How To Improve Career And Technical Education In Virginia

Transcription

1 Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators Decem ber 2013 From the President... Dear Colleagues, The annual VACTEA Conference was held October 1 4, 2013 at the beautiful Founders Inn and Spa in Virginia Beach. The theme was CTE: Learning that Works for Virginia. Through the collaborative work of the VACTEA Board, Region II Administrators, and the Virginia Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education, the conference was a great success. The preconference started with the new administrators' workshop. There were more than 40 new administrators representing regions throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The general opening session began Wednesday, October 2, with welcomes from local dignitaries. The Honorable William D. Sessoms Jr., Mayor of Virginia Beach, and Dr. Amy Cashwell, Chief Academic Officer, welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Virginia Beach City Council and Virginia Beach City Public Schools, respectively. It was a true honor to have students from Princess Anne High School s Navy JROTC Color Guard for the Presentation of Colors and the school s Madrigals singing the national anthem. Dr. Gary R. Galluzzo, professor in the College of Education and Human Development and the director of the Ph.D. in Education program at George Mason University, delivered the keynote address, School Change to Ensure College and Career Ready Graduates. The first general session featured Kimberly A. Green, executive director for the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. Ms. Green kept the attention of the attendees with her presentation: The Starting Line: An Update on Federal Policy Impacting CTE. In keeping the attendees' focus on CTE legislative issues, Dr. Brenda D. Long, VACTEA Public Policy Liaison, Barb Hancock-Henley, VACTE President, and Jessie White, VTEEA Board Representative to VACTE, presented policy updates and regional meeting information. Dr. Long emphasized the importance of increasing membership and communicating with our regional delegates about VACTE s Issues and Solutions for CTE in Virginia. Members are encouraged to attend the 15th annual Professional Leadership Seminar for Virginia Educators, January 23-24, 2014, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond. Day two of the conference s memorable moments included the hands-on workshop Action Learning, presented by Dr. Michael Marquardt, professor of Human Resource Development and program director of the Executive Leadership program at George Washington University, and the professional development sessions. The attendees were engaged in activities using the Action Learning processes that encourage school staff to work and to learn together to solve issues and reflect on their own actions. There were multiple breakout sessions and roundtable discussions available for professional learning. At VACTEA s annual awards luncheon, members were recognized for their years of service. Congratulations to David O. White of Stafford County for receiving the Neils W. Brooks Scholarship Award! We give special thanks to the Virginia Beach Landstown High School culinary students, and their instructor, Ms. Kay Gramling, Virginia Beach City Public Schools Supervisor Linda Spruill, and Lucinda W. Harris, business teacher at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, for coordinating, planning, and preparing a scrumptious smorgasbord of appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts for the three well-attended and festive evening hospitality receptions. The conference was packed full of opportunities for visiting with exhibitors and networking. The vendor reception was sponsored by Ronald A. Williams

2 Ltd., Diversified Education Systems Inc., and Winning the Training Game, and the evening social and dinner with jazz on the terrace was fabulous! At the closing general session, we were pleased to have the staff from the Office of CTE Services from the Virginia Department of Education provide program updates, an and its staff most friendly. The conference had a relaxed theme this year, and I greatly appreciated that! The accommodations matched well with the various sessions and activities. The facilities, breakfast, lunch buffet, information sessions, and the hospitality. This is a great way for the administrators to network. Well organized and everything was on time. Great opportunity to get to know other CTE administrators. Sessions were great!! Networking with colleagues Great hotel facilities overview of new initiatives, and policy updates that related to all CTE programs. The VACTEA Board worked unceasingly, giving attention to every detail of the conference to ensure that the professional development sessions were purposeful, the accommodations were welcoming, and the environment facilitated opportunities for collegial networking. Thank you to the VACTEA Board for volunteering your leadership and dedication to Career and Technical Education programs throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia! about the conference: 2 Here are comments from VACTEA members Best conference VACTEA HAS HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS. Workshop topics were all very important, great selection. There were plenty of opportunities to network with other administrators and learn the trade. The facilities were, overall, very nice and the food was excellent. Enjoyed active learning with the group who I first met. Great guest speakers and facilities/meals. Networking and learning from colleagues. The hotel was fabulous VACTEA December 2013 Thanks to all for moving CTE forward into the 21st century. We welcome each of you to visit our Web site, and join VACTEA, your professional leadership team! The VACTEA Board thanks its members for supporting Career and Technical Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Season's Greetings to All! Phyllis Gandy VACTEA President

3 VACTEA 2013 Awards With VACTEA President Phyllis Gandy presenting the awards, VACTEA recognizes the following members for their dedicated service to Career and Technical Education: VACTEA Member with Thirty-Five Years of Service George R. Willcox, VDOE VACTEA Member with Thirty Years of Service B. Anne Rowe, VDOE VACTEA Members with Twenty-Five Years of Service Harry Daniel, Greene County Forest S. Fowler, Giles County Dr. Dennis D. Parsons, Spotsylvania County VACTEA Members with Twenty Years of Service Lee Browning, Spotsylvania County VACTEA Members with Fifteen Years of Service Wagner B. Grier, Loudoun County Nancy Opsut, Arlington County Sharon B. Yates, Dinwiddie County VACTEA Members with Ten Years of Service Teresa G. Simpson, Northumberland County William Baul, Richmond City Richard D. Weaver, Montgomery County Jesse W. White, Hampton W. Marshall Price, Massanutten Technical Center Betty R. Ware, Hopewell December 2013 VACTEA 3

4 VACTEA 2013 Awards VACTEA Members with Five Years of Service Michael Taylor, Virginia Beach Corey McCray, Pruden Technical Center Dr. Charles C. Hurd, Virginia Beach Shirley Cash, Manassas City Judith Sams, VDOE Darlene Smith, Richmond City Jorge Valenzuela, Richmond City Kathryn Beard, Roanoke County Daniel Bowman, Craig County David Creamer, New Horizons Technical Center Dr. Johnny Moye, Chesapeake CTE Administrator Retirees Dr. Dennis D. Parsons, Spotsylvania County Dr. Glenn A. Anderson, VDOE Lee Davis, Charlottesville Harold Randy Long, Northern Neck Technical Center Dr. Johnny Moye, Chesapeake NEILS W. BROOKS SCHOLARSHIP 2013 Awardee David O. White Stafford County 4 VACTEA December CTE Public Policy Concerns Again this year, VACTE developed a fact sheet to share with policymakers, business partners, and other groups interested in Career and Technical Education. CTE: Learning That Works for Virginia provides statistics that show CTE continues to expand and offer secondary education programs that prepare students to be college ready and career ready both of which prepare students to be part of a strong and competitive workforce. The fact sheet shows local and state business and policy leaders the success of CTE students and the huge contribution CTE makes to Virginia's economy. This document can be downloaded from the VACTE Web site at State policy makers and business leaders will soon receive Issues and Solutions for Career and Technical Education in Virginia 2014, the VACTE document that outlines its policy concerns for A printable copy of Issues and Solutions is available on the VACTE Web site at By discussing these concerns with policy makers, and possible solutions, we can ensure they are consistently hearing CTE s message throughout the Commonwealth. Every year is a crucial year, and, as our state and federal budgets continue to be a concern, it is important that VACTE members work to protect and, when possible, restore funding for CTE initiatives. None of this can happen without your work at home, networking with local policy makers. We rely on you to tell them of the many successes of CTE students and CTE s contributions to the workforce and overall economy. Also on the VACTE website is The Advocacy Tip Sheet. This document provides a guide to discussing CTE with policy makers and gives tips on how to follow up with them. Use this guide when you make appointments with policy makers in your district. Set up your appointments now, because talking to them prior to the General Assembly session is critical to focus their attention on CTE. There are many new faces in the General Assembly, and it is our responsibility as advocates for CTE to encourage their support. Please feel free to contact VACTE with questions or suggestions regarding public policy concerns. As always, working together with you and your regional groups on policy updates and initiatives is extremely beneficial to CTE in the Commonwealth. Dr. Brenda D. Long, Vice President for Public Policy brendalong73@gmail.com

5 VACTEA Program of Work Leadership and Program Promotion 1. To support the continuation of the integration of Virginia s Career and Technical Education curriculum and core academics by reinforcing the Standards of Learning embedded in the occupational competencies. 2. To support and promote the implementation of licensures, industry certifications, and occupational assessments in Career and Technical Education curriculum. 3. To advocate for programs, such as Tech Centers, Career Pathways, The Governor s Heath Academies, The Microsoft IT Academy Partnership, and The Governor s STEM Academies that integrate Virginia s secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education curriculum and programs that focus on workforce development, with the SOL and postsecondary academic requirements. 4. To work cooperatively with the Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education (VACTE) to bring strength and unity to our state Career and Technical Education system and to promote membership in organizations that support Career and Technical Education programs at all levels. Leadership Development Activities 1. To develop a leadership development program in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Education for new administrators of Career and Technical Education. 2. To sponsor an annual conference in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Education for Career and Technical Education administrators to serve as a stimulus for new ideas and approaches for local programs and to promote effective program planning, financial management, and data reporting. 3. To work cooperatively with the Virginia Department of Education in offering training to support and implement the federal legislation for Career and Technical Education. 4. To maintain strong regional organizations providing support for region members and working to increase Career and Technical Education opportunities for students in the region. 5. To collaborate with VACTE, other professional organizations, and business industry to provide professional development for CTE educators. Legislative Information 1. To continue to support a position for a legislative liaison to disseminate appropriate Career and Technical Education information to regional representatives. 2. To secure knowledgeable speakers to provide up-to-date state and federal information about Career and Technical Education to regional representatives. 3. To work with VACTE and other CTE professional associations to support legislation and/or policies needed to provide rigorous and relevant Career and Technical Education. Membership Services 1. To sponsor and support activities that will provide recognition for VACTEA members for distinguished service to Career and Technical Education at the local, state, and national levels. 2. To provide relevant information to members through the regional VACTE network, VACTEA Website and listserv, and the VACTEA newsletter. 3. To analyze membership data to determine localities to promote VACTEA participation. December 2013 VACTEA 5

6 NEILS W. BROOKS SCHOLARSHIP For GRADUATE OR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES Purpose: To provide assistance to VACTEA members who are pursuing graduate or postgraduate studies and plan to continue in Career and Technical Education Eligibility: Member of Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education Administrators (VACTEA) Amount of Scholarship: Up to $1,000 Name Position/Location Address Telephone no. address Name of college or university where currently enrolled Number of years of membership in VACTEA Briefly discuss your contributions to VACTEA/Career and Technical Education. Briefly describe your career/educational goals. Briefly describe how you will use the knowledge gained with this degree to enhance the field of Career and Technical Education. NOTE: Scholarships are awarded upon completion of coursework. A transcript showing successful completion of a graduate/postgraduate class should accompany the application. Applications should be postmarked or ed by April 15, 2014, to Mary Beth Dobbins, VACTEA Secretary Prince William County Public Schools P. O. Box 389 Manassas, VA Phone: Fax: dobbinmb@pwcs.edu 6 VACTEA December 2013

7 VACTEA OFFICERS OFFICIAL BALLOT PRESIDENT-ELECT VICE PRESIDENT o Mary Beth Dobbins, Region 4, Prince William County o Mary Beth Echeverria, Region 8, Prince Edward County SECRETARY o Cathy Glenn Seal, Region 1, Hanover County Please see the biographical sketches below on each candidate. ALL VOTES MUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 31, your vote or fax this completed ballot to Phyllis Gandy, VACTEA President Fax phyllis.gandy@apsva.us A Closer Look at Your Officer Candidates for President-Elect: Mary Beth Dobbins, Region 4, Prince William County Mary Beth Dobbins serves as the Prince William County Public Schools CTE Specialist. Previously she served as the Stafford County Public Schools CTE coordinator and supervised Business & Marketing, Health/Medical Sciences, Automotive, Cooperative Education, Student-Run Credit Unions, CTE testing facilitators, industry credentialing, and CareerSafe online OSHA training, and administered the CanDo online competency tracking system. She began teaching business in 1982 at North Stafford High School. After marrying and raising two boys, Mary Beth ran her own bookkeeping business and served as the chief financial officer for a software quality firm. She returned to teaching in 1998 and was named the 2006 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. In addition to her Business Education undergraduate degree, she has an accounting degree and her MBA. Mary Beth is a lifetime member of FBLA and a member of VACTE, VACTEA, and ACTE. Vice-President: Mary Beth Echeverria, Region 8, Prince Edward County Mary Beth Echeverria is in her third year as coordinator of CTE, Adult and Continuing Education in Prince Edward County Public Schools. During this time, Mary Beth led her local CTE Advisory Committee in the development of a strategic plan to guide the future of programs in the county. As a result, new STEM courses have been added and the Automotive Technology Program achieved NATEF certification in A former business teacher and ITRT, she served as an active FBLA adviser working with a number of students who placed in the top ten at national competitions in Denver and Chicago; one advisee also served as a state officer. Mary Beth earned a bachelor's in Business Education at Longwood College, a master's in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech, and an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Old Dominion University. She is a member of VACTEA, VACTE, and ACTE. Secretary: Cathy Glenn Seal, Region 1, Hanover County Cathy Seal is currently in her fourth year serving as the CTE coordinator in Hanover, supervising all CTE programming in 10 schools within the division. Prior to assuming her current position, she has served as a CTE assistant principal, central office supervisor, governor s school director, and CTE principal. She holds a doctorate from the University of Virginia in K-12 Administration and Supervision. She is currently serving as the VACTEA Vice-President and is a member of VACTE, VACTEA and ACTE. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, Ches; daughter, Camilla Elise; and three otterhounds. Note: Only VACTEA members who have paid dues for are eligible to vote. If you have not joined VACTEA for this year, please use the form in this newsletter or visit our Web site at click on membership, complete the membership form, and send it, along with your dues, to Sherri W. Chapman Phone Alexandria City Public Schools Fax Mt. Vernon Avenue, Room 340 sherri.chapman@acps.k12.va.us Alexandria, VA December 2013 VACTEA 7

8 President Phyllis Gandy Arlington Public Schools Spyhax Academic Center 2110 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA Phone Fax President-Elect Corey McCray The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology 4169 Pruden Blvd. Suffolk, VA Phone: Fax: Vice-President Dr. Cathy H. Glenn Hanover County Public Schools 200 Berkley St. Ashland, VA Phone Fax Secretary Mary Beth Dobbins Prince William County Public Schools P. O. Box 389 Manassas, VA Phone: Fax: Treasurer Sherri W. Chapman Alexandria City Public Schools 1005 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Room 340 Alexandria, VA Phone Fax VACTEA Board Members The VACTEA Board includes the elected officers and representatives from the eight superintendents regions of Virginia. The Board meets five or six times per year. All Board meetings are open to the general membership. Past President Dr. Barry D. Yost Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Drive Abingdon, VA Phone Fax Public Policy Liaison Dr. Brenda D. Long 420 Stonegate Drive Blacksburg, VA Phone Fax VACTE Representative Darla Miller Valley Vocational Technical Center 49 Hornet Road Fishersville, VA Phone Fax Region I Representative Dr. Colleen C. Bryant Chesterfield Technical Center Courthouse Road Chesterfield, VA Phone , ext colleen_bryant@ccpsnet.net Region II Representative Kevin W. Monroe Norfolk Technical Center 1330 North Military Highway Norfolk, VA Phone: kmonroe1@nps.k12.va.us Region III Representative Lee Browning Spotsylvania County Public Schools Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center 6713 Smith Station Road Spotsylvania, VA Phone gbrownin@spotsyschools.us Region IV Representative Kris Martini Arlington Public Schools Spyhax Academic Center 2110 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA Phone Fax kris.martini@apsva.us Region V Representative Dr. Kelly F. Troxell Rockingham County Public Schools 100 Mount Clinton Pike Harrisonburg, VA Phone Fax ktroxell@rockingham.k12.va.us Region VI Representative Curtis Hicks Salem City Public Schools 510 S. College Avenue Salem, VA Phone Fax chicks@salem.k12.va.us Region VII Representative Dr. Chris Stacy Tazewell County Career and Technical Center 100 Advantage Drive Tazewell, VA Phone Fax cstacy@tazewell.k12.va.us Region VIII Representative Allen Vernon Amelia County Public Schools 8701 Otterburn Road, Suite 101 Amelia, VA Phone vernona@ameliaschools.com Ex-Officio Members Lolita B. Hall Virginia Department of Education P.O. Box st Floor Richmond, VA Phone Fax LB.Hall@doe.virginia.gov B. Anne Rowe Virginia Department of Education P.O. Box st Floor Richmond, VA Phone Fax anne.rowe@doe.virginia.gov Peggy L. Watson CTE Resource Center 2002 Bremo Road, Lower Level Henrico, VA Phone Fax mlwatson@cteresource.org Date VACTEA Membership Check if new member Name Last First MI School/Division School/Business Address Street/P.O. Box City/State Zip Home Address Street/P.O. Box City/State Zip Job Title Business Phone Fax Address Region Number Home Phone Please provide the school year when you became a Career and Technical Administrator DUES SUMMARY DUES PAID Association for Career and Technical Education $ Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education $ Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators $ OR For retirees only: Virginia Association of Career and Technical $ Education Administrators LIFE/LOYALTY (one-time payment) TOTAL DUES PAID $ NOTE: To expedite the activation of your membership in the CTE professional organizations Payment (Circle one): CASH CHECK listed above, we urge you to pay all membership dues through VACTEA. (Make check payable to VACTEA) RETURN TO: 8 VACTEA December 2013 Sherri W. Chapman Phone 703/ Alexandria City Public Schools Fax 703/ Mt. Vernon Avenue, Room 340 sherri.chapman@acps.k12.va.us Alexandria, VA 22301

9 The 14th Annual VACTE Professional Leadership Seminar for Virginia Educators January 23 24, 2014 Crowne Plaza Hotel Richmond, Virginia Go to the VACTE Web site for seminar and hotel reservations: December 2013 VACTEA 9

10 Virginia is striving to provide the best possible educational opportunities for all students in the Commonwealth. As educators, we are fortunate that our policymakers are advocates for education and specifically for Career and Technical Education (CTE). To ensure that we are contributing to this effort, we must continue to grow as educators and as leaders in our profession, The Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education s January 2014 seminar seeks to enhance individual and collective CTE educational leadership in the Commonwealth. You ll want to make plans today to attend this professional leadership seminar. This seminar is for all educators (teachers, administrators, and school counselors), community leaders, business partners, parents, and others who are interested in promoting and expanding CTE. All school divisions and CTE division associations in Virginia should be represented at this seminar, and CTE leaders should encourage the representation and attendance of their local educators. Additionally, CTE division associations are asked to encourage their officers to participate. It is with your support and participation that this seminar will be a success! Again this year, VACTE will host a reception at the General Assembly Building, 5th Floor East Conference Room on Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. All of us should use this important networking time to promote CTE and show strong support for CTE from across the state. Please make plans to attend this reception. At a Glance Thursday, January 23, :00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Policymaker Reception General Assembly Building, 5th Floor East Conference Room 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. VACTE Board Meeting 12:30 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Division Board Meetings 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Registration 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. First Timer Pre-Conference 3:15 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Opening Session 3:45 p.m. 4:45 p.m. Guest Speaker: Mark Fernandes Values-Based Leadership 4:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Break 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Policy Update 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Dinner/Awards 9:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Hospitality Suite Friday, January 24, :00 a.m. 7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast in Ballroom 7:30 a.m. First bus leaves for General Assembly 7:50 a.m. Last bus leaves for General Assembly 8:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Professional Networking Opportunities 11:00 a.m. 12 noon Debrief and Lunch 12 noon 1:00 p.m. Association Treasurers Financial Meeting with VACTE 1:15 p.m. until Division Board Meetings Saturday, January 25, :00 a.m. until Division Board Meetings More Information TO REGISTER: Please go to the VACTE web site: You may register for the seminar AND hotel accommodations on our web site. All meal functions are covered in the registration fee. Travel and lodging expenses will be the responsibility of the individual participants or school division. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for January 23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond. Questions concerning the seminar, registration procedures and fees should be directed to Dennis Belyea, VACTE Treasurer, phone , or DCBelyea@fcps.edu. 10 VACTEA December 2013

11 Issues and Solutions for Career and Technical Education in Virginia 2014 Introduction Educators and business representatives from across Virginia, along with 10 organizations representing Career and Technical Education (CTE) professionals, developed this document. We welcome comments on these policy issues from CTE stakeholders citizens, parents, and members of the boards that govern Virginia s public education. We welcome dialogue concerning these proposals and seek support from anyone interested in providing diversity of opportunity for all of Virginia s children. Members of the Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education Policy Issues in Brief 1. VACTE supports meaningful, industry-recognized standards, assessments, and credentials for Career and Technical Education programs, staff, and students. 2. VACTE supports continued priority funding for Career and Technical Education classroom lab equipment and program improvement to prepare students for a competitive workforce and further education. 3. VACTE supports opportunities for students to participate in dual enrollment programs through agreements with postsecondary institutions. 4. VACTE supports college and career readiness through continued integration of secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education curricula with the Standards of Learning and postsecondary academic requirements, while placing particular emphasis on CTE programs that address current high-demand jobs and anticipated employee shortages, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 5. VACTE supports increased efforts by Virginia s colleges and universities to implement and, where they already exist, strengthen undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs in Career and Technical Education. Policy Issue 1 VACTE supports meaningful, industry-recognized standards, assessments, and credentials for Career and Technical Education programs, staff, and students. Rationale Education- and work-related credentials are important milestones for many career pathways. Employers value credentials because they help to determine the skill and education level of job applicants without having to administer reassessments. Increasing opportunities to earn industry credentials, such as state licensures, industry certifications, and occupational competency and Workplace Readiness Skills assessments are vital to Virginia s economic future: According to the 2010 report Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018, By 2018, the American workforce will need 22 million new workers with postsecondary (associate s or four-year) degrees but will fall short of that number by at least three million. In addition, at least 4.7 million new workers with postsecondary certificates will be needed. (Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018; Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2010.) A person with a CTE-related associate degree or credential will earn an average of at least $4,000 more a year than a person with a humanities associate degree and those with credentials in high-demand fields such as healthcare can average almost $20,000 more a year. (Jacobson et al., Pathways to Boosting the Earnings of Low-Income Students by Increasing Their Educational Attainment, 2009) Virginia s CTE programs are providing multiple avenues for students to earn credentials, continue their education beyond high school, and document their skills for employers. o In 2012, the General Assembly recognized the value of Virginia s CTE credentialing initiatives and passed House Bill 1061 and Senate Bill 489, which state, Beginning with first-time ninth-grade students in the school year, requirements for the standard diploma shall include a requirement to earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board, that could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment. The current Standards of Quality state: Career and technical education programs shall be aligned with industry and professional standard certifications, where they exist (Code of Virginia :1B). Earned industry credentials are part of the Virginia Index of Performance program to recognize schools and school divisions for student achievement. Virginia school accreditation reflects overall academic achievement, and now the number of graduates earning a Board of Educationapproved industry certification, industry pathway certification, a state licensure, or an occupational competency credential in a CTE program as student-selected verified credit are part of the formula for calculating the final high school accreditation status. December 2013 VACTEA 11

12 The General Assembly has funded industry certification examinations since The funding level for school year is $1,331,464 ($2.31 per CTE student enrollment). Virginia has led the nation with credentialing initiatives since 2001 with more than 51,000 students earning credentials during the school year throughout the Commonwealth. o 9,009 Microsoft IT Academy certifications have been earned by students. (CTE Program Highlights , Virginia Department of Education) o 20,342 students took the Workforce Readiness Skills exam in (CTE Program Highlights , Virginia Department of Education) Research shows that 43 percent of young workers with licenses and certificates earn more than those with an associate degree; 27 percent of young workers with licenses and certificates earn more than those with a bachelor s degree; and 31 percent of young workers with associate degrees earn more than those with a bachelor s degree. (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Valuing Certificates, Presentation, 2009) The Virginia Board of Education has approved more than 350 credentialing examinations. Credentials are available in all 16 Career Clusters. VACTE was instrumental in securing a funding increase to assist students with credential testing. Without sufficient funding to assist students with credential testing, local school divisions would have difficulty ensuring that students meet the new Standard Diploma requirements and would not be able to accrue value-added points in the school accreditation process. Teachers also must acquire industry certification and state licensure to provide the necessary instruction for students. Avenues must continue to be created and funded for teachers to achieve such credentials. VACTE proposes the following recommendations to strengthen Virginia s system of Career and Technical Education: 1.1 The General Assembly should fully fund credentialing assessment to help students complete industry certifications, occupational competency exams, Workplace Readiness Skills tests, state licensures, or other valid, high-quality assessments, as approved by the Board, as a part of their secondary Career and Technical Education studies and Standard Diploma requirements. 1.2 Funding should continue to be available for Career and Technical Education teachers to attain Board-approved, industry-recognized certifications. 1.3 The Board of Education should continue to establish annual benchmarks for improvement in the number of students receiving industry credentials as indicated in the Performance Standards and State Report Card. Policy Issue 2 VACTE supports continued priority funding for Career and Technical Education classroom lab equipment and program improvement to prepare students for a competitive workforce and further education. Rationale Under the Virginia Standards of Accreditation, high schools are expected to offer a minimum of three Career and Technical Education programs to meet students needs. Most high schools in the state have multiple labs that must be updated with new technology on a regular basis. Under the present funding level, local and federal funds support the largest percentages of CTE equipment resources. General Assembly funding allocated to CTE during the previous five sessions has provided essential support for helping to keep Virginia CTE classrooms equipped with the technology and materials students will use in the workplace. The funding for school year is $1,800,000. This is the same amount funded for CTE equipment since 2006, with the exception of a $500,000 (27.7 percent) one-time increase for 2008 only. Funds provided by the General Assembly are distributed among 131 school divisions including middle and high schools, many local and 10 regional career and technical centers, and additional centers providing specific services to special populations. Equipment funding allocation is currently calculated according to the number of students enrolled in Career and Technical Education courses, with a base funding level of $2,000 per school division. The remainder of the funding is distributed on the basis of student enrollment in secondary Career and Technical Education courses. The average equipment allocation is $3.12 per CTE student enrollment (based on funding from the General Assembly). The average cost of equipment in a standard CTE laboratory ranges from $20,000 to more than $250,000. Sixty-seven percent of respondents in a 2011 manufacturing skills-gap study indicated that they were experiencing a shortage of qualified workers with 12 percent reporting severe shortages and 55 percent indicating moderate shortages. CTE plays a vital role in helping American business close this gap by building a competitive workforce for the 21st century. (Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, Boiling Point? The Skills Gap in U.S. Manufacturing, 2011) VACTE proposes the following recommendations to strengthen Virginia s system of Career and Technical Education: 2.1 VACTE supports continued priority funding for Career and Technical Education program expansion to promote statewide consistency in course offerings and quality. These would assist all students to prepare for entry into a competitive workforce and to be college and career ready. 12 VACTEA December 2013

13 2.2 VACTE supports increased funding to modernize and expand capacity of Career and Technical Education equipment and to teach and apply STEM initiatives and performance-based, problem-solving processes for all students. 2.3 VACTE supports increased funding for equipment as needed for credentialing assessments as required by industry standards. 2.4 VACTE supports changing the base allocation level from $2,000 to $5,000, to provide equitable base distribution of funds to each school division, especially smaller and rural school divisions. Currently only percent of the state equipment funding is used for the base allocation and percent of the funding for student enrollment allocation. Base allocation for regional technical centers should be defined as a base allocation per each school division participating in the secondary career and technical education regional center. Policy Issue 3 VACTE supports opportunities for students to participate in dual enrollment programs through agreements with postsecondary institutions. Rationale The General Assembly in 2012 amended HB1184 to support dual enrollment for high school students through the Virginia Community College System. HB 1184 states, Each institution within the Virginia Community College System shall develop agreements for postsecondary degree attainment with the public high schools in the school divisions that they serve, specifying the options for students to complete an associate s degree or a one-year Uniform Certificate of General Studies concurrent with a high school diploma. Such agreements shall specify the credit available for dual enrollment courses and Advanced Placement courses with qualifying exam scores of three or higher. Agreements shall be submitted by the institutions to the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System and the Superintendent of Public Instruction by April 15, In Virginia, occupational-technical associate degree holders out-earn non-occupational associate degree holders by about $6,000 and bachelor s degree holders by almost $2,500 per year. This is high return on a modest investment average tuition and fees for U.S. public two-year institutions are less than half of tuition and fees for four-year colleges. (Schneider et al., The Earning Power of Recent Graduates from Virginia s Colleges and Universities, College Measures, 2012; College Board, Average Published Undergraduate Charges by Sector, ) Eighty percent of students taking a college preparatory academic curriculum with rigorous CTE met college and career readiness goals, compared to only 63 percent of students taking the same academic core who did not experience rigorous CTE. (Southern Regional Education Board, High Schools That Work 2012 Assessment) VACTE supports the following recommendations to strengthen dual enrollment options for high school students: 3.1 The Virginia Community College System should establish a consistent fee structure within the community college system for dual enrollment courses that prepare students for careers in high-wage, high-demand, and high-skill occupations. 3.2 The Virginia Community College System should provide consistent guidelines for the recognition and composition of dual enrollment courses. 3.3 The Virginia Community College System should establish a consistent statewide articulation agreement among the community colleges that ensures students are prepared for careers in high-wage, high-demand, and high-skill occupations and that provides cooperation and collaboration among the various levels of education. 3.4 The Virginia Community College System should ensure that the 23 community colleges offer secondary to postsecondary dual-enrollment courses in each of the career clusters that support local and regional job demand and economic development. Policy Issue 4 VACTE supports college and career readiness through continued integration of secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education curricula with the Standards of Learning and postsecondary academic requirements, while placing particular emphasis on CTE programs that address current high-demand jobs and anticipated employee shortages, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the health sciences. Rationale Students enrolled in CTE courses learn both core academic skills and specific occupational, technical, and employability skills, leading to the attainment of a diploma and industry credential, thus making students both college and career ready. Each course in CTE links academic and occupational standards in classroom activities and reinforces achievement of Virginia s Standards of Learning and 21st-century workforce development, along with Virginia s Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth. Research demonstrates higher levels of learning and performance when students learn essential academic skills in relevant context and when those skills are applied to real-world settings, as they are in CTE courses and programs. CTE programs build upon elementary STEM experiences and integrate STEM initiatives in all secondary career clusters by teaching performance-based learning, critical thinking, problem solving, and the design process. December 2013 VACTEA 13

14 o 22 Governor s STEM Academies have been implemented across the Commonwealth and are designed to expand options for students to acquire STEM literacy and critical technical knowledge and skills, while earning an industry credential. Eight Governor s Health Sciences Academies are now in place and represent a partnership between public school divisions, healthcare institutions, the private sector, and institutions of higher education to create rigorous programs to prepare students for careers in the health sciences. According to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) 2012 brief Encouraging Local Collaboration Through State Incentives, collaboration among school divisions to create regional Career and Technical Education programs, including STEM programs, could advance Virginia s workforce development goals. The growth of the Governor s STEM Academies, Health Sciences Academies, and other STEM initiatives, relevant to all CTE programs, provides options for students to acquire STEM literacy and other critical and problem-solving skills, knowledge, technological literacy, performance-based instruction and assessment, and credentials that will prepare them for postsecondary education and for high-skill, high-demand, and high-wage careers in Virginia. Section :1B of the Code of Virginia states: With such funds as are available for this purpose, the Board shall regularly review and revise the competencies for career and technical education programs to require the full integration of English, mathematics, science, and history and social science Standards of Learning. VACTE proposes the following recommendations to expand the integration of Virginia s Career and Technical Education curriculum with the Standards of Learning and STEM initiatives: 4.1 Virginia policy leaders must enhance support for a performance-based educational system that incorporates the standards for career and technological literacy, authentic assessment, and the infrastructure for college and career readiness in all public schools. 4.2 Virginia s policy leaders must recognize CTE as an integral component of K 12 STEM initiatives and acknowledge CTE s unique ability to provide STEM instruction in secondary education in the Commonwealth. 4.3 The General Assembly should provide funding to support the Governor s STEM Academies and Governor s Health Sciences Academies for students to acquire STEM literacy, critical technical knowledge and skills, and credentials that prepare them for postsecondary education and high-demand, high-skill, and high-wage careers in a competitive global economy. 4.4 The General Assembly should continue to provide adequate funding to sustain the work of the CTE Resource Center. This Center produces standardized state curriculum and resources for teachers and offers professional development opportunities to all Virginia career and technical educators, at no cost to individual teachers and school divisions. For more than 30 years, the CTE Resource Center has worked with state and local educators and with Virginia employers to keep Virginia s CTE curriculum up-to-date and consistent with industry standards and to ensure that Standards of Learning are identified and reinforced within appropriate CTE courses. The Center s Web-based curriculum management system, Verso, provides ready access to these resources for all Virginia educators. Through this same system, the Center produces the Administrative Planning Guide that provides critical information for planning and delivering CTE courses and programs. Also included is the Career Planning Guide that helps students, parents, and counselors choose CTE courses that match the students areas of interest. The Center contributed to the revised Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth and the accompanying assessment and manages the technical support for CanDo, an online student competency-tracking system now used by more than 30 local school divisions. The General Assembly designated $400,000 per year in the biennial budgets for Center operations; however, due to state budget adjustments, this funding was cut by approximately 35 percent for FY and 38 percent for FY These reductions compromise the services provided by the CTE Resource Center. In 2012, the General Assembly restored $50,000 of the Center s funding for each year of the current biennial budget. Full restoration of funding continues to be essential for the critical work of the Center. Policy Issue 5 VACTE supports increased efforts by Virginia s colleges and universities to implement and, where they already exist, strengthen undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs in Career and Technical Education. Rationale As noted in Virginia s P 16 Education Council Report to the Governor and General Assembly (October 2006), the state continues to experience a critical shortage of qualified teachers, especially in its most challenged schools: Since , CTE has ranked among the top 10 critical teacher shortage areas with specific program areas defined. Critical shortages were cited for in Technology Education and Family and Consumer Sciences and for in Technology Education and Agricultural Education. For the school year, , CTE as a whole ranked fourth in the list of Virginia s critical teacher shortage areas. Local school divisions face increasing difficulty finding qualified teachers for CTE programs, and this shortage is predicted to become more serious within the next five years. CTE administrators collectively project 613 openings within five years more than eight times as many as in VACTEA December 2013

15 Demand for CTE teachers and programs is increasing: Student enrollment in CTE programs during totaled 584,172 a duplicate count, indicating that some students took more than one CTE course. The updated Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth (taught in all CTE courses and programs) are a clear priority for Virginia s employers, often valued more highly than standard academic grades or test scores. Teachers in four of the CTE program areas (Agricultural Education, Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Marketing) provide the largest number of instructors endorsed to teach Economics and Personal Finance, a new graduation requirement for Virginia students. Highly qualified CTE teachers must be available to meet increasing demand. Teacher preparation programs at the state s colleges and universities (sometimes in cooperation with Virginia s community colleges), along with selected special initiatives, offer some solutions to these shortages, but more needs to be done. VACTE proposes the following recommendations to strengthen and expand Virginia s supply of highly qualified teachers of Career and Technical Education: 5.1 VACTE recommends that the Board of Education move aggressively to support teacher-education programs in Career and Technical Education in Virginia and encourage the expansion of career-switcher programs with realistic endorsement requirements for individuals with relevant industry certifications and professional experience. At the same time, it is recommended that the Board provide enhanced instruction in pedagogy, coupled with sound mentoring opportunities, to strengthen career-switcher candidates transitions to the classroom. 5.2 VACTE recommends inclusion of integrated K 12 STEM in new and existing teacher-preparation programs in Virginia. 5.3 VACTE recommends that the General Assembly increase the amount of funding available for the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program and set aside a portion of the funds specifically for CTE teacher shortage areas. In this program, recipients who teach two years in Virginia are not required to repay the loan. 5.4 VACTE recommends that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) work together to endorse Teachers for Tomorrow as a dual-enrollment community college course that is eligible for transfer to teachereducation programs at four-year colleges/universities. Affiliated Organizations Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators Virginia Association of Marketing Educators Virginia Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences Virginia Association of Trade and Industrial Education Virginia Association of Career and Technical Education Special Needs Division Virginia Business Education Association Virginia Health and Medical Sciences Education Association Virginia Technology and Engineering Education Association For further information, please contact Dr. Brenda D. Long VACTE Executive Director Phone brendalong73@gmail.com December 2013 VACTEA 15