Sacramento County Grand Jury
• 2025-2026
Career & Techical Education: An Underutilized Pathway to Success for High School Students
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F4
Findings and Recommendations 10 findings
F1
The Grand Jury finds Sacramento County School Districts’ CTE programs offer a significant alternative to four-year college pathways and provide potentially substantial benefits to as many as half of the student population in Sacramento County.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The Grand Jury finds CTE programs are actively supported by the highest levels of administration within Sacramento County school districts.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The Grand Jury finds Sacramento County school districts accomplish a great deal with limited local and state revenue for CTE programs.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The Grand Jury finds each school district develops its own locally relevant database of critical “high demand, high wage” job availability, both current and anticipated. Failure to adopt a County-wide, systematic approach to data collection leads to inefficiency, duplication of effort, and encumbers rapid assessment of future program direction. (R5)
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Grand Jury recommends SCOE, in collaboration with school districts, develop a comprehensive list of current and projected high-demand/high-growth job statistic sources for CTE program planning. This analysis is to be completed and published by June 30, 2027. (F5)
F6
Program Execution • F6a. The Grand Jury finds school districts, in collaboration with SCOE, meet periodically to discuss ways to advance CTE goals and improve local programs but there is little evidence of systematic investigation into Best Practices across the State and little or no research into Best Practices in other states. Failure to explore these CTE centers of excellence around the country denies Sacramento County of potentially significant improvement ideas. (R6) • F6b. The Grand Jury finds partnerships with local businesses, community colleges, and other organizations are one of the most critical factors contributing to the success of CTE programs. Varying levels of success in developing such collaborations is reflected in the effectiveness of different CTE programs. (R6) • F6c. The Grand Jury finds a diverse approach to CTE instructor identification, hiring, and retention practices among the school districts in the County with limited involvement with SCOE. The absence of collaborative information sharing and active mutual support in this critical aspect leads to inefficiency and elongated efforts to fill vacant instructor positions. (R6)
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The Grand Jury finds, in some districts, there is inadequate awareness among students and parents of CTE programs and the potential benefits of completing a CTE course of study. Diminished appreciation of CTE contributes to lower enrollment in some CTE pathways and courses. (R7)
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Grand Jury recommends districts review their CTE awareness efforts to ensure all tools for increased awareness are effectively used. Awareness efforts should encompass a full range of communication methods that engage student populations, parents, community colleges and business partners. This review should be completed by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. (F7)
F8
The Grand Jury finds there is inconsistent effort in identification of, and intervention with, students who are experiencing educational difficulties in CTE pathways. Effective and timely counseling by CTE staff of students exhibiting signs of disengagement lowers drop-out rate, increases funding received from the State and increases graduation rates. (R8)
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends each school district define and adopt a methodology for early and continuous assessment of students enrolled in CTE programs to identify students experiencing challenges. This methodology is to be developed and in place by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. (F8)
F9
The Grand Jury finds soft skills training benefits students at interviews and/or other non-school interactions but integration into CTE courses is inconsistent. Lack of these skills is highly detrimental to students as they interact in new and challenging people-related circumstances outside the school setting. (R9)
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The Grand Jury recommends all districts that do not provide soft skills training develop and implement such training into CTE course curricula. This effort should be in place by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. (F9)
F10
The Grand Jury finds a lack of organized inter/intra-school district transportation services. This presents a significant barrier to greater participation in CTE course enrollment and efficient utilization of limited resources. (R11)
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
The Grand Jury recommends school districts and SCOE, in collaboration with Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT), develop intra- and inter-district student transportation services to CTE facilities within the County. An analysis of Regional Transit transportation services to be completed by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. (F10)
F11
The Grand Jury finds limited examples of formalized continuous improvement processes in district CTE programs. The absence of a systematic mechanism for identification and implementation of improvement opportunities makes such efforts less effective and more difficult to explain to decision makers and others interested in the CTE programs. (R11)
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
The Grand Jury recommends school district CTE administrators and SCOE collaborate on the development of a methodology for the evaluation of CTE pathway success. The California Department of Education Twelve Elements of High-Quality Pathways should be used as a baseline. Implementation should be completed by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. (F11)
Additional Recommendations 4
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R4The Grand Jury recommends, the following with respect to CTE funding:
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R4aSCOE create and continuously update a database of all grant opportunities and assist districts in the preparation and submission of applications to all available grants. This database to be available to all districts
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R4bAll districts aggressively pursue funding from all identifiable sources, including local and industry partners. This effort must be a fully integrated element of each district’s CTE administrative procedures to augment state and federal funding. A formal plan to identify and seek support should be in place
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R6The Grand Jury recommends districts, in collaboration with SCOE, develop formal plans, based on an analysis of Best Practices from within Sacramento County, other California counties and other states throughout the U.S. to enhance CTE program effectiveness. Areas of focus should include, but not be limited to: • Expansion of external partnerships • Instructor candidate identification, recruitment, and retention practices • Increased coordination with SCOE and other local CTE programs • Greater engagement with the California Strong Workforce Program • Collaboration in the construction of a countywide industry board • Emphasis on developing more dual enrollment programs with local community colleges • Identification of additional internships leading to apprenticeships This plan should be completed and in place by the beginning of 2027-2028 school year. (F6a, b, c)