PHS Wall-TO-Wall Moving Forward in the 21 st Century Working in partnership to ensure Academic achievement, responsible Behavior and Civic engagement.

What are career academies? Career academies are designed to prepare students for both college and careers. They are schools within schools that link students with peers, teachers, and community partners in a structured environment that fosters academic success. The career academy concept has three key elements: A small learning community (SLC) A college-prep sequential curriculum with a career theme An advisory board that forges partnerships with businesses, higher education and the community.

Two types of career academies. Pocket Academies- A pocket academy has one career/technical program tied to the core curriculum. Not all students are a part of a pocket academy. Wall-to-Wall Academies- Career and technical programs are embedded with the core curriculum. All students belong to an academy in a wall-to-wall setting.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Plattsmouth High School’s wall-to-wall academies will be based on our students’ current learning interests and career goals.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Students will benefit from this academy model in many important ways. From the start, students gain a sense of belonging as they are grouped within small learning communities within the larger school.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Smaller learning communities will allow students to become engaged immediately with integrated applied content and support from a core group of teachers as well as classmates with similar learning and career interests.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Academies offer our students various opportunities to participate in designed programs of study, receive industry certifications and gain real world experiences through job shadowing, internships, business mentorships, and partnerships with businesses in related fields.

Academy Structure During the ninth grade year, the students will complete multiple inventories that revolve around learning interests, individual strengths, and career education. At the conclusion of the ninth grade year, students will determine the academy in which they would like to enroll.

Academy Structure Students are obligated to an academy for one school year. If a student feels that the academy is not a good fit, he/she may try another academy. All students will be a part of an academy. Within each academy a student will have the opportunity to complete a program of study.

Business and Community Each academy will have an advisory board. The advisory board will have members from administration, academy teachers, the school board, as well as businesses and post secondary institutions. Advisory boards will help set goals and do whatever is necessary for the academy to be successful.

Business/Community Partners: What will they do? Each partnership is a mutual understanding between the business/community and the school. The minimum requirement to maintain a partnership is to participate in one academy related event per semester. Events would include:Being an advisory board member College/career fair participationSupporting teacher externships Being a guest speakerBeing a career mentor Providing curriculum adviceHosting field trips Allowing student job shadowingProviding student internships

Key Components Cross-curricular teaching teams and student leadership will help guide the success of the each academy.

Key Components During the 8 th grade year, students will visit the high school for academy presentations and to become educated on the expectations of the high school academies.

Key Components The freshman year will contain a class that would help each student identify her/his learning and career interest. Students would take inventories and participate in career exploration to assist in guiding their academy decisions.

Key Components Freshman academies will still utilize the freshman transition program and career exploratory speakers.

Key Components Sophomore, junior, and senior advisory groups would have a career mentor who will meet once a month with the group. The career mentor will work on soft skills with the students and provide information pertaining to his/her respective career area.

Key Components During the senior year, students will complete a capstone project that will utilize internships, work study and/or portfolios.

Key Components Students will be committed to an academy for one school year before they can make a change in their home academy. Students are allowed to take classes in whichever academy best fits their needs.

Key Components AP and dual credit classes will be enhanced as students focus more on being career and college ready.

Academy Structure #1 Fine Arts Education Hospitality Media Human Services Completer Programs: High School of Business, Education, Culinary Supporting groups: FCCLA, ER,DECA, FBLA, jazz band, show choir

Academy Structure #2 Science Technology Engineering Aeronautics Mathematics Completer Programs: jROTC, Medical Science(CNA) Supporting groups: HOSA, jROTC, Skills USA

Academy Structure #3 Agriculture Construction/ manufacturing Architecture Transportation/logistics Art Completer Program: Diesel Mechanic Supporting Groups: Skills USA

Key Components Academies will do cross-curricular projects. An annual review of the wall- to-wall program and academy elements will be completed using a continuous improvement model.

Why adopt the academy methodology for all students? Academies offer flexible plans of study that are centered on areas of student learning interests and different career fields. Students can have the same teachers and classmates for at least two years, thus creating a sense of community and belonging. Academic and career technical teachers meet to discuss curriculum, content, and instruction. Each academy has an advisory committee to help foster the educational experience Academies allow for work based learning and internship opportunities Students have the flexibility to change their career direction as new knowledge and skills are acquired.

Things Yet to Be Considered What will the school day look like? Block vs 8 period day How can we have three separate physical academies in our building? Who will teach in each academy?