Improving Schools and Learning: News from the Field

Transcription

1 Improving Schools and Learning: News from the Field Dr. Lydia Begley Associate Superintendent for Educational Services Nassau BOCES New York State School Boards Association 2014 Leadership Academy November 14, 2014

2 What is Nassau BOCES? Serves 56 component school districts on Long Island Offers 140 programs and services Is the largest BOCES in New York Works with a diverse populations both ethnically and economically Provides regional schools Special Education, Barry Tech, Long Island High School for the Arts, Doshi STEM Institute 2

3 Strategic Goals 3

4 Long Island Job Market Are your students prepared for the right jobs? 4

5 The forecast for job shifts on Long Island by 2020 Source: Newsday.com 5

6 Median Lifetime Earnings, by College Major (millions of dollars) Source: Major Decisions, Part 1; authors calculations from American Community Surveys,

7 Turn and Talk How is your district preparing students to join the LI workforce and contribute in our regional economy? 7

8 Workshop Goals Introduce model of best practice Share case study approaches Provide opportunities for reflection and thoughts about bringing these ideas to your district 8

9 Nassau BOCES Philosophy Collaboration with districts Assure affordability Evaluate cost effectiveness Create high-quality programs Provide equitable access 9

10 Formula for Program Development Identify and define the need Engage stakeholders, identify partners and champions Build a model, get feedback and adjust Launch, evaluate and tweak 10

11 Case Studies: 3 Approaches 1. Regional STEM school 2. Online education for staff and students 3. In-district CTE program 11

12 Case Study 1 Doshi STEM Institute Identify and define the need Equity: Many students did not have access to high-level math, science, engineering or technology (STEM) education and research Jobs pipeline: High-tech industries are desperate for young talent. Graduates leave Long Island if a pipeline for employment is not created. 12

13 Doshi STEM Institute Engage Stakeholders, Identify Partners and Champions Long Island STEM Hub Industry leaders School district administrators Colleges and Universities Philanthropists 13

14 Doshi STEM Institute Public-Private Partnership The cost of education in its current format is clearly a challenge. We needed to look for an alternative means of funding. Our solution: Collaborate with private donors. 14

15 Doshi STEM Institute Industry Partners Engage major regional assets to increase quality/relevance of the program. Provide unique opportunities for students Brookhaven National Laboratory Photon Sciences Energy research Climate, environment and bioscience Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center Cancer research Neuroscience Genomics 15

16 Doshi STEM Institute Program model Provide the recognized value of a BOCES regional school in Nassau County Pursue public-private partnerships to reduce costs to school districts Serve students without science research programs in their home districts Collaborate with major regional assets Involve component school districts in the design and structure Implement an engineering strand (RIT s Project Lead the Way) Develop a half-day program that enables students to continue other academics and activities in home district. 16

17 Doshi STEM Institute Additional Program Considerations Start with a 9th-grade cohort and add a new grade every year for four years Add engineering strand in 10th grade Incorporate working scientists as mentors Develop budget Develop curriculum Create admissions criteria Allocate space and optimize the learning environment Hire and schedule staff Identify and offer appropriate professional development 17

18 Doshi STEM Institute Develop and Encourage Feedback Loop Funding partner Industry partners School district administrators Staff

19 Doshi STEM Institute Launch, evaluate and tweak The Doshi STEM Institute launched in September 2013 with 23 students from six districts. Now, we have 48 students from 7 districts. Lessons learned: Budget Space Partners (funding and industry) Districts

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21 Case Study 2 Center for Online Learning Identify and define the need Technology: Teach students in a medium they prefer Individualized, personalized and differentiated instruction Opportunity: Provide more options than individual districts can afford Credit Recovery Efficiency: Make legally mandated professional development content easy to access Common Core modules Eliminate redundancy Partnering for virtual learning

22 Turn and Talk Is your district ready?

23 Center for Online Learning Engage stakeholders, identify partners and champions School district administrators Technology directors Invested teachers and administrators (those who are embracing technology in the classroom) Online course vendors Other BOCES Colleges and universities

24 Center for Online Learning Developing, Discovering and Sharing Resources Florida Virtual School Provides select free courses to our districts Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Common Core Modules Learning Management System (LMS) Grants $2 million Virtual AP Grant supported the development of 8 or more online AP courses Third-party vendors Individual online courses Customized, collaborative course development Professional development for teachers

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26 Center for Online Learning Program model Provide districts with a way to effectively use New York s Common Core Learning modules Provide access to courses that districts might not currently offer in a costeffective manner Offer Regents review and credit recovery courses Build district knowledge of the advances in online learning Partner with other successful online providers Make legally mandated training materials available online so that it can be reviewed anywhere/anytime Select a stable, well-supported learning management system to grow with Serve homebound and medically fragile students who cannot attend school due to medical reasons

27 Center for Online Learning One Size Does Not Fit All High School Courses Online Learning Academy Full-service option Nassau BOCES provides the teacher of record and all administration Usually a small number of students from the district participate in each class District-Facilitated Virtual Courses Nassau BOCES provides the course content only Teacher of record and administration are provided by the district Usually is a larger number of students participate in each class

28 Center for Online Learning Critical tool selection: Learning Management System A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of e-learning education courses or training programs.

29 The Evolution of Learning Management Systems

30 Center for Online Learning Develop and Encourage Feedback Loop School district administrators Technology directors Teachers Students/parents

31 Center for Online Learning Launch, evaluate and tweak The Center for Online Learning launched in 2013 with high school courses, professional development for teachers and administrators, Common Core modules and much more. Lessons learned: Budget Districts Partners Vendor issues

32 Case Study 3 In-District CTE Program Identify and define the need Local high school in need of Models to improve graduation rates Scalable and affordable opportunities for students Focus on college and career readiness Career and Technical Education (CTE)

33 In-District CTE Program Engage stakeholders, identify partners and champions Nassau BOCES Local districts Administration Staff Students Parents

34 Why Partner With Nassau BOCES? Expertise in career and technical education Existing curriculum Trained, professional staff In-district programs Low-equipment courses Articulation agreements with colleges

35 In-District CTE Program Program Model Provide established career and technical education programs College articulations Low-equipment courses (police science and certified nursing assistant) Offer program at the district high school Maximize student time No travel time Students can participate in before- or afterschool activities

36 In-District CTE Program Develop and Encourage Feedback Loop High school administration Guidance counselors Parents Ongoing recruitment efforts

37 In-District CTE Program Launch, evaluate and tweak Market the program to students Recruit through guidance counselors Involve parents Evaluate enrollment growth Consider alternative means for building understanding and excitement

38 Reflections New learning? Aha moment? Questions circling in your mind? What next steps will you take? 38

39 Thank You! Questions? Dr. Lydia Begley Associate Superintendent for Educational Services Nassau BOCES

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