New Jersey Department of Education

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Office of Career Readiness

The Office of Career Readiness provides leadership to advance innovative and performance-driven educational opportunities that promote equity and excellence for all students to become productive members in a global society. This is achieved by providing guidance to schools on implementing New Jersey Student Learning Standard 9.3-Career and Technical Education.

In addition, the office is responsible for the statewide implementation of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. This includes collaboration with the state workforce development system, institutions of higher education, business and industry and other state agencies to create rigorous programs of study aligned to workforce needs and career pathways. The office is responsible for approving all CTE secondary programs in the 16 Career Clusters® and administers funds provided under the Perkins V: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The office also approves private career schools in conjunction with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Mission

The Office of Career Readiness is committed to promoting equitable access for all learners through collaboration and innovation. We strive to prepare learners for career success in an evolving workforce by aligning their academic and career success with emerging economic opportunities.

Vision

All learners are empowered to confidently navigate their career paths, excel in postsecondary education and training, and achieve success in their professional endeavors within a global community. 

Values

Collaboration 

    • We foster supportive and positive relationships with one another and the eligible agencies we serve. 
    • We engage in all conversations with empathy, understanding, and respect. 
    • We openly share ideas and embrace diverse perspectives. 

Innovation 

    • We champion continuous improvement and lead through innovation.  
    • We pursue excellence by embracing bold and ingenious solutions that challenge the status quo. 
    • We foster a culture of creativity and excellence by encouraging new ideas and striving for constant growth. 

Transparency 

    • We maintain honesty and sincerity by being accountable and acting with integrity, ensuring that our actions and decisions are consistent and dependable. 
    • We foster a supportive environment by advocating for open communication and timely information sharing. 
    • We demonstrate professionalism by maintaining clear processes and consistently providing accurate updates. 

Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an educational option that provides learners the opportunity to earn industry-valued credentials, college credit, and workplace experiences incorporating a rigorous academic core coupled with a high-level technical curriculum. CTE educates students for a range of career options through the 16 Career Clusters® and 79 career pathways. In New Jersey, there are approximately 77,000 secondary students participating in CTE career pathways aligned to New Jersey’s key industries, such as Construction & Energy, Finance, Health Care, Technology, Manufacturing, and Transportation, Distribution & Logistics.

If your school district is interested in developing CTE programs of study, please contact the Office of Career Readiness at cte@doe.nj.gov.  


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