U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy Overview of the NFA National System for Training P.L. 93-498: “…The purpose of the Academy shall be to advance the professional development of fire service personnel and of other persons engaged in fire prevention and control activities…”

The NFA prepares current and future first responders to foster a solid foundation for local fire and emergency services’ prevention, preparedness and response to fires and all- hazards. We deliver the kinds of training unavailable at the State or local level because of course content, emergent needs or audience size. We work with and through State and local fire training systems and colleges and universities to bring the fire service to professional status.

NFA’s Cooperative Efforts National Partnerships All 50 Accredited State Training Systems – train mid-size to smaller career and volunteer fire departments 150 largest municipal fire departments (METRO) Training Resources and Data Exchange (TRADE) – system to share curriculum among regions, States and locals. Weekly newsletter TRADEnet – exchange of ideas / solicitation of solutions. PARADE- system to recommend fire prevention curriculum to TRADE, regions, States and locals Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) – annual meetings with 120 colleges and universities, monthly newsletter.

Current System State Training National Fire Academy Colleges Federal State College Local Colleges Local Training & Universities

Communications USFA Notification list – 86,000 (daily distribution) TRADE – 40,000 (weekly distribution) FESHE – 36,000 (monthly distribution) Alumni Association - 27,000 (as-needed distributions) ALSO – Each State Fire Training director, Metro fire training, IAFC, IAFF, NVFC, Volunteer and Combination Chiefs, Metro Chiefs, Women in the Fire Service, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, International Association of Hispanic Firefighters, Native American Fire Chiefs

Resident Programs 50 courses (200+ deliveries) (10 and 6 day on-campus) 50 courses (200+ deliveries) 6 or 10 day duration at Emmitsburg, MD

6 Day Programs Region selects 3 courses from menu of 20 (on- and off-campus) Region selects 3 courses from menu of 20 Thirty 6-day courses per year, 3 per region I I V VIII II X II VII III IX IV VI Students are career and volunteer, all ranks Encourages regional networking

2 Day Programs (on- and off-campus) Each State receives 9 courses from a menu of 40 each year. Total of 450 deliveries per year. Students are volunteer and career / all ranks

Technology Programs / Blended Learning 47,000 Completions in 2011

NFA Training – All curriculums Year On-Campus Off-Campus Classroom / Partner On-Line Total 2011 6,800 56,200 47,000 109,000 2010 7,300 64,000 41,500 112,000 2009 8,300 71,700 40,000 120,000 2008 8,000 76,000 30,000 114,000 2007 86,100 5,900 100,000 2006 65,700 74,000 2005 8,900 64,100 73,000

Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Common Course: Titles Descriptions Outcomes Outlines Content (Textbooks) Distance Learning Supplements

Fire service text-book publishers are producing FESHE compliant college text-books and noting them as such…

“Coffee Break” Training Short non-certificate courses once a week via email. Quarterly Self-quiz at the end. Fire protection systems Building construction Fire codes and standards Inspection techniques Hazardous materials

Curriculum Areas Executive Development (EFO) Management Sciences Hazardous Materials Emergency Medical Services Planning and Information (data analysis) Fire Prevention (3) – Technical, Management, Public Education Command and Control Fire Investigation

The NFA Develops and delivers the kinds of courses unavailable anywhere else On-campus, off-campus and on-line Classes from 10 days to 10 minutes Up-to-date curriculum College credit recommendation for all classroom based courses Continuing education units for all on line courses

Addressing National Needs: Endorsement State / local systems have needs for courses unavailable from USFA/NFA due to time / financial constraints Endorsement is a process by which State developed courses can receive NFA endorsement. They exchange courses among themselves and use federal funds to deliver them. 175 Courses currently available Addressing National Needs: Endorsement

NFA’s Independent / Objective Evaluations Students’ Supervisor Evaluation American Council on Education State and Local Training Systems Student Evaluation Performance

Comparison of Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes of Government Programs The Congressional Institute uses the following graph to define the differences between outputs and outcomes (Congressional Institute, 2004). Conveniently, they use training as the example: Comparison of Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes of Government Programs INPUT Amount of resources devoted to a program activity Example: Dollars appropriated and FTE’s assigned to a job training program OUTPUT Tabulation, calculation or recording of activity or effort, expressed in a quantitative or qualitative manner. Example: Number of people trained by program OUTCOME Assessment of the results of a program activity compared to its intended purpose. Example: Number of people trained by a program that landed and kept jobs Areas where agencies are comfortable Area where taxpayers are concerned

Kirkpatrick’s Evaluation Levels Level 1 Evaluation – Reactions Level 2 Evaluation – Learning Level 3 Evaluation – Transfer (Performance) Level 4 Evaluation – Results (believed to have too many variables for reliable scientific m easurement)

NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors* *N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 – May 2012.

NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors* *N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 - May 2012.

PL 93-498 NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors* *N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 - May 2012

Fulfills Legislative Intent 93-498 “…Professional development of the fire service…” Mission Focused DHS FEMA USFA Measured Performance PART, GPRA, PPBES American Council on Education Focused on outcomes, not outputs Kirkpatrick Level III

Classroom Based: On and off campus 10, 6 and 2 day Local and regional Technology Based: NFAOnline Coffee Break Electronic Distribution Future Based / Profession Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Graduate Degree Partner Based: TRADE / PARADE FESHE Endorsement

Questions???