Welcome to Career & Technical Education at Bonner Springs High School

Tomorrow's jobs will require more knowledge, better skills, and highly flexible workers who continually update their knowledge and skills. To ensure BSHS is preparing students for "tomorrow's" jobs we offer Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways.  These programs offer academic and technical study and integrate real-world learning with classroom learning.  The Career Pathways prepare students for a smooth transition from high school to postsecondary education (technical colleges, community colleges and universities), apprenticeship opportunities, the military, and/or the workplace. 

Technological advances and global competition have transformed the nature of work.  Our goal is to provide students with relevant contexts for learning through pathways to college and career readiness.

When it comes to finding a rewarding career, students need to be knowledgeable about their interest and abilities, what work environment they prefer, their post high school educational plans, and what income they would like to earn. BSHS realizes the process to finding that ideal career begins now because where you start can have an impact on where you are headed.

BSHS pathways are designed for students to begin their pathway strand during freshman year and continue through their junior/senior year of high school.  If the student completes their pathway their junior year and meets the senior requirements as well as the Kansas City Kansas Community College requirements they will be eligible to enroll in one of the certificate programs at KCKCC (see page 38 for additional information).

 CAREER CLUSTERS TERMINOLOGY

As you begin your Pathway it is important to have some common terms and definitions that are used consistently within the district.

APPLICATION LEVEL COURSE: An advanced level course that builds on the technical level.

CAREER PATHWAY: Represents a grouping of occupations within a cluster that share a base level of common knowledge and skill. 

CONCENTRATOR: A student/learner who has earned 3 credits in an approved CTE Career Clusters Pathway. For a student to be a concentrator, at least 2 of 3 required secondary level credits taken must be a combination of technical and application levels.

CROSSWALK (COMMON) COURSE: A course that is approved for inclusion in more than one Career Cluster pathway.

INTRODUCTORY LEVEL COURSE: An introduction to a specific or multiple clusters or pathways that require similar foundation knowledge and skills. Taken prior to the technical and application level courses.

PLAN OF STUDY:  Incoporates and aligns secondary and postsecondary education elements.  It also includes opportunities for obtaining postsecondary credit.  It helps students and parents in outlining courses the student will take during his or her high school years.

TECHNICAL LEVEL COURSE: A course that builds on the knowledge and skills learned in the introductory level course, with a focus on acquiring practical technical skills specific to the cluster/pathway.

21st CENTURY SKILLS: Skills that are essential for workplace/career success; including: critical thinking/problem solving skills, communication skills, creativity & innovation skills, collaboration skills, information and media literacy skills, and contextual learning skills.