The Pittsburgh Public Schools administration has unveiled a proposal for high school career and technical education that would require $38 million in capital improvements.

The proposal calls for the district to be divided into three "regional clusters" aimed at ensuring all students have access to three programs: health careers; information technology, business and finance; and culinary arts.

In addition, some high schools also would have "signature programming" -- such as robotics or auto body repair.

Students participating in the signature programming would have to attend a high school within the same region, but a process may be created to permit transfers.

"I think this plan is a very cost-effective way of maximizing career and technical education's potential to help with our strategies around having opportunities for kids after high school," said school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt.

Derrick Lopez, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, and Angela Mike, acting executive director of career and technical education, presented the proposal to the school board Tuesday evening.

Board members had some questions about how the plan would work and will talk about it more at a public meeting to be scheduled.

The plan is not final and is not expected to take effect before 2011-12.

District officials estimate that the program would have an enrollment of 600 to 800.

Under the plan, students would take academic classes in the morning or afternoon, and career and technical education classes in the other portion of the day. The programs would run two or three years.

A shuttle, which could make a full route within 45 minutes, would be provided between schools in the middle of the day, but otherwise Port Authority transportation would be used.

Officials also want to see if there is demand for extended day, weekend or summer opportunities for students from throughout the district for certain programs.

None of the described programs would be magnet programs except for the current engineering magnet at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School.

Here is a breakdown of the proposed clusters and programs:

• Allderdice: Keeps engineering magnet. Possibility of robotics program if Peabody becomes the home of the Obama International Studies Academy.

• Milliones (University Prep): Information technology, business and finance.

• Peabody: Robotics.

• Westinghouse: Culinary arts; health careers.

• Oliver: Gateway to the Promise-Early College, a whole-school program including a year-round schedule, flexible hours and a chance to graduate early. Students would select a career academy, including building and trades; health careers; information technology, business and finance; consumer sciences (culinary arts and cosmetology).

• Perry: Would not have a career academy but is suggested as the future home of the Teacher Academy, where master teachers would help train new teachers.

• Brashear: auto body repair; automotive technology.

• Carrick: information technology, business and finance; culinary arts.

• Langley: health careers and advanced machine operations. It also would use the Big Picture Learning model, blending classroom and real-world learning.

The school board has talked about improving career and technical education -- previously known as vocational education -- for years.

Two major facilities -- South Vo-Tech High and Connelley Technical Institute and Adult Education Center -- were closed in 2004. However, welding and heating, ventilation and air conditioning classes continue to be offered at Connelley.

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