What are curriculum crosswalks, why do we need them for program approval and what should they contain?

What are curriculum crosswalks, why do we need them for program approval and what should they contain?

A curriculum crosswalk is used to align the learning outcomes of courses in a CTE program course sequence. The following sets of standards are recognized for CTE programs:

  • New York State learning standards CDOS
Career Development Occupational Standards (CDOS)
  • Academic Standards 
  • Career Cluster Framework (Pathway Knowledge and Skills)
  • Industry Standards


As part of the NYSED CTE program approval process the NYCDOE CTE Program Quality team must confirm that a learning standards curriculum crosswalk is in place for the courses in the CTE program sequence. Curriculum crosswalk documents should be done prior to the implementation of a program of study and should be revisited and maintained to address any changes to knowledge and skills students will be expected to learn within the career pathway. 


The CTE program approval process is intended to be ongoing to promote continuous program improvements. In the absence of curriculum crosswalks, the following will be accepted:


Unit plans, year-long or semester long curriculum defined as a list of content and topics, scope and sequence and a list of what students are expected to know and do after studying each topic demonstrating alignment to learning standards. CTE programs in NYS must align to the CDOS standards.