Long Term Planning
Mission Statement
Helping students choose their path to a successful career.
Vision Statement
The Adams County Technical Institute will continuously improve and expand career and technical education opportunities to meet the needs of the local workforce and the career goals of our students
Career and Technical Education (CTE) in PA: History and Regulations
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, PA School Code provided for school districts across Pennsylvania, typically along county lines, to join together to establish and build “area vocational-technical schools”. Now officially called “area career and technical schools”, these schools were jointly owned and operated by the “participating districts”.
A similar effort was initiated in Adams County by our school leaders. For reasons that now seem vague and uncertain, the project was halted before construction of a school begun.
CTE in Pennsylvania is regulated by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE) of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
Regulations governing CTE in PA can be found in PA School Code (primarily Article XVIII), Chapter 339, and Chapter 4. Below are some of the requirements to obtain and maintain program approval by the BCTE:
- Chapter 339 – Approved Program Technical Evaluation – every 5 years
- Integrated with local business and industry
- Minimum hour requirement
- Civil rights review and audit
- End of course assessment (NOCTI) – like a Keystone test for each program
- Industry-Recognized Credentials
- Postsecondary connections
- Programs of Study – statewide, forms the basis of our curriculum
- Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) – SkillsUSA
- Secondary CTE Subsidy (SCTES) – Understanding that CTE programs are expensive to operate, PA School Code provides the Secondary Career and Technical Education Subsidy (SCTES) for every student (more students = more money) in an approved program. ACTI receives this subsidy on behalf of participating districts and credits each district their allocation in our budget. In 23-24, ACTI received approximately $354,000 for this subsidy.
- Perkins V grant – This is a state-administered federal grant intended to improve CTE program quality. It comes with typical federal grant guidelines including application and reporting requirements. The allocation is based on Average Daily Membership (more students = more money) and ACTI’s allocation is typically approximately $121,000.
- Supplemental Equipment Grant – This is a standard line item in the PA budget. There are requirements and limitations for how the money is spent but it is non-competitive – all you need to do is complete the application and you receive your allocation based on the formula related to Average Daily Membership (ADM) (more students = more money). ACTI has received this grant every year of our existance and our most recent allocation was approximately $73,000.
- Competitive Equipment Grant – Like the name implies, this is a competitive grant. In your application you must complete a convincing narrative as to why you should receive the grant for each piece of equipment requested.
ACTI History, Mission, and Vision
Mission Statement
Helping students choose their path to a successful career.
Vision Statement
The Adams County Technical Institute will continuously improve and expand career and technical education opportunities to meet the needs of the local workforce and the career goals of our students.
Timeline of Efforts to Continuously Improve and Expand CTE (ACTI) in Adams County
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Feasibility Study - At a Glance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Understanding Why Adams County Needs Career and Technical Education
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Common questions and the corresponding answers will be added to this section as they’re received. If you have a question, please submit it by completing this online form.
