What is a Career Pathway?
A Career Pathway is a sequence of Career Technical Education (CTE) courses within a single industry sector that prepares students for both career entry and further education. A pathway typically includes an Introductory course, a Concentrator course, and a Capstone course, which is the culminating course requiring students to synthesize and apply what they learned earlier in the sequence.
Federal and State Requirements
Under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), a CTE concentrator is a student who has completed at least two courses in a single CTE pathway. California adds its own standard on top of this: to be recognized as a pathway completer on the College/Career Indicator (CCI), a student must also complete a Capstone course and earn a grade of C minus or better in it.
Student Levels Within a Pathway
A Participant is a student who takes a single CTE course, either within one pathway or across multiple pathways. A Concentrator has completed two courses within a single pathway or sub pathway, meeting the federal definition. A student reaching Completion Indicator status has completed the full course sequence, including a Capstone course, and is recognized on the CCI.
Funding and High Quality Course Requirements
If a pathway is Perkins or CTEIG funded, the courses are required to be High Quality, though the requirement looks slightly different depending on the funding source. Perkins funded courses must be flagged with the High Quality CTE Course Indicator in CALPADS, which confirms the course is taught by a CTE credentialed teacher. CTEIG funded programs must meet a broader set of high quality program eligibility standards under Education Code sections 53070 through 53076.4, covering curriculum alignment, course sequencing, industry partnerships, and qualified staffing. High Quality Courses are recommended but are not required for purposes of the College/Career Indicator, since all CTE courses count toward the CCI regardless of this flag.
Why This Matters for Reporting
Because Capstone courses drive both Completer status and CCI recognition, they must be identified and flagged correctly in the Student Information System, with accurate CALPADS program of study and pathway codes on each course in the sequence.