U.S. Department of Education. (2016). Issue Brief: Career-Themed Curriculum. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service.
Abstract
The brief describes the use of career-themed curriculum (CTC) as a dropout prevention strategy based on a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 U.S. public high schools. A career-themed curriculum is a sequence of courses that integrate core academic and career and technical education (CTE) themes. CTC includes not only specific CTE coursework that students elect to take, but also schoolwide reforms or instructional strategies, college and career preparation, and applied learning opportunities. These approaches to CTC are designed to help engage students in high school, encourage them to graduate, and ensure that more students obtain the skills required for success in college and future careers.