Title: Crafting HighCaliber Career Academies Using the National Standards of Practice Angie Grasberger SLCA
1 Crafting High-Caliber Career
Academies Using the
National Standards of PracticeAngie
GrasbergerSLC/Academy Project Coordinator
Career Technical Education Counselor School
District of Manatee CountyP.O. Box 9069
Bradenton, Florida 34206941.545.4668 941.708.868
6 fax
2 Skills Gap
- How many of this years kindergarten class will
find themselves in jobs that dont even exist
today?
?
3 Bridge the Gap. WHY?
- To.
- Blend Career and Academic Instruction with Real
World Experiences. 21st Century Rigor and
Relevance to enter the workforce well prepared
and to start a career with life-long skills.
4Small Learning Communities
- Small, safe, and supportive learning environments
that are personalized and inclusive of all
students - Challenging, rigorous, and relevant curriculum
that prepares students for college, careers, and
productive citizenship - Collaborative partnerships among educators,
parents, businesses, and other community
resources that broaden learning opportunities
5What differentiates Career Academies from other
Small Learning Communities?
- Partnerships with business and community
organizations - Contextual career themes
- Business mentors
- Internships/externships
- Widely accepted24 of high schools (U.S. Dept.
of Ed)
6Latest Research Shows
- Higher attendance rates
- Lower drop-out rates
- Higher self-esteem and satisfaction with school
- Lower discipline problems
- Higher promise for at-risk and disengaged
students - Lower incidence of school violence
- Higher academic standards and sense of connection
with teachers, other students, and school
programs - Lower sense of student apathy, isolation, and
alienation
7 Academy Goals
- To prepare students with the skills and knowledge
needed for success in the workplace and/or
post-secondary education. - To develop and reinforce the academic skills
necessary to raise student achievement on
high-stakes tests.
8- To focus curriculum planning and professional
development around student needs to achieve the
academic standards and essential skills required
for the real world. - To overcome the organizational and cultural
barriers between traditional academic and career
education.
9- To incorporate the Career and Technical Student
Organizations, such as National FFA, HOSA, FBLA
and FCCLA, with the individual academies for the
development of leadership skills, personal
growth, and career success.
10 12 Components
- Integrated Curriculum (Core)
- Pure Schedule (Core)
- Common Planning (Core)
- Advisory Committee
- Enrollment
- Career Focus
11- Program of Study and Standards
- Articulation
- Staff Development
- Work-Based Learning
- Capstone Activity
- Marketing
12Evaluation
- January 2004 Six academies were evaluated by
the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) - Four academies were certified as true academies
having the necessary components according to our
criteria
13- Evaluated by_________ Level ____
- Justification for evaluation level
______________________________ - Commendations
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- Recommendations
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
14National Standards of Practice
- Career Academy Support Network (CASN)
- National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC)
- National Academy Foundation (NAF)
- National Alliance of High Schools
- High Schools That Work (HSTW)
- Talent Development (CRESPAR)
- And others
1510 Components
- Defined Mission and goals
- There is a written definition of its mission and
goals available to administrators, teachers,
students, parents, advisory board, and others
involved in the academy - Academy Structure
- There needs to be a well defined structure within
the high school, reflecting its status as a small
learning community
16- Host District and High School
- Career academies exist in a variety of district
and high school contexts, which are important
determinants of an academys success - Faculty Staff
- Appropriate teacher selection, leadership,
credentialing, and cooperation are critical to an
academys success - Professional Development
- Since an academy places teachers and other adults
into roles not normally included in their
previous training, providing adequate
professional development time, leadership, and
support is critical -
17- Governance Leadership
- The academy has a governing structure that
incorporates the views of all stakeholders - Curriculum Instruction
- It meets or exceeds external standards and
college entrance requirements, while differing
from a regular high school by focusing learning
around a theme
18- Employer, Higher Education, Community
Involvement - Links high school to its host community and
involves members of the employer, higher
education and civic community in certain aspects
of its operation - Student Assessment
- Improvements in student performance are central
to an academys mission. It is important to
gather data that reflect whether students are
showing improvement and to report these
accurately and fairly to maintain the academys
integrity
19- Cycle of Improvement
- No new academy functions perfectly. Even well
established and operated academies benefit from
self examination and refinement. Ensuring and
improving the quality of a career academy
requires engaging in a regular cycle of
improvement
20Academy Evaluation
- January 2005 The four true academies were
re-evaluated along with the four new ones who had
been in the planning stages for at least the past
year. - All four academies re-evaluated last year
achieved certification on the National Standards
of Practice. - All four new academies evaluated met district
standards
21What Does Evaluation Mean?
- Administration and team members discover how well
they have met the standards of the district or
the NSOP - Validates their efforts
- Demonstrates where they need to tweak their
efforts - What needs to change or take place
- Offers suggestions/recommendations
22 Redefine the High School Experience
- Your students will want to come to school.
- Your teachers will want to teach.
- Communities and employers will reap the benefits
of well-prepared graduates ready to take on the
world.