Putting the Pieces Together

1. Putting the Pieces Together West Virginia Career Pathway Model Dr. Kathy J. D’Antoni, Vice-Chancellor West Virginia Community and Technical College System

2. WV SECONDARY AND POSTSECONDARY SYSTEM • 250 Public High Schools • 10 Community and Technical Colleges • 9 Public Universities or Colleges

3. WV Community and Technical Colleges • Eastern WV Community and Technical College • Pierpont Community and Technical College • Marshall Community and Technical College • New River Community and Technical College • Blue Ridge Community and Technical College • Southern WV Community and Technical College • WVU at Parkersburg • Community and Technical College at WVU Tech • West Virginia Northern Community College • West Virginia State Community and Technical College

4. Higher Education Study - 1999 • WV enrollment in community and technical colleges is out of proportion in relationship to national enrollment • National 46% • SREB 39% • West Virginia 24%

5. TODAY’S REALITY • For our students to obtain a quality job, they must continue their education beyond high school. But that does not always imply a 4 year college degree.

6. Labor Market Profiles

7. ▪70% college bound ▪ 30% Workforce with HS Diploma or less Workforce Dilemma Student Cohort - 100 ▪ After one semester or one year ▪ 30% drop-out – 60% workforce ▪ Before Graduation ▪ 10-20% Drop-out – 70-80% workforce ▪ College Graduates ▪ 20-30% earn degrees Source: National Research Center for Career and Technical Education

8. The Nation’s DilemmaThe Quiet Part ▪ University enrollments at all time high ▪ University time to graduate at all time high ▪ University drop out rates at all time high ▪ University underemployment at all time high

9. Internal Discussion • What was happening in West Virginia? • What was our goal as an education system?

10. WV’s Historical Facts • Low college-going rate • Low education attainment rate • High college remediation rates • Low postsecondary graduation rates • Low literacy rates

11. Major Changes in Education • Senate Bill 300 • Clusters/Majors • Comprehensive Career Development System • Work-based Learning Experiences • Review of postsecondary transition practices

12. Postsecondary Transitions • Professional Pathway • Dual Credit • AP • College courses at the high schools • Skilled/Entry Pathway (Tech Prep) • Articulation

13. Results after 2 Years • Only the best and brightest were being offered postsecondary incentives • Articulation was not working • College-going rate still low • College remedial rates were still high

14. New Strategies • Team – To Develop a Seamless System • Identified curriculum duplication and gaps • College Transition Courses • EDGE Earn a Degree – Graduate Early - Allowed students the opportunity to learn free college credit toward an associate degree while still in high school.

15. College Transition Courses • English Pilot • Math Pilots

16. EDGE • Identification of duplicate curriculum • Postsecondary and public school faculties worked collaboratively • Free college credit awarded • Successful completion and final assessment • Transcript held in escrow • Future College Plans

17. Current Statistics EDGE • 2002 – 2003 School Year • 23% of High Schools & Technical Centers Participated • 2003 – 2004 School Year • 46% of High Schools & Technical Centers Participated • 2004 – 2005 School Year • 70% (108) of High Schools & Technical Centers Participating • 73% Increase in Student Participation • 2006 – almost a 200% increase in Student Participation

18. Quality of EDGE Students • EDGE Student Remediation Averages • Developmental English • 9% compared to a system-wide average of 23.5%. • Developmental Math • 20% compared to a system-wide average of 38%. • Other Developmental Courses • 22% compared to a system-wide average of 42.5%. • EDGE Students carry an average 2.68 GPA with a course load of 14 credit hours per semester.

19. Current Statistics (cont.) • College-going rate has increased • English remediation rates have decreased • Math remediation rates the same but the pilots have not been established across the state – next year! • College-going rate to CTC has increased

20. New Initiatives • Parent Handbooks • 20,000 distributed through 250 workshops • College Success Course • 400 students participating at 20 high schools • 1200 students participating by 2009

21. Lessons Learn • Postsecondary and Public Schools working together to align curriculum is essential in lowering remediation rates and increasing college-going rates • Public School Assessments need to be tied to postsecondary admission standards • Barriers to higher education need to be removed for the “middle” group of students • Lack of “college knowledge” among the lower income, ethnic minority, and immigrant children. • Parents/students need quality information to make good decisions

22. Lessons Learned (cont.) • Career Development needs to be a major part of the K-12 system. • Math needs to be required all 4 years in high school but relevant to the student’s career choice • Bottom Line - public and postsecondary education must work collaboratively to bring about positive change and to develop seamless career pathways for students

23. West Virginia Model QUESTIONS