Local school district administrators and career center directors are encouraged to use the 2020 Vision for Career and Technology Education in South Carolina as a framework for planning and program development. The strategic plan, developed by school and district administrators, career center directors, teachers, parents, students, legislators, and business people, reflects statewide priorities expressed through 10 vision themes: Accountability, Business Relationships, Curriculum, Funding, Leadership, Marketing, Professional Development, Recruitment, Structural Change and Technology.

The goals and strategies developed for each theme need to be considered, as local administrators assess program needs, allocate state and federal resources and develop the educational and workforce connections needed to prepare secondary students for their future education and employment. The Office of Career and Technology Education uses the 2020 Vision strategic plan to provide leadership and direction for the many career and technology programs and initiatives in South Carolina.

2020 Strategic Plan: 10 Vision Themes

The mission for the 2020 Vision for Career and Technology Education Strategic Plan is:

To develop an integrated learning system that enables students to be successful in a a a global economy.

The strategic plan includes 10 themes and respective vision statements that outline the current priorities for career and technology education. Each theme is further developed through the identified goals and strategies, which can be incorporated into local school district plans and programs for career and technology education at the secondary level.

Accountability
To meet specific measures of performance at all levels.

Relationships
To develop a network of business relationships that promotes career awareness and marketable skills.

Curriculum
To develop and implement a relevant curriculum that uses current technology and instructional strategies.

Funding
To acquire the funds essential to achieve the vision.

Leadership
To provide an effective leadership program for Career and Technology Education.

Marketing
To create awareness of and to promote the value of Career and Technology Education.

Professional Development
To provide effective professional development.

Recruitment
To develop and implement a system for recruiting and retaining quality educators and students.

Structural Change
To establish a structure that provides opportunities leading to student success.

Technology
To secure and effectively utilize world class technology. 

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2020 Vision Goals and Strategies

The goals and strategies developed for each of the 10 themes within the 2020 Vision Strategic Plan have been incorporated into the South Carolina Four-Year State Plan For Career and Technology Education (Fiscal Years 2001-2004). To accomplish the mission outlined for career and technology education in South Carolina, each school district and multi-district career center must put the vision themes, goals and strategies into action at the local level. School district administrators and career center directors can incorporate the broadly stated goals and strategies into local needs assessments, district and school strategic plans and local applications for funding to support secondary career and technology education programs.

ACCOUNTABILITY: To meet specific measures of performance at all levels.

Goal 1: Develop an accountability system that identifies the responsibilities of all stakeholders.

Strategies:

• Determine the stakeholders. 
  
• Determine the responsibilities of each group.

• Develop and implement a marketing plan to involve the stakeholders. 

Goal 2: Provide professional development opportunities to ensure implementation of the accountability system.
Strategies:

• Identify professional development needs. 

• Develop strategies and activities for accountability. 

• Implement and evaluate professional development opportunities to ensure accountability. 

Goal 3: Implement a system that includes benchmarks and standards to measure student achievement.
Strategies:

• Tie Career and Technology Education program competencies to state, national, and international standards. 

• Develop and administer benchmarks to measure achievement. 

• Evaluate and adjust program curricula based on student performance. 

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BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS: To develop a network of business relationships that promotes career awareness and marketable skills.

Goal 1: Establish business partnerships between businesses and career centers/ secondary schools.

Strategies:

• Share facilities and resources. 

• Blend classroom experiences with business/industry expectations. 

• Assist students in developing career interests by making businesses an extension of the classroom. 

Goal 2: Create effective career advisory committees.
Strategies:

• Review and update curriculum on a regular cycle. 

• Assist with the evaluation of accountability standards. 

• Support school-to-career activities. 

Goal 3: Establish recognition programs for outstanding Career and Technology Education students. 

Strategies:

• Secure business partnerships for funding. 

• Set standards of student performance for award eligibility. 

• Assist in the selection and presentation of awards to students. 

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CURRICULUM: To develop and implement a relevant curriculum that uses current technology and instructional strategies.

Goal 1: Create an integrated curriculum that includes state and national standards for mastery of academic, technology, and employability skills. 

Strategies: 

• Identify and address the needs of the local, national, and international business community. 

• Develop integrated instructional and assessment strategies. 

• Implement national standards in all Career and Technology Education programs, to include work-based, school-based, and connecting activities. 

Goal 2: Establish a curriculum that utilizes state-of-the-art technology. 

Strategies: 

• Provide current technology and equipment to all Career and Technology Education programs. 

• Provide training for proper utilization of the technology and equipment. 

• Ensure student access to and utilization of the technology and equipment in the classroom. 

Goal 3: Deliver the curriculum using instructional strategies appropriate for each learner. 

Strategies: 

• Recognize and teach to multiple learning styles (to include brain-based research). 

• Incorporate research-based practices dealing with technology.

• Provide teacher support for using state-of-the-art technology. 

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FUNDING: To acquire the funds essential to achieve the vision.

Goal 1: Determine the needs for adequate funding. 

Strategies: 

• Conduct a statewide funding needs assessment. 

• Develop a cost analysis based on the statewide funding needs assessment.

• Update the statewide procurement process to ensure maximum use of available funds. 

Goal 2: Secure equitable funding to fully implement the vision. 

Strategies: 

• Establish a budget based on the cost analysis of statewide needs. 

• Participate in the federal and state legislative process to secure the required funding. 

• Request a State Board of Education review of EFA funding categories. 

Goal 3: Develop a plan to distribute funding equitably to all school districts. 

Strategies: 

• Establish a per-pupil funding level that will adequately meet the needs of all school districts across the State. 

• Implement a distribution plan. 

• Develop an audit trail from the funding source to the student for full implementation of the vision. 

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LEADERSHIP: To provide an effective leadership program for Career and Technology Education.

Goal 1: Establish an effective leadership program. 

Strategies: 

• Establish skills and benchmarks for administrators, teachers, and students.

• Develop a leadership institute for administrators, teachers, and students.

• Implement an ongoing leadership development program. 

Goal 2: Ensure all educators and students have access to leadership training. 

Strategies: 

• Develop a curriculum that focuses on leadership skills. 

• Provide resources necessary to encourage educators and students to participate in leadership activities. 

• Involve business and industry in all aspects of the leadership program. 

Goal 3: Establish continuous and open communication among all stakeholders. 

Strategies: 

• Create an interactive web site for the leadership institute. 

• Conduct statewide forums on leadership issues. 

• Assess and provide feedback for leadership program improvement. 

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MARKETING: To create awareness of and to promote the value of Career and Technology Education.

Goal 1: Obtain support from local community. 

Strategies: 

• Utilize state leadership to develop marketing strategies promoting Career and Technology Education. 

• Establish a plan for effective use of news media to promote Career and Technology Education. 

• Develop a network of community, civic, church, and professional organizations to promote Career and Technology Education. 

Goal 2: Generate support among teachers, administrators, educational staff, students, and parents. 

Strategies: 

• Develop and implement marketing strategies for all educators to promote the value of effective Career and Technology Education programs. 

• Develop and implement marketing strategies to promote a positive image of Career and Technology Education programs to parents and students. 

• Recognize and reward outstanding educators, parents, and students. 

Goal 3: Generate program support from local business/industry and political leaders. 

Strategies: 

•  Identify key local business/industry and political leaders. 

• Involve the network support groups in the ongoing development(s) of Career and Technology Education. 

• Recognize and reward outstanding business/industry and political leaders. 

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: To provide effective professional development.

Goal 1: Use professional organizations and state leadership to structure professional development for educators. 

Strategies: 

• Establish educator standards for professionalism. 

• Provide state/regional opportunities for professional growth. 

• Implement measures for accountability. 

Goal 2: Establish partnerships with business/industry. 

Strategies: 

• Utilize business/industry to provide on-site training for educators. 

• Share professional development opportunities with educators. 

• Secure business leaders as resources for professional development. 

Goal 3: Provide training to address state and national teaching standards. 

Strategies: 

• Establish teacher competencies for each program area. 

• Require training in research-based teaching methodologies. 

• Revise and standardize teacher education programs throughout our colleges and universities. 

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RECRUITMENT: To develop and implement a system for recruiting and retaining quality students and educators.

Goal 1: Establish a recruitment program for students. 

Strategies: 

• Develop strategies to advertise program opportunities. 

• Ensure all students have a career development plan. 

• Eliminate barriers for student participation in Career and Technology Education programs. 

Goal 2: Recruit quality educators. 

Strategies: 

• Develop an attractive recruiting package. 

• Market and distribute the recruiting package. 

• Assess barriers to enrollment in teacher education programs. 

Goal 3: Develop strategies to retain students and educators. 

Strategies: 

• Identify and eliminate barriers to student completion of programs. 

• Identify and share strategies to retain successful educators. 

• Develop a support structure for program completion and job satisfaction. 

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STRUCTURAL CHANGE: To establish a structure that provides opportunities leading to student success.

Goal 1: Identify a structure that will reflect current and future needs of our society. 

Strategies: 

• Study exemplary models. 

• Select appropriate components of these models. 

• Design and implement a structural model. 

Goal 2: Create a structure that will eliminate obstacles to developing an effective Career and Technology Education program. 

Strategies: 

• Identify obstacles that interfere with effective programs. 

• Develop a plan that will eliminate obstacles. 

• Define the role of each stakeholder involved in the process. 

Goal 3: Provide a structure that gives optimum flexibility in program offerings. 

Strategies: 

• Provide a schedule that allows optimum access to Career and Technology Education programs. 

• Adjust weightings of Career and Technology Education courses. 

• Create advanced placement credit for transfer to postsecondary institutions. 

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TECHNOLOGY: To secure and effectively utilize world-class technology.

Goal 1: Improve the mastery of technology in all program areas. 

Strategies: 

• Implement a professional development program in technology. 

• Educate all students in the application of emerging technologies. 

• Establish technological competency levels for educators and students. 

Goal 2: Develop collaborative efforts with business partners to ensure acquisition and development of technology. 

Strategies: 

• Secure active business partners to provide a link to emerging and advanced technology. 

•  Implement school-to-career programs that emphasize technology. 

• Provide teacher shadow days for technological updating. 

Goal 3: Encourage and implement increased funding sources for technology. 

Strategies: 

• Increase state funding for technology implementation. 

• Create opportunities for technology grants through business partnerships. 

• Provide schools with examples of model programs effectively utilizing technology. 

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