Book p. 3

Program Requirements

Each CTE pathway is unique. Before you fall in love with an idea, write down the exact requirements for your program so your proposal, build, presentation, display, and portfolio all line up.

Your First Job: Make The Rules Visible

Ask your senior program teacher what your pathway requires.
Write down whether collaboration is allowed or whether individual mastery is required.
Name the required product, demonstration, research, service, portfolio evidence, or display expectations.
Keep those rules next to your proposal so you do not build the wrong project.

Open Program Requirement Notes

Ask before you build

Requirement Checks

Program check p. 3-4

Individual Or Group Path

Ask: Am I allowed to work with a group, or does my program require individual mastery?

Save: Write the decision down before the proposal. If you are in a group, record each person's role and individual evidence.

Program check p. 3

Required Product Or Demonstration

Ask: What must my program see: technical demonstration, portfolio, research, product, service, live demo, or something else?

Save: Name the exact deliverable your program expects, then make sure the proposal, presentation, and display all point back to it.

Program check p. 2-4, 14

CTE Skill Standard

Ask: Which technical skill should my project prove at a senior level?

Save: Use program vocabulary. For example: design process, patient care, coding, culinary technique, construction safety, business planning, media production, or another pathway skill.

Program check p. 3-5, 14

Materials, Safety, And Permissions

Ask: Do I need tools, materials, purchases, donations, safety approval, transportation, software, or outside partners?

Save: List constraints early. A plan with sources, materials, and limits is stronger than an idea that sounds exciting but cannot be completed.

Program check p. 3, 8, 16

Celebration Day Display

Ask: What does my program require for the public display?

Save: Record size, artifacts, labels, live demo rules, setup needs, and what visitors should understand without needing a long explanation.

Program check p. 5-6, 10

Teacher Checkpoints

Ask: When should I show progress before the final deadline?

Save: Use check-ins, mentor meetings, and class work time to show drafts, photos, screenshots, notes, feedback, and revisions.

Examples by pathway type

What Could Evidence Look Like?

Construction, Manufacturing, And Design

Build a model, prototype, or plan that shows safety, materials, measurements, design process, and revision.
Document sketches, material choices, tool use, cost, constraints, and before-and-after improvements.

Culinary, Hospitality, And Business

Develop a product, event, service plan, menu, brand, or business solution for a real audience.
Document testing, costing, customer feedback, food safety, marketing, and revision.

Information Technology, Media, And Engineering

Design a website, app prototype, media campaign, device, simulation, or technical solution for a user need.
Document user research, wireframes, code or tools, testing, accessibility, troubleshooting, and updates.

Health, Education, And Human Services

Create a health education tool, training resource, simulation, outreach project, or community support product.
Document ethical boundaries, audience needs, accuracy, safety, feedback, and measurable impact.

Arts, Communication, And Public Service

Produce a campaign, exhibit, public message, performance, event, publication, or service resource.
Document audience, purpose, creative choices, revisions, community response, and professional presentation.