California Career Technical Education
Arts, Media, and Entertainment Industry Sector
What is AME?
The California Department of Education established the Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector to support high school students interested in pursuing careers in California’s thriving creative workforce. AME programs align with California Career Technical Education (CTE) Model Curriculum Standards which define the knowledge, skills, and practical experience students should have to pursue their chosen profession through post-secondary, professional skills training, and/or apprenticeship training.
AME programs build on traditional arts programs to include a comprehensive career readiness component. In 2023, the sector has grown to serve approximately 231,000 students and is the largest CTE sector in the state of California.
In 2023 The California Department of Education’s Industry Advisory Board proposed new Model Curriculum Standards for AME programs and wrote the Arts, Media, and Entertainment 2023 Industry Recommendations and Guidance for Model Programs and Advanced Training which will be updated and expanded annually to ensure teachers stay current with industry. (California Department of Education).
What are the AME Pathways?
AME pathways are made up of a minimum of two sequential courses that allow students to advance their studies in a particular creative discipline and gain pre-professional career and post-secondary preparatory experience at the high school level.
Students must complete 300 hours (or two consecutive years) of standards-aligned intermediate and advanced level coursework in one of the career focus areas to complete a pathway.
Workforce Pathways Guiding Policy Principles define high quality CTE and establish essential elements for programs to follow. Components of a successful pathway include a professional or technical core, academic connections, a work-based learning or internship program, student, strong industry advisory, leadership, and student support services, to name a few.