Signature Features of CT Programs of Study How do we give students access to more of them?

1. Signature Features of CT Programs of Study How do we give students access to more of them? Gene Bottoms Senior Vice President Southern Regional Education Board gene.bottoms@sreb.org TCTW Forum 2013

2. One Signature Feature of Rigorous CT Pathway Programs of Study — Assignments to CT Students Matter • What are the elements of a good assignment? 1. 2. 3. 4. TCTW Forum 2013

3. College- and Career-Readiness Goals Graduate 90 percent of students who enter grade nine, with 80 percent of entering ninth-graders graduating college- and career-ready and with 60 percent of entering ninth-graders eventually earning a state-approved industry certification; certificate from a community or technical college or degree from a two- or four-year college. TCTW Forum 2013

4. What does SREB mean by college-ready? Source: The Next Generation of School Accountability. Page 9 Being college-ready means a high school graduate has the reading, writing and math knowledge and skills needed to succeed in all credit-bearing, first-year course work in associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in non-mathematics-based majors. TCTW Forum 2013

5. What does SREB mean by career ready? Source: The Next Generation of School Accountability. Page 9 Being career ready — ready to enter and advance in a job or succeed in advanced training. At a minimum, it means that high school graduates: a) have the reading, writing and math skills to succeed in advanced training programs leading to a certificate, or b) have also acquired the additional technical and cognitive skills needed to pass a state-approved industry certification or licensure exam of sufficient depth and breadth that would add value to employers, the economy and long-term benefits for the individual. TCTW Forum 2013

6. What does SREB mean by college- and career-ready? Source: The Next Generation of School Accountability. Page 10 Being college- and career-ready means a high school graduate has met the reading, writing and math expectations set by the state to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing courses leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Graduates have also met the state’s expectations regarding the reading, writing, math and technical skills to succeed in advanced training in a given career field leading to a certificate or advancement in the workplace, or has passed a state-approved industry certification exam of recognized value. TCTW Forum 2013

7. How many TCTW Students Experienced at Least Four Elements of a Rigorous Assignment?Indicators Used to Define Rigorous Assignments TCTW Forum 2013

8. How many TCTW Students Experienced at Least Four Elements of a Rigorous Assignment? Indicators Used to Define Rigorous Assignments TCTW Forum 2013

9. Interview of Students at Columbia Montour CT Center in Pennsylvania Validates Student Survey TCTW Forum 2013

10. Interview of Students at Columbia Montour CT Center in Pennsylvania Validates Student Survey TCTW Forum 2013

11. Do rigorous assignments matter? TCTW Forum 2013

12. Preparation for Tomorrow Curriculum See Attachment A: Sample of Rigorous Assignment from Preparation for Tomorrow (PFT) project See Attachment B: Sample of PFT Embedded Literacy Assignment See Attachment C: Sample of PFT Embedded Math Assignment TCTW Forum 2013

13. Percentage of Students Meeting College- and Career-Readiness Standards TCTW Forum 2013

14. Percentage of Students Experiencing Rigorous CT Assignments by Career Pathways Source: 2012 TCTW Assessment (TCTW Sites only) Note: No Rigorous CTE is demographically matched to Had Rigorous CTE. TCTW Forum 2013

15. Percentage of Students Experiencing Rigorous CT Assignments by Career Pathways Source: 2012 TCTW Assessment (TCTW Sites only) Note: No Rigorous CTE is demographically matched to Had Rigorous CTE. TCTW Forum 2013

16. Percentage of Students Experiencing Rigorous CT Assignments by Career Pathways Source: 2012 TCTW Assessment (TCTW Sites only) Note: No Rigorous CTE is demographically matched to Had Rigorous CTE. TCTW Forum 2013

17. Source: 2012 TCTW Assessment TCTW Forum 2013

18. Source: 2012 TCTW Assessment TCTW Forum 2013

19. Source: 2012 TCTW Assessment TCTW Forum 2013

20. Possible Elements of a Good Student Assignment Yes No • The assignment should require students to: • use higher-order thinking skills — critical thinking and problem solving, etc. • exercise judgment • read textbooks, related documents and seek other information to prepare a work plan, a design plan, a study plan, etc. • apply math calculations and analysis to complete TCTW Forum 2013

21. Possible Elements of a Good Student Assignment Yes No • Will the assignment require students to: • learn to use certain technology and software to complete • learn new technical concepts and skills • Does the assignment reflect authentic work? • Will the assignment provide the context for applying the scientific, engineering, problem-solving process or some other process? TCTW Forum 2013

22. Possible Elements of a Good Student Assignment Yes No Will the assignment result in a final product(s)/deliverable(s)? Does the assignment clearly specify how students will be assessed? Is the assignment large and complex enough that it will require several days to complete along with enabling learning activities to complete the larger project? Will the assignment allow students to reflect on what they are learning and to see connection between academic and technical studies and potential further study, a job and a career? TCTW Forum 2013

23. 1. Why should technology centers redesign existing programs, develop/adopt new ones with signature features of a rigorouscareer pathway programs of study?a.b.c. TCTW Forum 2013

24. 2. What would be signature features for a rigorous CT pathway program of study?a.b.c. TCTW Forum 2013

25. 3. What can the TCTW network, state and SREB do to provide more access to rigorous career pathway programs of study? TCTW Forum 2013

26. What is SREB’s effort to develop more rigorous CT pathway programs of study? TCTW Forum 2013

27. Preparation for Tomorrow is SREB’s effort to develop more rigorous CT pathway programs of study. • The intent of the PFT initiative by SREB and 11 partner states is to: • Develop rigorous CT curricula in high-demand, high-skill, high-wage fields. • Support states to use the PFT approach to transform existing CT pathways to ensure more students have challenging and engaging learning experiences. TCTW Forum 2013

28. Participating States TCTW Forum 2013

29. Preparation for Tomorrow Partner with business leaders to develop a sequence of rigorous standards-based CT courses aligned to the unique economic needs and opportunities of states. TCTW Forum 2013

30. Signature Features of Preparation for Tomorrow CT Pathway Programs of Study Yes No Employers from the career field participated in identifying technical, academic and 21st-century skills and in framing each authentic project or problem around which courses are developed. Curriculum developed around authentic real-world projects in high-skill, high-wage, high-demand fields with developed daily lesson plans. TCTW Forum 2013

31. Signature Features of Preparation for Tomorrow CT Pathway Programs of Study Yes No • Requiring students to: • Apply State Common Core academic skills — literacy, math and science — and industry identified technical knowledge and skills to complete assignments. • Formulate problem statements and research options and prepare a written plan of attack with justification of approach to complete the assignment. • Use appropriate technology software and technical skills to complete assignments. • Apply 21st-century skills — habits of behavior and mind — in completing the work. TCTW Forum 2013

32. Key Signature Features of Preparation for Tomorrow CT Pathway Programs of Study Yes No 80 percent of students complete a college-ready academic core. Students complete end-of-assignment and end-of-course exams demonstrating literacy, math and technical skills required to complete the assignment and/or course. Require students to take, with an increased percentage of students passing, state-approved industry certification exams. TCTW Forum 2013

33. Key Signature Features of Preparation for Tomorrow CT Pathway Programs of Study Yes No Inform students about careers and further educational opportunities and their requirements. Taught by a highly qualified teacher Assess and inform students about their readiness for college and careers and develop next steps plans. Create opportunities for students to pursue dual credit options for at least two CT courses aligned to a postsecondary career pathway. TCTW Forum 2013

34. Summary TCTW Forum 2013 Redesign existing CT programs and adopt new CT pathway courses aligned to labor market demands and to postsecondary studies, and give challenging and intellectually demanding assignments that use technology and common core reading, writing, math and science standards. They should be taught by teachers prepared to engage students in such assignments.