Glossary

Carrer and Technical Education Glossary

Term	Definition
504 Plan	504 plans are formal plans that schools develop to give kids with disabilities the support they need. That covers any condition that limits daily activities in a major way. These plans prevent discrimination. And they protect the rights of kids with disabilities in school. They’re covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act . This is a civil rights law.
ACT	ACT assessment is a five-hour national college test which includes five sections: Writing Science Math Reading English Most colleges will accept a student’s ACT scores as a part of the admissions evaluation. Eleventh grade students are required by the state to take this assessment which is administered in each high school.
ACTE	Association for Career and Technical Education is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepared youth and adults for careers.
Advanced Studies	This culminating course is for juniors and seniors who have earned TWO technical credits, one of which is a concentrator course, in one Career Pathway. The Advanced Studies course must augment the content of the concentrator course and prepare students for success in transitioning to postsecondary education and future careers. Students work under the guidance of a teacher with expertise in the content of the concentrator course in collaboration with community members, business representatives, and other school-based personnel.
Apprenticeship	Apprenticeship is a training program that can be sponsored by employers, unions, colleges, or community-based organizations and combines paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction that culminates in the award of a portable, nationally recognized industry credential.
Articulation Agreement	Allows students to receive advanced placement credit for completion of identified Career and Technical Education courses while in high school.
Articulation Credit	Several Career and Technical Education courses which are offered at each of the high schools can be used for credit when a student attends a community college. The community college will give automatic credit to the student if he/she has earned a B in the course and a raw score of 90% or above on the state end of course test.
Assessment	A tool used to measure abilities, aptitudes, values, and interests. Can be formative (quizzes and tests that evaluate how someone is learning material throughout a course) or summative (quizzes and tests that evaluate how much someone has learned throughout a course).
BLC	Building Level Coordinator designated by the CTE Director or school principal to implement and monitor the administration of the CTE Proofs of Learning at the school level.
Business Advisory Council	Created to provide the school board assistance in the review of its duty to provide CTE instruction, activities, and services. In accordance with the requirements of state law, the business advisory council will serve the board by identifying economic and workforce development trends related to the training and educational needs of the community and advocating for strong, local career and technical education programs, including career pathway development that provides work-based learning opportunities for students and prepares students for post-secondary educational certifications and credentialing for high-demand careers.
Business Partnerships	Provide relevant, realistic experiences that help students see the connection between academic success today and career success tomorrow.
Career Clusters	Career Clusters™ are broad groupings of occupations/career specialties, organized by common knowledge and skills required for career success. There are 16 Career Clusters™ and 79 related pathways (sub-groupings of occupations/career specialties).
Career Pathways	The process through which an individual comes to understand his or her career aspirations. Students develop and identify their careers through a continuum of career awareness, career exploration and work exposure activities that help them to discern their own career path. Career Development encompasses an individual’s education and career-related choices and the outcome of those choices.
Career Pathways Concentrator	A student who has successfully completed a Concentrator Course in an approved Career Pathway.
Career Pathways Concentrator Course	A second or third level course in the Career Pathway that builds upon technical skills acquired in a prerequisite course.
Career Development Coordinator (CDC)	Provides career development services for students. These services include: Identifying CTE Concentrators, Assisting with resumes, job applications, job fairs, internships, Working with CCP students, Obtaining Guest Speakers/Mentors such as Business, Post-Secondary Institutions, Military
Career and College Promise (CCP)	North Carolina’s Career and College Promise provides a pathway for high school students to begin their college work during high school. There are specific course pathways and restrictions to help guide students toward career and educational goals and it clarifies which students are eligible and best positioned to be successful in college coursework while in high school. Tuition is free, but other fees may apply.
Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act of 2006	Federal legislation, first authorized in 1984, to define vocational-technical (career-technical) education. Perkins provides individuals with the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in a knowledge- and skills-based economy.
Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)	Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is the process by which public school units, based on a body of evidence, award student credit in a particular course without requiring the student to complete the classroom instruction for a certain amount of seat time.
Certification or Credential	Verification of qualifications, competence and/or authority of an individual to perform at levels of proficiency established by a third party. Some CTE courses have a Credential as the required Proof of Learning (POL).
Curriculum and Instruction Management Coordinator (CIMC)	Provides support to the CTE Directors, CTE Teachers, and CDC's
Classroom Administrator	A licensed teacher who serves as the administrator of the CTE Proof of Learning. The Classroom Administrator is responsible for following established procedures and accurately reporting state and federal data.
CTE Local Application	Common Local Needs Assessment. The CTE Local Application System has been developed in compliance with Perkins V – The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The Local Application serves as a district’s planning document and application for CTE state/federal funding. The completion and approval of the Local Application also serves as a compliance document which meets all requirements of Perkins. The Local Application is a two-year plan. In year one, the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment is completed and strategies to address the identified needs are developed. In year two, strategies are reviewed and revised as needed.
Career and Technical Education (CTE)	CTE provides high school students the opportunity to take courses in eight program areas so that they can explore interests and careers while building and strengthening their career-specific knowledge and skills. The eight education program areas are: Agricultural; Business, Finance and Information Technology; Career Development; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health Science; Marketing and Entrepreneurship; Technology Engineering and Design; and Trade and Industrial.
CTE CMS	Career and Technical Education Course Management System.
CTE Concentrator	A student who earned two or more credits within a single Career Pathway.
CTE Participant	A student who has completed at least one course credit in any CTE Career Pathway.
Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)	A career and technical student organization (CTSO) is an extracurricular group for students in CTE pathways to further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.
DECA	CTSO for Marketing Education students (Association of Marketing Students)
Dual Enrollment	When a high school student takes a credit-bearing postsecondary course, be it on a college campus, within a high school taught by college faculty or a high school teacher who qualifies as a college adjunct, or online through distance education.
FBLA	CTSO for Business Education students (Future Business Leaders of America)
Exceptional Children	Exceptional Children - the mission of the Exceptional Children Division is to ensure that students with disabilities develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized education program in the least restrictive environment.
ECATS	Every Child Accountability & Tracking System (CTE teachers will use ECATS to find/review student IEPS). ECATS consists of three integrated modules: Special Education, Service Documentation, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
English Learner (EL)	English Learner - An individual whose native language is a language other than English or who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency and who requires a specialized language support program to participate fully in the curriculum and state-wide assessment program. EL is now referred to as ML (multilingual learner).
English as a Second Language (ESL)	English as a Second Language. A program model that delivers specialized instruction to students who are learning English as a new language.
EVAAS	Education Value Added Assessment System. SAS® EVAAS™ for K-12 is a customized software system available to all NC school districts that provides diagnostic reports quickly to district and school staff. EVAAS tools provide a precise measurement of student progress over time and a reliable diagnosis of opportunities for growth that help to identify which students are at risk for under-achievement.
FFA	CTSO for Agriculture Education students (Future Farmers of America)
FRL	Free and Reduced Priced Lunch. Children qualify, based upon parent or guardian financial status, to receive either free or reduced priced lunch through a federal governmental program.
Honors	Certain courses are designated as honors courses because of the challenging nature of the curriculum. These courses receive one additional quality point, or 0.5 quality points for the 2015-16 ninth grade class, in the weighted grading system that is used to compute GPA.
HOSA	CTSO for Health Sciences Education (Health Occupations Students of America)
IEP	Individualized Education Program. The IEP is a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed, at least annually, by a team of professionals knowledgeable about the student and the parent. The plan describes the strengths of the child and the concerns of the parents for enhancing the education of their child, and when, where, and how often services will be provided. The IEP is required by federal law for all exceptional children and must include specific information about how the student will be served and what goals he or she should be meeting.
IPOL	Indicator Proof of Learning created for students on the Occupational Course of Study pathway. Proof of Learning is aligned to the modified blueprint created by the CTE teacher.
Internship	An experience that allows students to work in a professional environment to gain training and skills. Internships may be paid or unpaid and can be of varying lengths during or after the academic year.
Job Shadowing	A career exploration activity that provides an opportunity to spend time with a professional currently working in a specific career field, occupation or area of interest. It allows a student to see and participate in what it is actually like to work in a specific job by observing day-to-day activities of someone in the current workforce, to ask questions, and gain occupational knowledge
LD	Learning Disabled - Students who often experience problems with the acquisition, organization and/or retrieval of information
LEA	Local Education Agency. Synonymous with a local school system or a local school district, indicating that a public board of education or other public authority maintains administrative control of the public schools in a city or county.
LEP	Limited English Proficient. In the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, the term, 'English learner' replaces the term 'Limited English Proficient' used in section 9101 of the ESEA, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
LCO	A Local Course Option requires considerable advance planning and preparation. Each local course must be approved before it is advertised and offered to students. A Local Course Option should be used to: Provide for innovation, but not duplication of courses in the Essential Standards.
LMS	Learning Management System. A software application that is used to administer, document, track, report and deliver educational courses or training programs.
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)	NC MTSS is a multi-tiered framework that promotes school improvement through engaging, research-based academic and behavioral practices as well as Social Emotional Learning (SEL). NC MTSS employs a systems approach using data-driven problem-solving to maximize growth for all.
Modified Blueprint	NC DPI CTE Blueprints that are preferably split into two parts – Part A and Part B so that each Occupational Course of Study (OCS) student has their own individual blueprint. Based on the modified blueprint OCS students will complete and participate in CTE Proofs of Learning (POL).
NCATE	North Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education is the North Carolina state association affiliated with ACTE and is dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers.
NCEES	The North Carolina Educator Evaluation System. A system used to evaluate the performance of all teachers, principals, assistant principals, instructional central office administrators and superintendents to promote effective leadership, quality teaching and student learning while enhancing professional practice that leads to improved instruction.
NCDPI	North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The NCDPI is led by the State Superintendent and administers the policies adopted by the State Board of Education. It offers instructional, financial, technological and personnel support to all public school systems in the state.
NCVPS	North Carolina Virtual Public School offers high school courses that are taken over the Internet or through correspondence from other high schools across the nation. Virtual High School courses are courses that require strong independent, self-motivated students. See your counselor for enrollment procedures.
NCCTE Admin	The state CTE Division system that collects student results/data on various CTE Proofs of Learning.
NTHS	National Technical Honor Society - This honor is awarded to students who are actively involved in a CTE student organization, have demonstrated academic success through their mastery of CTE courses, while also maintaining a commendable overall GPA.
Occupational Course of Study (OCS)	One of the courses of study pathways to earn a high school diploma. The OCS curriculum prepares students to be competent, dependable employees, as well as, independent, responsible adults. The curriculum focuses on the development of functional academic skills and hands-on vocational training with the ultimate outcome of transitioning the student from high school into competitive employment.
PD	Professional Development. The term refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement such as continuous courses, workshops, activities and learning objectives aimed at helping professional educators and staff members improve their skills in their fields.
PEP	Personalized Education Plan. An individualized educational plan designed to improve a student’s performance to grade-level proficiency.
PBM	Performance Based Measure. A Performance Based Assessment (PBA) is a real-world, industry problem-based or design-based culminating challenge that assesses students' knowledge and skills of a CTE pathway program. The challenges, developed by local industry partners, ask students to develop a solution or product and present their ideas to the industry professionals. The PBM is a Proof of Learning (POL) and students are assessed on the PBM throughout the academic semester.
Perkins	Perkins is short for Carl D. Perkins Act. Federal legislation, first authorized in 1984, to define vocational-technical (career-technical) education. Perkins provides individuals with the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in a knowledge- and skills-based economy.
PLC	Professional Learning Communities. PLCs are defined by collaborative inquiry, shared decision-making and joint planning of instruction among teachers. Teachers are provided structured time to work together in planning instruction, observing each other's classrooms, and sharing feedback.
PLTW	Project Lead the Way - With its focus on high-level mathematics, science and technology, PLTW is a framework for the development of schools of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Participating teachers and schools must give PLTW course exams
POL	Proof of Learning - type of assessment provided in a CTE course and is a defined measure of students’ mastery of standards and objectives learned in a CTE course. CTE POLs may be in the form of a CTE State Assessment, Third Party Assessment, Performance Based Measure (PBM), Credential, or Local Measure - these POLs are all directly aligned to the course standards and objectives. Any student enrolled in a CTE course is expected to complete the Proof of Learning identified for that course.
Post-Secondary	This term means “after the completion of high school." It typically refers to any education a person receives beyond or after high school.
PQM	Program Quality Measure
Prerequisite	A prerequisite is a required course that is to be completed before a student can take the course in question.
PSU	Public School Unit
SBE	The State Board of Education is charged with supervising and administering “the free public school system and the educational funds provided for its support.”
SEL	Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. (CASEL, 2020)
SkillsUSA	CTSO for Trade and Industrial Education students
Soft Skills	Also known as Employability Skills - Skills such as punctuality, responsibility, dependability, honesty, teamwork and integrity, which can all be translated into the work environment.
SPC	Special Populations Coordinator. Coordinates services for special population students to ensure their access to, progression through, and success in the Career and Technical Education programs.
STEM	Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics curriculum.
WBL	Work Based Learning - A coordinated, coherent sequence of experiences featuring partnerships with local business and industry.
WIDA	The WIDA Consortium is an educational consortium of state departments of education that supports academic language development for students who are English Learners. North Carolina uses WIDA to assess and monitor English language proficiency.
Workforce Development Board	A local Workforce Development Board is a group of community leaders appointed by local elected officials and charged with planning and oversight responsibilities for workforce programs and services in their area.
WorkKeys	The ACT WorkKeys® Assessment measures foundational skills required for success in the workplace, and helps measure the workplace skills that can affect job performance.
Worker's Permit	Most youth under the age of 18 years need a worker's permit in order to be employed.

Updated 11/08/2021

The Orange County School System offers a wide range of Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs including Agriculture; Business, Finance, & Marketing; Career Development; Computer Science & Information Technology; Family Consumer Sciences; Health Sciences; and Trade, Technology, Engineering, & Industrial Education. All middle schools offer exploratory CTE courses. Orange County CTE programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its activities and programs, including employment policies and practices.