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MFB urges survey participation to keep ‘agriculture’ in Career Technical Education

MFB-member approved policy on CTE clearly identifies “agriculture” in the CTE cluster. This cluster will enable the future leaders of agriculture to obtain foundational knowledge that will help shape their careers and ultimately promote the sustainability of the agriculture industry. Download original
Date Posted: May 18, 2022

Advance CTE, the longest-standing national non-profit representing State Career Technical Education (CTE) directors, is proposing to remove the word “agriculture” from the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources education cluster definition and replacing it with a Food, Living Systems, and Natural Resources cluster.

While dropping agriculture from the definition may seem like a minor detail, Michigan Farm Bureau High School and Collegiate Programs Specialist Katie Eisenberger said the potential impact for high school students and agriculture would be significant.

“The definitions influence how the Department of Education promotes career and technical education, first at the federal level through the Department of Education, and ultimately at the state level through the Michigan Department of Education,” Eisenberger said.

“We’re concerned that without a clear definition that connects the CTE program to the agriculture industry that it serves, students may seek other program options, not realizing the connection between the revised name Food, Living Systems and Natural Resources and agriculture.”

The CTE definitions were last updated in 1999, meaning the consequences of a name change would be a profound long-term proposition and destroy brand identity if approved, according to Eisenberger. She said this could lead students to move away from agricultural CTE programs.

The National Career Clusters Framework serves as an organizing tool for CTE programs, curriculum design and instruction across the country.

Eisenberger said the Advance CTE advisory board is seeking public feedback through an online survey, which is open until Feb. 25.

“Michigan Farm Bureau members are strongly encouraged to complete the survey ASAP and indicate they want to retain the current Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources cluster,” said Eisenberger, noting that a lack of survey responses will be viewed by Advance CTE as approval by the agricultural industry.

“Members completing the survey should stress that they are a representative of the agricultural industry and that they identify with ‘agriculture,’ not ‘life sciences,’ which could be interpreted to mean a number of different career fields, depending on an individual’s point of reference.”

Click here to complete the CTE advisory board survey. 

Katie Eisenberger headshot

Katie Eisenberger

High School and Collegiate Programs Specialist
517-679-5444 [email protected]
Jon Adamy

Jon Adamy

Media Relations Specialist
(517) 323-6782 [email protected]