Career Pathways: A career pathway is a sequence of academic and CTE courses designed to prepare high school students for transition to more advanced post-secondary coursework in a career area of interest. Students take career pathway courses to enhance the relevance of their learning and to prepare for college and career.

Most career pathways combine academic classroom-based activities, hands-on project-based learning, and work-based learning experiences at business and agency work sites. Instruction is aligned with the Common Core State Standards, CTE Model Curriculum Standards, and current industry practices.

Career Pathway programs are offered in high schools throughout Sonoma County in industry areas that have been identified as viable sectors of Sonoma County’s economy. Many schools provide career pathways using Smaller Learning Community models.

Smaller Learning Communities are an educational model for structuring high school programs around career themes. English, science, and social science courses are oriented around career clusters—healthcare, engineering, media, public service, and others. Academic instruction is supported and reinforced by CTE courses that address the specific skills and knowledge necessary for future employment in the career cluster. Smaller Learning Communities schedule students in cohort groups so that they matriculate through the three- to four-year program with the same group of peers.

Partnerships and Grants

Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP): The Summer High School STEM Internship Program (SHIP) is a partnership between the School of Science and Technology (SST) at Sonoma State University and the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE).

10000degrees.org: SCOE collaborates with the nonprofit organization 10,000 Degrees to help students from low-income backgrounds get to and through college. Thanks to comprehensive personal support, academic counseling, and financial aid management, 86 percent of 10,000 Degrees four-year college students earn bachelor’s degrees, compared to 31 percent nationally. As vital members of local communities, 10,000 Degrees college alumni are more likely to vote, more likely to volunteer, and earn over $1 million more in their lifetimes.

CTE Foundation of Sonoma County: SCOE also collaborates with the CTE Foundation of Sonoma County to align education and industry, in order to strengthen economic development and student achievement.

CTE Resources

Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE)
Buck Institute: Project-Based Learning for the 21st Century
California Career Center
Career & College Academy Support Network (CCASN)
CDE, Career Technical Education
ConnectEd: California Center for College and Career
CTE, Learning that Works for America
GetREAL: Relevance in Education and Learning
Linked Learning Alliance
Project Lead The Way, Standards Alignment Tool
National Academy Foundation

Access SCOE's online College and Career Readiness guide here.