Statewide Technical Assistance

Statewide Technical Assistance for Charter Schools (STACS)

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is proud to serve as a Statewide Technical Assistance for Charter Schools (STACS) provider in the area of Career Technical Education (CTE), funded through the California Department of Education’s Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP).

Through STACS, OCDE delivers comprehensive, no-cost technical assistance designed to help charter schools build, strengthen, and sustain high-quality CTE programs that expand access to college and career pathways for all students. The primary audience is California charter schools, however, they are also available to district schools. 

What We Provide

OCDE’s STACS CTE initiative offers:

• Best Practices Webinars (BPWs) – A three-year, nine-part webinar series designed to build charter school capacity in pathway development, funding strategies, work-based learning, industry partnerships, data systems, and long-term sustainability.

• Continuous Improvement Network (CIN) – An 18-session collaborative cohort where charter school leaders apply webinar learning, analyze data, strengthen programs, and document measurable impact over time.

• Targeted Technical Assistance – Individualized support for charter schools, including guidance on CTEIG and K–12 Strong Workforce funding, course coding and documentation, pathway design, employer engagement, and program evaluation.

Our Focus

OCDE’s CTE technical assistance is grounded in California’s CTE Model Curriculum Standards and workforce priorities. Our work supports charter schools to:

• Develop industry-aligned career pathways

• Expand work-based learning opportunities

• Build strong employer and advisory partnerships

• Improve student access to industry certifications

• Use data systems for continuous improvement

• Sustain high-quality programs beyond initial launch

The STACS CTE webinar and CIN schedule spans FY 2025–26 through FY 2027–28, with topics progressing from foundational program design to advanced sustainability and scaling.

Statewide Impact

Through STACS, OCDE is committed to supporting the California Department of Education’s statewide performance goals, including providing technical assistance to hundreds of charter schools, publicly posting all resources, and increasing participation among PCSGP Start-Up subgrantee schools.

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All STACS services are provided free of charge and are open to charter schools statewide.

Best Practice Webinar #1 - CTE Foundations

April 9, 2026 - 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 
This foundational session introduces the essential elements of high quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in charter schools. Participants will examine industry-aligned pathway design, labor market alignment, student access strategies, and systems for sustainable implementation. Schools will leave with a clear roadmap for assessing current programs and identifying next steps for strengthening career-connected learning. 

Register

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