The goal of Alabama’s Career/Technical Education curriculum is to provide students access to a flexible system of rigorous school- and work-based learning planned collaboratively by students, parents, educators, and employers.

This system results in graduates having industry-recognized credentials and preparation for advanced study or employment. Upon graduation, Alabama’s Career/Technical Education students are prepared for postsecondary education, apprenticeship programs, employment; as well as individual, family, employer, and community success.

In order to succeed in today’s highly competitive job market, students must continually acquire new skills and new ways of managing knowledge and information. Alabama’s Career/Technical Education curriculum keeps pace with the rapid changes in business and industry by offering students high caliber learning experiences that are in a continuous process of review and improvement.

Alabama’s Career/Technical Education curriculum continually readdresses student learning by individualizing instruction with emphasis on customized learning rather than generic “one-size-fits-all” instruction.

Alabama’s Career/Technical Education curriculum, designed to address students’ needs both now and for the future, encompasses the following principles and characteristics:

• Provides individually-based and hands-on learning experiences for students.
  
• Students assume a high level of responsibility and accountability for developing specific skills and knowledge needed for their individual goals.
  
• Teachers, counselors, parents, and students are active participants in the development of student’s instructional plans.
• Technology is used to support and customize course content to match student learning styles, experiences, and skills.
  
• Learning is designed to broaden student’s career opportunities and competitiveness.

Preparing students for success is the mission of Alabama’s Career/Technical Education Section. Currently, more than 202,000 students are enrolled in career/technical education programs throughout the state.

Students participating in Alabama’s career/technical education programs are prepared for future prosperity through the use of a student-centered course of study that utilizes a rigorous school- and work-based curriculum and have opportunities to explore their career options in more than 215 courses in the fields of Agriscience, Business/Marketing, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, and Technical/Career Technologies Education.

To add additional accountability and to promote increased confidence among parents, students, and community stakeholders, all career/technical education programs in Alabama have received industry certification, making Alabama the only state in the nation to accomplish this goal. Also, students participating in the career development options offered by Alabama’s career/technical education programs have excellent opportunities to enter high-skill, high-wage professions.

With a continued commitment to providing students with state-of-the-art and technology-based educational experiences, Alabama’s career/technical education programs are successfully preparing America’s youth with the skills necessary for today’s highly competitive job market, and for entry into four- and two-year postsecondary education institutions.