Freshmen to Seniors to Gain Access to CTE Courses Focused on Aviation

A high school in Stillwater, Oklahoma has embarked on a program to offer aviation themed courses for postsecondary credit. 

The system will allow students to obtain credits for aviation courses approved under the CORE curriculum, counting for their computer technology graduation requirements while building a base for future aeronautical studies. In all, high schoolers will be able to take 4 years of aviation classes, later specializing in crewed and uncrewed systems in their last 2 years of training. The program won't just foster pilots, according to Ashley Moore, Director of Secondary Education at Stillwater Public Schools. 

"Aviation courses meet a wide variety of student needs, providing multiple entry points into the industry," Moore said. "The aviation pathway provides a great opportunity for partnerships within our community." She was careful to sell the board on the affordability and feasibility of the program. The program itself was free, developed by industry professionals to be hands-on and applicable to real-world employment. 

"We're not asking to build a runway. We're not asking to build an airplane or buy an airplane. We're not going to be putting students in the sky," said Moore. "Aviation is a dynamic industry in Oklahoma with over 300 public and private companies in the OKC area and at least 200 in the Tulsa area. The program provides multiple access points into the aviation industry. 

The program hasn't yet been fully approved, but students starting class next spring should be able to enroll into Aviation Technology I, if all goes well. 

FMI: www.stillwaterschools.com