CASE 4 Learning (CASE) is redefining agricultural education with an inspiring mission: to create industry-leading, inquiry-based curricula and teacher training that connect today’s classrooms with tomorrow’s careers. By keeping content relevant and current, CASE prepares students to thrive in one of the world’s most essential and evolving industries.
The agricultural sector is evolving, shaped by new technologies, shifting workforce demographics, and changing industry needs. To ensure the next generation is prepared, CASE provides a unique educational process that bridges classroom learning and real-world applications. Through training, support, and certification, CASE empowers teachers across the country to inspire middle and high school students with hands-on learning and technical skills, preparing them to thrive in a vital and growing industry.
CASE Supports Agricultural Teachers and Students
At CASE, everything begins with agricultural teachers—the real-world experts who connect classrooms to careers. By equipping teachers with the right tools, training, and support, CASE strengthens the link between education and industry while inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.
CASE supports agricultural teachers through immersive professional development, including week-long CASE Institutes and shortened BriefCASE training events. These hybrid learning sessions not only deepen understanding of the year’s curriculum but also create valuable opportunities for teachers to connect, collaborate, and build lasting professional networks. Participants leave with a strong cohort of peers that they can turn to for support, clarification, and new ideas. During the summer of 2025, more than 400 teachers nationwide participated in CASE Institutes, making it a season of growth, innovation, and collaboration!
Armed with new knowledge and a network of support, teachers launch into the school year, ready to empower their students to learn and apply the latest concepts and technical skills aligned to the agricultural industry.
CASE’s Hands-On Learning Approach Prepares Students for the Real World
CASE uses a student-centered approach known as inquiry-based learning, designed to sharpen critical thinking and provide meaningful opportunities for students to apply and demonstrate their knowledge in real-world contexts.
We connected with Chelsea Bowen, Event & Operations Coordinator at CASE, about how CASE puts inquiry-based education into practice.
“Our students don’t simply sit down and watch slides,” says Bowen. “They’re introduced to a concept and then they’re asked to demonstrate competency through a hands-on experience. That allows us to see their performance, to be able to value their comprehension of the concept and their technical skills to solve real-world problems.”
Through inquiry-based learning, students gain hands-on experience across 14 CASE courses offered at four instructional levels: Introductory, Foundation, Specialization, and Capstone.
CASE Partners with NOCTI to Deliver Assessments and Insights for Improvement
Since its launch in 2009, the CASE program has steadily expanded, and leadership recognized the importance of third-party assessment delivery paired with a comprehensive reporting system to verify student knowledge and guide curriculum enhancements. In 2019, CASE partnered with NOCTI to deliver CASE-developed end-of-course (EoC) assessments. These high-quality, industry-relevant assessments provide actionable insights to strengthen the CASE curriculum and showcase student readiness for future opportunities.
Bowen highlighted the value of the assessments, noting that they “give students the opportunity to validate their skills, which should give them an advantage that will help them in the future.”
She adds that the assessment data also benefits teachers, as NOCTI’s comprehensive score reports make it easy to identify trends and patterns. This enables educators to pinpoint strengths, uncover opportunities for growth in the curriculum, and adjust their instruction accordingly.
With the data NOCTI provides, “they’re able to validate and update their program, as well as advocate for funding.”
Updated Industry Standards Keep Agriculture Students on the Cutting Edge
CASE revised their assessments for the 2025-2026 school year with the latest data from the National Council for Agricultural Education, including the new Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) standards.
“Since we just released these newly revised assessments, we’re looking forward to the coming year, being able to see the data and be really data-driven in our choices,” says Bowen. “We’re really excited, we think the assessment is going to be a great addition to the AFNR courses.”
Currently, credentialing assessments are available for three courses: AFNR, Animal Science, and Plant Science. In most states, these assessments are optional enhancements to the program. CASE continues to expand its offerings, with the goal of making assessment opportunities available across all its courses.
“The Average Consumer is Three Generations Removed From the Farm”
Recent statistics highlight an opportunity: with the median age of American farmers in the late 50s to early 60s, there’s a growing need—and exciting potential—for the next generation to learn where their food comes from and step into careers in agriculture.
“There is a huge need for people who can be out on a farm and produce a crop, but there are so many supporting careers that go alongside that,” Bowens tells us. CASE programs set students up for success in all aspects of this challenging environment, with the understanding that a skilled workforce will need to apply technological innovations in a purposeful, efficient way.
Today, careers in agriculture demand an understanding of technologies in animal and plant science that feed the world. Students enrolled in CASE courses will develop the skills and knowledge to explore diverse opportunities across every stage of the food supply chain.
Even for students who pursue other career paths, CASE equips them with the insight to make informed choices as consumers, strengthening the connection between people and the sources of their food.
NOCTI is Proud to Partner with CASE
NOCTI is proud to serve as the delivery partner for CASE EoC assessments, providing consistent administration and scoring for schools nationwide. Together, NOCTI and CASE advance a shared mission to prepare a highly skilled workforce through innovative and engaging learning solutions.
To learn more about how NOCTI can help elevate your educational program, contact us. We can help you empower your students and verify their skills with industry-recognized credentials that can boost them forward in the career of their choice.