Arts, Entertainment, & Design Career Cluster

Description

The California Department of Education (CDE) has adopted the National Career Clusters Framework . The modernized Framework reflects the needs of both employers and learners. With its industry-centered language, purpose-driven groupings, interdisciplinary nature, and inclusion of all aspects of the modern world of work, the Framework seeks to transform career readiness in CTE and beyond." The Cluster Defined: The Arts, Entertainment, and Design Career Cluster combines creative roles in visual and performing arts, film, journalism, fashion, interior design, and creative technologies. This Cluster focuses on creating, producing, and sharing artistic and design work across multiple platforms, aiming to entertain, inform, beautify, and inspire.

AED programs expand on Arts Education programs to include a comprehensive career readiness component. In 2026, the sector serves approximately 260,000 students and is the largest Career Technical Education (CTE) sector in the state of California.

Program Summary

The CDE AED Career Cluster supports high quality CTE programs in California Public Schools.

The CDE's work aligns with SB-628 California Creative Workforce Act of 2021 , which establishes "creative arts workforce development" as a state priority. CDE works collaboratively with local educational agencies, employers, apprenticeship programs, workforce intermediaries, government agencies, community-based organizations, labor partners, and postsecondary institutions to establish a system for building a more accessible school to career pipeline and creative workforce.

Program Objectives and Services

Services for the AED Career Cluster are located within the Academy, Apprenticeship, and Internship Office in the Career and College Transition Division (CCTD).

The CDE supports innovative approaches that bridge K-14 education with creative industries to strengthen partnerships, align instruction with workforce needs, and expand student access to relevant learning experiences and career opportunities.

The specific services and program objectives include the following:

Technical Assistance:

Provide technical assistance (TA) to AED programs throughout California to support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality CTE Pathways.

Statewide Industry Engagement:

Engage, coordinate, and facilitate industry events, advisory committees, and coalitions to strengthen collaboration and align educational programs with evolving industry needs.

Professional Development:

Support and promote professional development opportunities for AED educators including industry externships, conferences, in-person and virtual workshops, and specialized training activities.

Student Leaderships Development:

Promote and support AED student leadership activities that develop communication, collaboration, creativity, professional skills, and industry engagement.

Work-Based Learning Opportunities:

Establish and strengthen work-based learning programs and initiatives that connect schools, students, and educators with industry partners through experiences such as internships, mentorships, job shadowing, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and other career-connected learning opportunities.

2025 Arts, Entertainment, and Design, CTE Model Curriculum Standards

In November 2025, The California State Board of Education approved the new Model Curriculum Standard (MCS) for AED.

The MCS serve as an industry skills framework and provide guidance for aligning CTE to postsecondary, apprenticeship, and workforce programs.

The document is intended to support CTE programs in incorporating measurable competencies and concrete student outcomes. The document supports curriculum mapping to essential workplace skills, interdisciplinary skills, and occupation-specific technical skills across four pathways and twelve focus areas.

2025 Arts, Entertainment, and Design CTE Model Curriculum Standards (DOCX)

Pathways and Focus Areas include:

1. Design, Visual, and Media Arts Pathway
   1. Animation and Visual Effects
   2. Game Design
   3. Design and Graphic Arts
   4. Studio Arts
2. Performance, Music, & Live Entertainment Pathway
   1. Stage & Event Technology
   2. Dance & Theatre
   3. Music & Recording Arts
3. Media Production Pathway
   1. Film & Television
   2. Digital Communications
   3. Digital Editing & Post-Production
4. Fashion & Interior Design Pathway
   1. Fashion Design
   2. Interior Design

AED Student Leadership

Creative Careers Leadership Lab

In 2022, CDE established the Creative Careers Leadership Lab (CCLL) as an Alternative Student Leadership Organization that meets the criteria listed in the Federal Perkins V State Plan regarding student leadership. CCLL supports all AED pathways.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America

The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is the pre-professional organization for Family and Consumer Sciences education students in the grades 6 –12. FCCLA supports Fashion and Interior Design pathways in the AED Cluster.

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national student organization for industrial and technical education programs. Skills USA supports multiple pathways in the AED Cluster.

Note: Perkins V State Plan (DOCX): If a district or school is unable to, or elects not to, provide the opportunity for students to participate in one of the six CTSOs recognized by California, the district or school may offer an alternative leadership development program that should include all of the following:

• (a) is integrated into the classroom content;
• (b) annually elects student officers;
• (c) has a constitution and bylaws;
• (d) conducts monthly meetings;
• (e) is part of the classroom grade;
• (f) includes community service activities;
• (g) engages students in activities outside the local school;
• and (h) provides opportunities for students to participate in statewide and/or national events.

Resources

California Arts Council Programs

The California Arts Council offers direct programming in a variety of areas through special federal, state, and local community partnerships.

The California Film Comission AME Career Readiness Program

Approved tax credit applicants must participate in a career-based learning and training program as an opportunity to inspire, train, and give back to the next generation of filmakers. This requirement may be fulfilled during any phase of the production.

For more information, contact: incentiveprogram3@film.ca.gov

California Creative Economy Strategic Plan

The California Creative Economy Strategic Plan is defined by six key strategies, this milestone document marks California's first sector-specific plan to bolster and grow $288 billion creative sectors and supports its over 820,000 creative workers.

Creative Careers Leadership Lab

The Creative Careers Leadership Lab (CCLL) is a statewide youth leadership organization dedicated to cultivating creative identity, technical skills, and leadership in high school students. In collaboration with the California Department of Education's Arts, Entertainment, and Design sector, the CCLL provides training programs, events, and curricula to validate their classroom learning, demonstrate competency proficiency, and develop confidence in their creative interests.

Creative Educator's Network

Creative Educator's Network is a non-profit organization supporting AED teachers and administrators with industry-aligned training, conferences, and professional development to help strengthen the connection between public education and creative industries.

Creator's Coalition on Artificial Intelligence

The Creators Coalition on AI is a tech-agnostic convening organization created as a central hub for cross-industry discussion about how AI is affecting entertainment and creative communities. The wider coalition includes independent artists; members of the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, Producers United, PGA, and IATSE; attorneys, executives, representatives and technologists.

Entertainment Equity Alliance

The Entertainment Equity Alliance is a coalition of industry-connected training programs, non-profit organizations, and agencies supporting a stronger school-to-career pipeline by bolstering work-based learning opportunities and supporting workforce development across creative industries in California.

Workforce Pathways Guiding Policy Principles

Guiding Policy Principles, Essentials Elements, Working Norms, and Glossary of Terms supporting high-quality Career Technical Education in California.