Score: -3 (1/4/4)

Sacramento County Grand Jury • 2025-2026

Career & Techical Education: An Underutilized Pathway to Success for High School Students

Published: June 30, 2026 28 pages

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⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

⚠️ 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

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

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

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

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

R4

The Grand Jury recommends, the following with respect to CTE funding:
R4a

SCOE 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
R4b

All 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
R6

The 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)

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Response from Sacramento County School Districts and Superintendents

13 pages • 15 responses • Score: -3 (+1, 4, -4) View Details ▾

PDF

15 responses to findings and recommendations

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

We agree with these findings, however, while we concur that CTE pathways and academies provide substantial academic and workforce benefits to participating students, we do not view CTE as an alternative to four year college pathways as stated in the report.

The Grand Jury finds CTE programs are actively supported by the highest levels of administration within Sacramento County school districts.

Response: Agree Score: +1

We also agree that CTE programs are actively supported across all staffing levels, including administrative leadership, demonstrating a strong countywide commitment to maintaining high quality, effective CTE opportunities for all students.

The Grand Jury finds Sacramento County school districts accomplish a great deal with limited local and state revenue for CTE programs.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

We partially agree with these findings and associated recommendations. While we agree that districts accomplish a great deal with limited dedicated LCFF revenue for CTE, the Grand Jury's conclusions do not fully account for the substantial general fund commitments required to operate CTE programs

Response: Disagree Score: -1

and Associated Recommendation 5 We disagree with this finding and associated recommendation as it would duplicate work currently performed by organizations such as Valley Vision and the Centers of Excellence, whose primary responsibility and expertise is to collect, analyze, and disseminate current labor market information. These organizations provide districts with readily available, reliable, and regularly Page 6 ____________________________________________________________________________ updated data on regional workforce needs, high-wage occupations, and high-demand industries. Requiring ...

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

We disagree with this finding and associated recommendation as it would duplicate work currently performed by organizations such as Valley Vision and the Centers of Excellence, whose primary responsibility and expertise is to collect, analyze, and disseminate current labor market information.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

and Associated Recommendation 7 We disagree with this finding and associated recommendation. Extensive CTE awareness efforts are consistently underway across the county. Communication with families and communities about the benefits and supports offered through student participation in CTE pathways and academies has been a long-standing challenge. CTE is often referred to as "the best kept educational secret" and understanding this, district staff work diligently to market, communicate and demonstrate the advantages of CTE to students and families each and every school year. Activities such as...

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

We disagree with this finding and associated recommendation. Extensive CTE awareness efforts are consistently underway across the county.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

and Associated Recommendation 8 We disagree with this finding and the associated recommendation. Efforts to identify and intervene with students experiencing difficulties in CTE pathways can vary and early, effective support is essential for improving engagement, academic outcomes, and overall program performance. Interventions, however, should be identified and implemented as a part of a larger schoolwide system, such as Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), in each district. Students enrolled in CTE programs are fully integrated into the broader school community. All teachers, including CT...

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

and Associated Recommendation 9 We partially agree with this finding and associated recommendation in this area. Soft skills training is embedded within the California CTE Model Curriculum Standards, which require every CTE course to incorporate employability skills as part of its instructional design. These standards ensure that soft skill development is not an optional add on but a core expectation across all pathways. Various districts within the region have implemented standalone Career Readiness ‑ ‑ courses in middle and high school to support the development of these skills and prepare s...

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F10

Response: Disagree Score: -1

and Associated Recommendation 10 We disagree with this finding and associated recommendation. It is our belief that significant efforts have been made to address the transportation needs by both SCOE and the various districts. Sacramento County's geographic realities significantly limit the feasibility of developing new intra- and inter-district transportation services. Spanning approximately 994 square miles, the county's size makes it impractical for existing bus and light rail systems to provide comprehensive access to all education, training, and employment destinations across the region. ...

R10

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

F11

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

and Associated Recommendation 11 We partially agree with this finding and the associated recommendation. School districts are responsible for evaluating and improving their CTE pathways using the California Department of Education's 12 Essential Elements of High-Quality College and Career Pathways, which provide a framework for program planning, implementation, and continuous improvement. These elements address many of the areas identified by the Grand Jury, including industry partnerships, instructor recruitment and retention, work-based learning, dual enrollment, and alignment with regional ...

R11

Response: Unknown

Score: 0