement needed for the proposed program. 
   
   
4. If you are only adding a teacher to an existing program, please do not fill out this application. You can provide that information on the Local Annual Application in the spring. 

General Instructions

Use this form to:

1. Request a new program (cluster or pathway)
   
   
2. Reinstate a previously offered program
   
   
3. Change a program, including:
   a.  from a cluster program to a pathway program
   b.  from a pathway program to a cluster program     
   c.  change the pathway/cluster in the same program area     
   d.  from one school to another school
   
   
4. Make changes that will impact a career technical center (CTC).  

If you have multiple program requests, you must complete a separate application for each one. Do not submit an application for a program already approved. See your Local Annual Application in ShareFile for current, approved CTE programs.  

The State Board of Education's policy allows the Division to approve program applications by considering existing funding. IDCTE is willing to grant an approved status to each of your program applications on the condition that the LEA is willing and able to start the program(s) without program added-cost funds from the Division. New CTE program funding support may include but is not limited to the following: 

• LEAs may use existing program added-cost funding to support new CTE programs.
• A new pathway that is part of a CTC. 
• A Perkins project that includes the new CTE program as part of its application (Perkins funds).
• A new program supported with LEA general funds or other funding sources. 

Please note that the application is not submitted until the identified approvers complete their portions. Only a CTE Administrator or Superintendent may submit the application. The application is not complete until the Superintendent’s approval is submitted. The applicant is responsible for ensuring approval has been completed.

Note: Email notifications will come from JotForm noreply@formresponse.com. Please add this JotForm email address to your approved email safe list to avoid emails getting filtered out as spam. You are able to save a draft of this application, however after 2 months, the draft will be deleted if you do not submit the application. 

LEA Information

Proposed CTE Program

Program Request Status

• New - First time applying for this program (e.g. adding an additional program).  Program has never been approved for delivery at this LEA.
• Change - Changing from one program or school to another, but no change in teacher's FTE.  Making this selection discontinues original program.
• Reinstated - Program has been offered in the past and was previously approved/funded as a CTE program.

CTE Program Areas and Pathways

See the list of approved programs used by IDCTE.  Clusters are approved for AFNR, BME, ETE, and FCSHS.

• Program areas tab on https://cte.idaho.gov/programs-2/career-areas/ 

Program Quality Managers Contact Information

If you have any questions before, after, or during the application process, please contact the IDCTE Program Quality Manager associated with the appropriate CTE Program Area. If you have questions regarding Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSO), please contact Teresa.

• Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources                        janine.hodges@cte.idaho.gov
• Business and Marketing Education                                shauna.williams@cte.idaho.gov 
• Engineering and Technology Education                        elisa.lowenstein@cte.idaho.gov
• Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Services        shanon.holt@cte.idaho.gov
• Health Professions and Public Safety                              kevin.brinegar@cte.idaho.gov
• Individualized Occupational Training (IOT)                      stephanie.mai@cte.idaho.gov 
• Trades and Industry                                                               chet.andes@cte.idaho.gov
• CTSO                                                                              teresa.danielson@cte.idaho.gov 

CTE Program Areas

Course Offerings

• Cluster programs are composed of approved cluster, introductory, and intermediate courses. (Cluster Programs cannot offer capstone courses)
• Pathway programs must be no less than three semesters, or the equivalent. Programs must culminate in an approved capstone course.
• Career Technical Center (CTC) pathway programs must be no less than five semesters, or the equivalent. Programs must culminate in an approved capstone course and offer an industry/internship experience.

All CTE courses and ISEE numbers can be found in the CTE Assignment Manual and ISEE Resources webpage * For funding, only ISEE codes mapped to the approved programs will be eligible for funding.

If applicable, provide additional information about the proposed program in the comments box below. This may include capstone courses at a CTC, articulation out of region, introductory, and/or intermediate courses taught by IDLA, work-based learning opportunities, and so forth.

Projected Teacher FTE

A teacher does not need to be hired before a LEA applies for a new program. However, the teacher FTE should be considered and planned.

SUBMIT ONLY THE TEACHER(S) FOR THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM. If you are requesting multiple CTE programs, you must complete a separate application for each one.

CTE Components

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

Successful CTE programs maintain close ties with business, industry, and labor and must be integrally linked to the communities and state. CTE programs in Idaho are required by IDAPA to "incorporate active input from an appropriately qualified business/industry technical advisory committee."

Please complete the TAC Program of Work Form found in the Secondary and Postsecondary Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Guidebook on page 8 and 9. This form lists the TAC members who have been involved in the development of this proposed program or who have agreed to serve on the TAC of the proposed program. A TAC should consist of no more than three LEA employees and three or more industry representatives.

If a TAC has not been created for the proposed program, provide the names of individuals who provided input to the district during the decision-making process. In addition, provide minutes, communication, and/or other evidence that reflect the discussion and support of this pathway.

Student Leadership Development

Student leadership development is integral to CTE pathway and cluster programs and is provided through an IDCTE-approved Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO). Please select the IDCTE-approved CTSO with which this program will affiliate.

If the proposed program does not intend to affiliate with a CTSO, please contact the Director of Student Leadership to discuss the circumstances before submitting this application.

Work Experience

Realistic Work Experience

Facilities

Statement of Assurances

General Program Assurances

1. The Local Education Agency (LEA) has surveyed students, parents, and the community and believes the stakeholders will support moving forward with the proposed new/changed pathway or cluster program.

2. The LEA will continually consult with stakeholders, such as students, parents, and local employers, to meet local program needs and engages at least twice annually with a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to provide adequate support. The program representative of the Career Technical Education (CTE) program actively conducts outreach activities to develop partnerships to ensure the program is informed by employer and community needs.

3. The LEA will employ an instructor(s) who holds an Idaho teaching certificate with an appropriate CTE endorsement for the proposed program.

4. The LEA will maintain, and update annually, an inventory of equipment purchased with CTE funds, which includes exercising reasonable care and safekeeping of equipment.

5. The LEA recognizes Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are an intra curricular component of a CTE program and the importance of leadership development in a student’s personal and career growth. The LEA will encourage the participation of all students enrolled in the program with the CTSO aligned with the program.

6. The LEA will ensure access to the proposed program will be provided to all students who need or can benefit from instruction in this program.

7. The instructor(s) will participate in professional development related to the proposed program and teaching assignment, including the annual summer conference provided by Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (IDCTE).

8. The LEA understands that a secondary CTE program is based on workforce needs and occupational demand which requires trained and educated workers.

Program Design and Assessment Assurances:

The LEA will:

1. Ensure career guidance for students will support the pathway program for the CTE proposed program.

2. Ensure student career development information (documentation of self-evaluation activities, documentation of career exploration activities, and Idaho Student Learning Plans) is transferred to high school counselors and available to CTE teachers and resource personnel.

3. Align and articulate with a postsecondary CTE program or offer at least one relevant industry certification.

4. Provide high-value work-based Learning (WBL) experiences that align with workforce and occupational demand which requires trained and educated workers.

5. Ensure CTE classrooms and laboratories will be clean, orderly, safe, and industry-relevant. Students will be provided appropriate safety instruction related to the program.

6. Offer the required capstone course (for pathway programs only) to complete the sequence of courses.

7. Implement the proposed program as described, including the administration of a state-approved Technical Skills Assessment (TSA) as a component of the capstone course.

8. Implement the proposed program as described, including the administration of Workplace Readiness Assessment (WRA) as component of a CTE program.

9. Require the pathway program teacher(s) to use SkillStack® to award appropriate microcredentials students have earned.

Fiscal Assurances:

The LEA will:

1. Use added-cost funds only for expenses directly related to an approved CTE program according to Idaho State Board of Education policy.

2. Use the CTE program equipment and supplies only for which they are intended.

Reporting Assurances:

The LEA will:

1. Provide requested information to IDCTE to enable the State Board for Career Technical Education to comply with the allocation guidelines.

2. Submit reports and other information as required by IDCTE, within the dates established, and maintain documentation in the school district as required.

3. Submit a program self-assessment of Secondary Quality Program Measures during the scheduled, rotating five-year review cycle as determined by IDCTE.

Career Technical Center (CTC) Program Assurances (Additional assurances for CTC programs only): Per Governing Statute: IC § 33-1002G | Governing Rule: IDAPA 55.01.03.10.

1. Center is overseen by a CTE Administrator holding a Career Technical Administrator certificate pursuant to IDAPA 08.02.02. “Rules Governing Uniformity,” Section 015.

2. The majority of the program offerings lead to postsecondary credit, such as dual credit or other advanced opportunities, as defined by the state board of education, or include apprenticeship opportunities.

3. All programs offer at least one (1) supervised field experience for all students enrolled in the program.

4. Center delivers a sequence of career technical education courses that culminate in a capstone course.

5. Center develops and maintains business and industry partnerships in addition to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

6. Center integrates industry-specific, state-of-the-art equipment and technologies into classroom instruction and applied learning opportunities for students.

7. Center employs instructors who hold career technical certification to teach the occupation and who also hold a related industry-based credential, or equivalent credential as approved by the Division.

8. Center promotes leadership development.

Approval Contacts

Submission