Because of that it was decided that it makes more sense for students to meet the technical skills for strands within clusters, not the entire cluster. However, as noted above, students no longer need to meet all of the technical skills in a cluster. They can now receive certificates by meeting the core requirements and the requirements of any strand within a cluster. Academic Skills have not changed. Perkins Assessment is not being accepted yet because it is too new.
Students can only qualify and receive a certificate for one strand - no exceptions.
The state is asking that everyone, those who have been approved in the past or who are applying for the first time, apply for all of the clusters they hope to award. This will avoid the confusion of the staggered expirations dates we experienced in the past. It is anticipated that the application will be available mid-January and will be due back sometime in March. Superintendents and Regional Tri-conveners will receive the letters. SDE would like all districts to apply for all clusters that they plan to offer certificates in so that we won't have the staggered expirations we had in the past.