CTSO Guide.pdf

sory groups. In promoting CTSOs, state agencies will help to
promote strong, relevant, and effective career and technical
education.
Through specific references in the Perkins Act, a state agency
may be able to provide federal funds to support CTSO activities.
• Such support depends on state policies as well, and therefore
may differ from state to state. State and local funds may
also be available. Incorporating CTSO activities into state
plans for career and technical education will serve as a foundation
for linking CTSO activities with student achievement and
will, in turn, show a strong justification for providing financial
support to CTSOs. Further, state agencies can ensure that their
relationship with CTSOs remains strong and effective by participating
in oversight and evaluation activities of each CTSO
in conjunction with the national CTSO.
State agencies are in critical leadership roles and can provide
highly valuable expertise and guidance to CTSOs.
• Myriad and sometimes confusing state and national policies
present challenges for local CTSO advisors. Providing specific
points of contact in the state agency for each CTSO will help
to ensure a stronger understanding of all requirements and
will provide a highly beneficial feedback mechanism to get
information from the local level to the state, which will help
greatly with accountability for the use of public funds supporting
career and technical education. In addition, state points of
contact can assist in the development of program standards
to ensure that all CTSO activities are striving for the highest
levels of student achievement.
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