Career and technical education program

Formerly known as the CNMI PSS Vocational Education Program, the language was updated to the Career and Technical Education Program. Since then, the CNMI PSS CTE Program has worked diligently to ensure that the CNMI PSS CTE Program:

• Includes all students;
• Offers Career Clusters and Pathways;
• Integrates a rigorous and relevant curriculum with academics;
• Provides high school and post-secondary partnerships leading to pathways to employment and/or associate, bachelor’s, and advanced degrees; and
• Builds a progression of foundational, pathway, occupational and 21st century skills within its framework.

By ensuring that these components are embedded within the CTE Program, it is the vision of the CTE Program that the following will result in:

• College and Career Ready students;
• Career and Cluster Pathways leading to better career prospects for students;
• A rigorous, relevant, and integrated academic curriculum preparing students for employment in high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand professions;
• High school and post-secondary partnerships providing the skills and training by addressing the needs of high-growth industries; and 
• A progressive 21stCentury CTE Framework that produces students that can respond to the economic needs in our communities—both locally and globally.

1. CTE is critical to ensuring that the United States (CNMI) leads in global competitiveness.

2. CTE actively partners with employers to design and provide high-quality, dynamic programs.

3. CTE prepares students to succeed in further education and careers.

4. CTE is delivered through comprehensive programs aligned to The National Career Clusters Framework.

5. CTE is a results-driven system that demonstrates a positive return on investment.

By 2025, all CNMI PSS students will graduate high school or its equivalent prepared for both college and a successful career in postsecondary, workforce, and military, through high quality comprehensive CTE programs and pathways.

CTE supplements our core education by combining rigorous core academic classes with industry-related, work-based learning focusing on career awareness, exploration, preparation, and application. This is an integral part of the Career and Technical Education career pathways. What makes the Career and Technical Education Program ideal for youth workforce development is the classroom education component coupled with monitored and supervised work-based learning. Career and Technical Education career pathways are planned learning experiences for which credit is earned, that enables students gain work experience, career planning and opportunity to earn income through paid internships.

CTE provides students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in the classroom and apply that learning in the real workplace environment. Through CTE, students develop transferable employability skills and occupational competence which will serve them throughout their continuing education and career. In addition, the CTE Program links the desire of youth for jobs in the CNMI with the need to expand US citizen worker participation in our tourism-based economy. The integration of classroom instruction by CTE teachers with monitored and supervised on-the-job training serves as a gateway for entry-level employment. 

The CNMI Public School System (CNMI PSS) together with its postsecondary and workforce partners have launched an innovative partnership to build career pathways programs that will create new economic opportunities for its residents and prepare CNMI to meet workforce challenges today and in the future. Support for these program components are critical for high-quality CTE program planning, implementation and delivery. Resources such as equipment, supplies, instructional materials, technical support, stipends and policy recommendations are also necessary for these programs to be successful in serving all students.