SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today applauded the University of California (UC) for taking action to clarify its policy regarding high school Career Technical Education (CTE) courses that meet the University's "a-g" admission criteria. This action encourages the development of multiple pathways in the K-12 system to prepare students for both college and careers.

"I am pleased that the University of California has developed standards and clarified its policy regarding the acceptance of CTE courses for the purpose of qualifying students for entry into the UC system," O'Connell said. "The published guidelines provide new criteria for accepting CTE courses that integrate rigorous academics with technical and occupational knowledge.

"The development of CTE courses qualifying for the UC a-g course admission requirements has been an important priority of mine since taking office. Over the past five years, the number of CTE courses qualifying for UC admission has expanded from 284 to the current level of 5,614. Despite this dramatic expansion, there remained barriers for local high schools that sought to increase the number of college preparatory CTE courses. Recent action by the University's Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools provides clear criteria that will serve to expand the number of CTE courses and provide new opportunities for students seeking to attend the UC or California State University (CSU) systems.

"More students in California must exit high school with the academic and technical skills needed to be competitive in the global economy. The types of low-skilled jobs that could provide a sustainable living are rapidly disappearing, and represent only 10 percent of jobs currently available to our graduates. Students must be prepared with a strong base of academic and technical skills that allows them to access and succeed in college or other postsecondary education opportunities.

"Given these facts, many high schools necessarily plan their course of study based on the UC a-g course requirements. Often this has forced students to choose between an academic course or a CTE course. With this clarification of the UC admission requirements, high school counselors will be able to guide students into coursework that prepares them for both entry into postsecondary education and prepares them for a future career.

"I have alerted the school districts in California to this important change in UC admission policy. I also have requested that all superintendents and high school principals review their course offerings to determine if their current CTE courses can be submitted to qualify for a-g approval. Additionally, I am encouraging them to support the efforts of their teachers and other educators to develop additional, rigorous CTE courses that will expand student choices for preparing for college as well as careers."

The new University of California guidelines may be viewed at University of California - a-g Guide [http://www.ucop.edu/a-gGuide/ag/a-g/elective.html] (Outside Source).