Shine the Spotlight on Your Students! Apply for the CTE Showcase Mini-Grant
Here’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible work happening in your classrooms!
The CTE Showcase Mini-Grant offers $5,000 to selected schools to create displays that highlight high-quality career and technical education (CTE) programs, giving students the chance to share the real-world value of what they’re learning. The event will take place on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville.
Don’t miss out. Applications for the CTE Showcase Mini-Grant are due at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 6. Let’s show Kentucky what our Law & Public Safety pathways are all about!
 All LPS Teachers: Please Complete the Surveys Applicable to You Below
Please complete the surveys below that are applicable to your LPS pathway.
All LPS teachers, please complete the Equipment Recommendations Survey This will assist us in creating an accurate cost calculator that is critical to our districts in the planning stages of expanding their CTE pathway offerings to include LPS colleagues.
The Kentucky Department of Education also is seeking feedback in preparation for the 2025 Summer Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education (KACTE) Conference for alternative options that may be available off site. If you're a Fire Science instructor, please complete the Fire Feedback Survey If you teach Law Enforcement Services, please complete the LE Services Feedback Survey.
Thank you to everyone who has responded thus far!
Erica
Forward Planning for Professional Development Funds--- Mark Your Calendars!
The fall semester is a great time to ensure you're requesting funds for professional development needs.
Please consider the National Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN) conference. It is the only national professional development centered completely around secondary-level career and technical education Law and Public Safety (LPS) pathways.
The Association for Career and Technical Education Vision conference follows the LAPSEN conference. More information is below.
LAPSEN National Conference and pre-conference offered in conjunction with ACTE Vision
Dec. 2 Pre-Conference Options
- Crime Scene Investigation in the Classroom
- Police Academy in the Classroom
- NFPA 2400 Drones for Public Safety Operation
The full LAPSEN conference runs Dec. 3-4.
More details can be found on the LAPSEN website.
Pre-Law Pathway Professional Development: Thursday, March 13, 2025
The Kentucky Department of Education's (KDE's) Office of Career and Technical Education will be reimbursing your districts substitute and mileage expenses to attend our meeting at KDE, 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort. This meeting will include
- Review and discussion of the 2025-2026 Program of Studies changes;
- Review of available curriculum maps for course planning;
- NALS representative to walkthrough the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) industry certification process and resources;
- Kentucky Mock Trial Partnership and future planning toward Trial Advocacy SkillsUSA competitive events; and
- Teacher collaborative time to share materials, resources and network.
Additional agenda items you would like to see? Please email Erica Settelen
Fire and EMS Symposium
Additionally, the annual Fire and EMS Symposium hosted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) gives fire science instructors access to an expanded network to grow programs, resources and partnerships.
Attendees are only responsible for lodging, meals and travel. The cost for registration is covered by the NFFF.
SAVE THE DATES
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KACTE 2025: July 28-31 (Monday-Thursday, Monday pre-conferences only)
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KACTE 2026: July 20-23 (Monday-Thursday, Monday pre-conferences only)
NTI year 1 and 2 teachers will be registered by NTI staff. You will need to get your travel, mileage, lodging and meal reimbursements approved by your school and/or district based on your school's process and policies.
KACTE 2024: LPS State Consultant Update Session PowerPoint
Don't forget there are sample curriculum maps available to you in the KACTE 2024 PowerPoint, in Google classroom.
These can assist you in determining your pacing, narrowing down topics that work together to achieve the priority standards listed in the Program of Studies, and assist you in generating ideas for lesson plans.
 2024 ACTE Vision Conference
The Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE's) CareerTech VISION is the must-attend event for career and technical education (CTE) professionals.
Scheduled for Dec. 4-7 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, VISION offers comprehensive programming covering high-quality CTE in secondary and postsecondary environments, as well as emerging trends in the field to help career and technical educators thrive in their careers.
VISION provides attendees with a rich array of networking opportunities, an expo, hundreds of concurrent program sessions and numerous networking opportunities.
Travel information, the conference program and exhibitor floor map can be found on the ACTE Vision website.
KSP and OCTE partner to bring KYOPS Report Writing System to LE Services Instructors
KDE's Office of Career and Technical Education would like to feature and send many thanks to Brandon Cobb, branch manager with the Kentucky State Police’s Division of Records Management.
With more than 17 years of service, Cobb has been a critical partner in giving our LE Services teachers access to Kentucky's Open Portal System (KYOPS) operating system this school year. His work has opened up authentic, hands-on learning opportunities for students, bringing real-world law enforcement tools right into the state's classrooms.
Cobb’s commitment and support will make a real difference, helping educators create meaningful, industry-level experiences for their students. We’re grateful for our partnership with Kentucky State Police and for their willingness to provide these opportunities and being a valuable ally in preparing the next generation of public safety professionals.
If you were unable to attend the Nov. 6 virtual training on KYOPS and wish to learn more, please contact Erica Settelen for account creation.
 2024-2025 Pathway Best Practices, Industry Certifications and Course Deprecations
As the school year progresses, it is important that all LPS teachers and administrators review the changes that take effect in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years that were originally introduced at the 2023 Summer KACTE conference. Please use the LPS program consultant maintained Industry Certification Guidance document to assist you in planning, purchasing, and best practices for documentation.
A brief summary is below and the links to this information are in the far right panel of this newsletter.
- All stand-alone exam options for the Fire Science and Law Enforcement Services pathway deprecated on June 30, 2024. Their formal removal from the KDE CTE industry certification spreadsheet occurred on Sept. 1. This also was the deadline for all 2023-2024 school year data to be entered into the Technical Education Database System.
- The new industry certification exam stack for both pathways have been published and effective since fall 2023.
- The Homeland Security and Corrections pathways phase out on June 30, 2025.
- A single course from both pathways have been integrated into the 2024-2025 Program of Studies for Law Enforcement Services.
- Pre-Law Studies pathway courses unutilized or minimally utilized have been removed for the 2024-2025 school year. The complete adoption of the new national pathway model will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year Program of Studies.
- The NOCTI Criminal Justice-Advanced exam will remain an industry certification option for the 2024-2025 school year. It will phase out on June 30, 2025.
- The National Association for Legal Support Professionals' Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) has been added to the 2024-2025 industry certification list for pre-law studies and will remain as the only exam option following the June 30, 2025 NOCTI Criminal Justice-Advanced exam phases out.
- This will allow teachers of pre-law pathways to offer and count this exam in 2024-2025 to gather preliminary student performance data to inform instructional needs during this transition period.
- The ALP is currently being revised and modified by the Law and Public Safety Education Network for secondary-level alignment and a more reasonable exam length and time allotment. The exam will be live this fall if you wish to offer it during the 2024-2025 school year.
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Adecco Youth Employment Solutions (YES) Work-Based Learning Program
The Adecco Youth Employment Solutions (YES) Work-Based Learning Program can support you in overcoming barriers when seeking out employment opportunities for your Law and Public Safety (LPS) pathway students. Some of the common barriers may be child labor laws and workers' compensation insurance.
- Child Labor Laws: This training will walk you through the child labor laws, explain the “exemptions for bona- fide student learners,” help you create a program that complies and ensures the best interest of the student.
- Workers Compensation Insurance: Your insurance carrier may not allow you to hire underage. Via the staffing model, Adecco becomes the employer of record. Adecco takes on workers compensation insurance, manages all administrative human resources duties and payroll for the students, and provides long-term management and support of the students
The Kentucky Department of Education's (KDE's) Work-Based Learning Manual is a collaborative effort to provide all stakeholders with information on various types of work-based learning such as job shadowing, mentoring, service learning, entrepreneurship programs, school-based enterprises, internship, cooperative education and youth-apprenticeship opportunities. In addition, the manual includes an overview of legal issues and structural guidance for implementing work-based learning at a school level.
KDE's Work-Based Learning Resource webpage has downloadable sample forms and promotional infographics to help document and advertise your work-based learning opportunities.
For specific course code information on WBL opportunities in career pathways, please refer to the Program of Studies.
For work-based learning questions, please contact Tina Brogli. For Adecco YES Program questions, please contact Mary Taylor.
Street Law Resource Library New and Improved
Check out the new and improved Street Law Library of Instructional Resources.
- No more checkout process
- Simplified account creation
- Improved search functionality
- New filtering feature
- Heart your favorite resources
The same great Street Law resources you count on!
Supplies Overseas
Supplies Overseas offers field trips, community service opportunities and free supplies for current health science teachers. They can work with you too!
The annual Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education Conference is a great time to give this place a look while you're already in Louisville.
Educators can walk in, grab a basket and shop. Teachers also can order items online and have it delivered or pick them up the same day you have an arranged field trip and/or community service day.
For more information, email education manager Chanda Fowler.
Updates for Fire Science Programs
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and KDE's Office of Career and Technical Education Release Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Agreement
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, students with Fire Science Program of Studies course codes successfully transcripted will be eligible to request approval for credit for prior learning credits upon enrolling in a KCTCS campus offering the Fire Science degree program.
Learn more about the CPL agreements by visiting the KCTCS High School Articulation homepage and the KDE Articulated Credit webpage. The approved agreement for Fire Science is published here for use in the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. The CTE2KCTCS digital form to be completed and submitted by the student can be found on the KDE Law and Public Safety webpage.
These credits can be pursued with or without prior participation in dual credit coursework.
For more information about Fire Science CPL opportunities, email Erica Settelen or Casey Hall
Kentucky Fire Commission and OCTE announce Apprentice I and II Industry Certification Opportunities
The Kentucky Fire Commission has established two firefighter certification levels for students enrolled in Kentucky Department of Education-sponsored Fire Science programs.
Students will engage in hands-on and lecture training in an environment that allows them to work toward certification as a Kentucky Apprentice I Firefighter (100 hours of training) and as a Kentucky Apprentice II Firefighter (200 hours of training). These programs enable students to acquire knowledge and aptitude of fire service administration and firefighting tasks while still in high school, as these credentials can be issued younger than the age of 18. This allows students to meet postsecondary readiness measures and accrue necessary skills toward service as a career or volunteer firefighter.
All apprentice I or II hours earned will carry over and count toward the earning of the higher-level certification with the Kentucky Fire Commission, Basic I (115 hour) and Basic II (300 hour) certifications. The Basic I and II certifications – even if all hours are earned – cannot be issued until the student is at least 18 years old.
These certifications are only available to students enrolled in a KDE-sponsored Fire Science pathway.
- Apprentices I and II are exclusive to approved CTE Fire Science programs.
- Hours earned toward certification need to be logged in KyFires. Certification will be issued after students satisfy all training hours and instructors have submitted them for approval for certification in the KyFires portal.
- A copy of the student's certification should be provided to them, retained in the student's home high school cumulative folder and entered into the Technical Education Database System upon earning.
- For more information, email Mary Adams, KCTCS training records specialist.
NOCTI-Criminal Justice-Advanced
- If you have selected the NOCTI-Criminal Justice-Advanced for your students' industry certification exam, please ensure you're administering the correct version.
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The ONLY approved version is Assessment Blueprint Code 1890 for it to count for career readiness.
- If your building assessment coordinator cannot see this option to order in the NOCTI online client services center, please contact Randi VanHemert.
- This assessment is approved for law enforcement services or pre-law pathways only.
YouScience Exams Serves as the Assessment Vendor for Some of the Law Enforcement Services Pathway Stack Exam Options
Stop the Bleed for Law Enforcement Services and Fire Science
Free Access to LAPSEN Resources for Kentucky LPS Teachers – Courtesy of OCTE
KDE's Office of Career and Technical Education covers the annual expense for all active Kentucky LPS teachers to use the Law and Public Safety Education Network's (LAPSEN's) website and resources. Instructions to create your free account can be found in Google classroom or by emailing Erica Settelen.
ICYMI: 2024 KACTE LAPSEN Session PowerPoint
- Learn about national and state perspectives
- LPS Growth
- Free resources and more!
YouTube Report Writing Scenario
We forget how many training resources on are YouTube. Take a look at this police officer writing sample practice scenario.
Teach Democracy Lesson Plan Resource
Some of the best lesson plans can come from social studies and civics websites. CRF was one of those sites and has rebranded as Teach Democracy. New name, same great stuff.
More Resources
If you need anything, reach out to info@lapsen.org and they can lead you in the right direction.
2024-2025 School Year Theme
Each year, a new SkillsUSA annual membership theme is unveiled to great excitement at the conclusion of the National Leadership and Skills Conference. The theme is designed to inspire the amazing work in our SkillsUSA chapters during the school year as students develop the personal, workplace and technical skills of the SkillsUSA Framework.
Not to be confused with the long-standing national slogan/organizational tagline, “SkillsUSA: Champions at Work,” the annual theme is selected each year as a member-centric element.
The SkillsUSA competition theme for the 2024-2025 school year is: SkillsUSA: Ignite Your Potential.
“Potential” is something we all share, yet something that is uniquely shaped for each one of us. It’s both a journey and a destination, something that can’t be received without first being earned. It’s a reservoir of combustible fuel ready to be ignited by an intentional spark.
SkillsUSA was built to be that spark. It’s the flashpoint of personal and professional success, where opportunity and determination meet confidence and clarity, lighting clear paths toward fulfilling, courageous futures. As our theme for the 2024-2025 school year, “SkillsUSA: Ignite Your Potential” inspires members to discover their unique talents and ambitions through the powerful tools and motivating community of SkillsUSA. It also celebrates those who stoke the fires of SkillsUSA success: caring advisors, supportive peers, dedicated partners and others who ensure that sparks don’t fade, but ignite a promising future.
When you ignite your potential through SkillsUSA, you’re lighting more than your own path. You’re illuminating the path of others on their unique journey toward becoming skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. This year, through SkillsUSA, we ignite our potential and light up our futures.
The theme "Ignite Your Potential" will be addressed by competitors in the 2025 SkillsUSA Chapter Display, Prepared Speech and Promotional Bulletin Board competitions. Within this topic, competitors might illustrate or discuss any of the following:
- The theme “SkillsUSA: Ignite Your Potential” implies that SkillsUSA student members can achieve great things when they are motivated and inspired. Name three ways that SkillsUSA helps you gain greater confidence to ignite your potential and achieve your goals.
- How has SkillsUSA helped you answer the question, “What career field interests me the most?”
- If you created a member recruitment campaign around the theme “SkillsUSA: Ignite Your Potential,” what would be three key points?
- How does learning and practicing the SkillsUSA Framework Essential Elements give you confidence in your skill set? Name two Essential Elements that can help ignite your potential.
- What does the theme “SkillsUSA: Ignite Your Potential” mean to you?
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