POS: Observations on Process and Structure
Programs of Study (POS), introduced for the first time in the 2006 Perkins IV legislation, are now required for states receiving Perkins funding. The operational definition of POS defined by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) is “a structured sequence of academic and career and technical education (CTE) courses that lead to a postsecondary-level credential.” CTE policymakers and practitioners are interested in learning whether the POS requirement in Perkins is feasible and which key elements need to be in place. A key component of POS is the link between secondary and postsecondary levels. Because the idea and model for POS evolved from prior CTE reform initiatives such as School to Work, Tech Prep, and career pathways, it is understandable that many education partnerships that look very much like POS had already developed in local communities, even though they may not have begun with that name.
Alfeld, C. (2010). POS: observations on process and structure. Techniques, 85(1), 52-55.