Guidance Regarding
Required, Optional, Technical,
Minimum, and Maximum Credits
In Secondary State-Approved CTE Programs
Performance measurement, data reporting, and the description of allowable parameters require
the use of consistent terminology and specific definitions. As related to state-approved CTE
programs, the terminology used consists of uncommon words and/or words with competing
definitions. In addition, there are inevitable variations in the language used across the myriad
of documents, webpages, and data systems we use. Understandably, this contributes to
confusion and frequent questions concerning the terminology and definitions used.
This document is a summary of terminology and parameters, most of which can be found in
other online and print documents. It is assembled here for convenience, intended to reduce
confusion and increase consistency. It will provide guidance, but cannot address every
variation or exception that may exist. When needed, please submit questions and requests for
technical assistance in writing to the appropriate personnel at the Oregon Department of
Education.
CTE Concentrator:
Any secondary student who has earned one (1) or more credits in technical skill courses
part of an Oregon state-approved CTE program, of which at least one-half (.5) credit
must be designated as a required CTE course for program completion and technical
skill assessment.
General education course:
Except for rare instances, a general education course may not be included in the ODE
database as part of a state-approved CTE program. A general education course might
be legitimately identified in state records as part of a specific CTE program, for
example, if it is the only course at the school that addresses specific industryrecognized standards necessary for that program. Exceptions must be approved by
ODE. Note: The inclusion of a general education course as part of a state-approved
CTE program does not imply automatic eligibility for use of Perkins funds.
Industry-recognized standards:
State-approved CTE programs must be based current standards that have been
identified and acknowledged by legitimate industry and employer representatives and
professional organizations. In addition, valid and reliable technical skill assessments
based on the identified industry-recognized standards must be approved by ODE. The
Oregon Skill Sets is a widely-used example of industry-recognized standards.
Maximum credits:
Due to performance measurement and data-reporting requirements, state-approved
CTE programs are limited to a maximum of six credits of required courses. CTE
concentrators are required to be assessed after completion of all required courses in
Oregon Department of Education | August 2013
their CTE program. Therefore, a large number of required credits make it difficult for
students to complete a program and be assessed. In addition, a large number of
required credits increase content and the comprehensiveness required of the technical
skill assessment(s) used.
Minimum credits:
The appropriate minimum number of credits is determined by industry-recognized
standards and input of the advisory committee. In addition, the breadth and depth of
the program must involve consideration of size, scope, sequence, and quality issues.
As a minimum, two full credits (no less than one (1) credits of which have to be from
required technical skills courses) are required for state-approved CTE programs.
Optional course:
Is a misnomer that exists in the CTE Program Update application, remaining from
before Perkins IV. The “optional” designation has been adopted to identify technical
skill courses developed based on identified industry-recognized standards that the
school/district include as important parts of CTE programs, but are not “required.”
However, unlike “required” courses, “optional” courses are not used to determine
program completion for the purpose of identifying which students are required to take a
technical skill assessment.
Program completion:
For performance measurement and data-reporting purposes, a CTE concentrator is
considered to have completed a state-approved CTE program when he or she has
passed all of the courses designated as “required” or “TSA required.”
For local purposes, schools/districts may include optional courses or other criteria
before a CTE student is considered as having completed a CTE program.
Recommended course:
“Recommended course” is an out-of-date designation existing in the CTE Program
Update application, remaining from earlier versions of Perkins. This designation is not
applicable to categorizing courses in state-approved CTE programs and should not be
used. During the CTE Program Update process, schools/districts, Regional CTE
Coordinators, and ODE Specialists are asked to assure that no courses are designated
as “recommended.”
Oregon Department of Education | August 2013
Required course:
The “required” and “TSA required” designation denotes the technical skills courses that
collectively expose students to all the industry-recognized standards-based content that
is included within the approved technical skills assessment (TSA) for that particular CTE
program. After completion of all required courses in their CTE program, CTE
concentrators are required to be assessed
State-Approved CTE Programs:
CTE programs that have applied to ODE and have been approved as either a StateRecognized CTE Program (SRP) or a CTE Program of Study (POS), as determined by
the application submitted by the school/district and/or the criteria met by the program.
Technical skill assessment:
Valid and reliable technical skill measurements aligned with industry-recognized
standards. Technical skill assessments (TSA) used in state-approved CTE Programs
must be approved by ODE.
A CTE concentrator who completes the courses designated as required in his or her
CTE program must be assessed with a state-approved technical skill measurement no
later than the year he or she completes high school.
Technical skill course:
Only courses categorized as technical skills or technical skill-based courses should be
included in the ODE records of a state-approved CTE program. These courses are
designated in the CTE Program Update application as required or optional. (See also
General education course)
Oregon Department of Education | August 2013
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