Career Pathways Career Pathways Strategic Strategic

Improvement Coalition Improvement Coalition

(CPSIC)(CPSIC)by Tara JonesDirector of Career PathwaysCORD601 Lake Air DriveWaco, TX 76710Phone: (254) 772-8756, ext. 243 E-mail: tjones@cord.org

CORDCORD National Non-ProfitNational Non-Profit 25 years experience in 25 years experience in

developing curriculum, developing curriculum, providing professional providing professional development, and leading development, and leading education reformeducation reform

Founder of the National Tech Founder of the National Tech Prep Network (NTPN)Prep Network (NTPN)

National Tech Prep National Tech Prep NetworkNetwork

Founded in 1991Founded in 1991 Over 3,000 membersOver 3,000 members Annual conferenceAnnual conference Assists members in the following areas:Assists members in the following areas:

– Planning and Implementing Tech Prep Planning and Implementing Tech Prep ProgramsPrograms

– Evaluating and Improving Tech Prep ProgramEvaluating and Improving Tech Prep Program– Pool resources of our country’s leading Pool resources of our country’s leading

practitioners to provide a network of practitioners to provide a network of communication for new and existing communication for new and existing programs. programs.

Tech Prep Tech Prep AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

1990-20051990-2005 Secondary/Postsecondary Secondary/Postsecondary

articulation agreements (2+2)articulation agreements (2+2) Advanced standing/postsecondary Advanced standing/postsecondary

creditcredit Advanced skillsAdvanced skills Improved academics through Improved academics through

contextual teaching/learningcontextual teaching/learning IntegrationIntegration Lower drop-out rates/higher Lower drop-out rates/higher

graduation ratesgraduation rates

The Challenge for the The Challenge for the FutureFuture

Standards-based curriculaStandards-based curricula High School graduation requirements High School graduation requirements

matched to postsecondary entrance matched to postsecondary entrance requirementsrequirements

All students successful in rigorous All students successful in rigorous academicsacademics

Seamless transitions; Dual EnrollmentSeamless transitions; Dual Enrollment All students in clusters and pathways All students in clusters and pathways

CAREER PATHWAYSCAREER PATHWAYS

Recent Legislative Recent Legislative HappeningsHappenings

House BillHouse Bill

Senate BillSenate Bill

Letter from the Secretary of Letter from the Secretary of EducationEducation

Career ClusterCareer Cluster A Grouping of Occupations A Grouping of Occupations

According to Common According to Common Knowledge and Skills for the Knowledge and Skills for the Purpose of Organizing Purpose of Organizing Educational Programs and Educational Programs and CurriculaCurricula

One of Sixteen Clusters One of Sixteen Clusters defined by OVAE in 1999defined by OVAE in 1999

A student interest areaA student interest area

USED’s 16 Career USED’s 16 Career ClustersClusters

Agriculture and Natural Agriculture and Natural ResourcesResources

Arts, Audio/Video Tech & Arts, Audio/Video Tech & CommunicationsCommunications

Business & Admin. ServicesBusiness & Admin. Services

ConstructionConstruction

Education & Training Education & Training ServicesServices

Financial ServicesFinancial Services

Health ScienceHealth Science

Hospitality & TourismHospitality & Tourism

Human ServicesHuman Services

Information Technology Information Technology ServicesServices

Legal & Protective ServicesLegal & Protective Services

ManufacturingManufacturing

Public Admin/GovernmentPublic Admin/Government

Retail/Wholesale Sales & Retail/Wholesale Sales & ServicesServices

Scientific Research, Scientific Research, Engineering & Technical Engineering & Technical ServicesServices

Transportation, Transportation, Distribution & LogisticsDistribution & Logistics

A Career Pathway is a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career/technical courses, commencing in the ninth grade and leading to an associate degree, baccalaureate degree and beyond, an industry recognized certificate, and/or licensure. The Career Pathway is developed, implemented, and maintained in partnership among secondary and postsecondary education, business, and employers. Career Pathways are available to all students, including adult learners, and may lead to rewarding careers.

Career PathwayCareer Pathway A 4+2(+2) program of study leading A 4+2(+2) program of study leading

to employment in an occupational to employment in an occupational field and/or continued field and/or continued education/trainingeducation/training

Not a “Track” to narrow student Not a “Track” to narrow student choicechoice

The high school portion of a Career The high school portion of a Career Pathway is sufficiently broad to Pathway is sufficiently broad to support postsecondary support postsecondary education/training for other education/training for other occupations within the cluster occupations within the cluster

The essential characteristics of an Ideal Career The essential characteristics of an Ideal Career Pathway include the following:Pathway include the following:

1. The Secondary Pathway 1. The Secondary Pathway ComponentComponent

Meets state academic standards and grade-Meets state academic standards and grade-level expectationslevel expectations

Meets high school testing and exit Meets high school testing and exit requirementsrequirements

Meets postsecondary (college) Meets postsecondary (college) entry/placement requirementsentry/placement requirements

Provides Provides foundationfoundation knowledge and skills in knowledge and skills in a chosen career clustera chosen career cluster

Provides opportunities for students to earn Provides opportunities for students to earn college credit through dual/concurrent college credit through dual/concurrent enrollment or articulation agreementsenrollment or articulation agreements

Opportunities for students to earn college Opportunities for students to earn college credit through dual/concurrent enrollment or credit through dual/concurrent enrollment or articulation agreementsarticulation agreements

Alignment and articulation with Alignment and articulation with baccalaureate programsbaccalaureate programs

Industry-recognized skills and knowledge in Industry-recognized skills and knowledge in each cluster areaeach cluster area

Opportunities for placement in the chosen Opportunities for placement in the chosen career clusters at multiple exit pointscareer clusters at multiple exit points

2. The Postsecondary Pathway Component provides:

Regularly collecting qualitative and Regularly collecting qualitative and quantitative data quantitative data

Using data for planning and decision-making Using data for planning and decision-making for continuous pathway improvementfor continuous pathway improvement

On-going dialog among secondary, post-On-going dialog among secondary, post-secondary, and business partnerssecondary, and business partners

3. Pathway partners ensure a culture of empirical evidence is maintained by:

Purpose of CPSICPurpose of CPSIC

Make the Benefits of Career Pathways available to Make the Benefits of Career Pathways available to students across the country by helping secondary students across the country by helping secondary and postsecondary Career Pathways partnerships and postsecondary Career Pathways partnerships develop and implement strategies for improvement.develop and implement strategies for improvement.

Set benchmarks to measure success and Set benchmarks to measure success and improvement effortsimprovement efforts

Engage in a continuous improvement process and Engage in a continuous improvement process and identify useful improvement strategiesidentify useful improvement strategies

Provide Technical AssistanceProvide Technical Assistance Showcase example partnerships and improvement Showcase example partnerships and improvement

strategiesstrategies

St. Louis Attendees and St. Louis Attendees and CPSIC?CPSIC?

Strongest Benchmarks are Benchmarks Strongest Benchmarks are Benchmarks #10 and 11#10 and 11– #10 – Postsecondary provides industry #10 – Postsecondary provides industry

recognized knowledge and skills.recognized knowledge and skills.– #11 - Postsecondary component provides #11 - Postsecondary component provides

employment opportunities for high-wage, employment opportunities for high-wage, high-demand careers in the chosen high-demand careers in the chosen Pathway and provides multiple exit points.Pathway and provides multiple exit points.

Weakest Benchmarks for Weakest Benchmarks for St. Louis CPSIC Conference St. Louis CPSIC Conference

AttendeesAttendees

Benchmark #12 – Business ensures Benchmark #12 – Business ensures that students are learning current, in-that students are learning current, in-demand skills.demand skills.

#13 - Business provides student work-#13 - Business provides student work-based learning experiences after 11based learning experiences after 11thth grade.grade.

LogisticsLogistics

CPSIC CPSIC HandoutsHandouts

Dr. Pat Schwallie-GiddisDr. Pat Schwallie-Giddis

Debra MillsDebra Mills

Dr. Sandi HarwellDr. Sandi Harwell

The transition from high school to college can be improved by better cooperation and communication between secondary and postsecondary systems.

Bailey, Hughes, and Karp(2002)

2.2 Tech Prep students are enrolled in a seamless program of study that begins, preferably by grade 9 but at least by grade 11and continues through at least 2 years of postsecondary education. The seamless program incorporates career clusters, rigorous academics and technical competencies that effectively prepare students for postsecondary education or employment.

3.1 Tech Prep programs have a sequence of appropriate advanced academic and technical courses that effectively prepare students for their next steps in postsecondary education and/or employment.

3.2 Curriculum contributing to the Tech Prep program is seamless from secondary through postsecondary and is developed and evaluated by stakeholders.

4.2 The Tech Prep program functions within an articulation agreement between secondary and postsecondary institutions, and specifies courses and course sequence.

4.3 Articulation is inclusive of academic and technical courses.

The framework should be progressive.

Each level should teach what is develop- mentally correct.

The High School Role

Provide context for academic achievementProvide motivation (and desire) to remain in

schoolProvide a “level playing field” for students

with diversified learning styles

Provide guidance for career selection and afoundation for career pursuit

Use career preparation to provide inter-disciplinary problem-solving andcritical thinking

Provide a basis for lifelong learning…andlife long EARNING

http://www.wvtechprep.wvnet.edu/downloads.htm

Volusia Flagler Tech PrepVolusia Flagler Tech Prep

Students problem solve, analyze, synthesize,and evaluate.

Students apply learning across disciplines tosolve problems that are meaningful to them.

EnglishGrade 9

What do theyneed to know and be able to do?

Entry

Exit

Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

Math

Science

RequiredAcademics

College and Career Transitions Initiative