Beyond the Brochure: Strategies to Improve Nontraditional Core Performance Indicators Office of Career and Technical Education February 6, 2012

5/18/2015 Contact Information: Jacqueline Dannis, Research Consultant 517 ( ) Norma R. Tims, Title IX and Civil Rights Review Coordinator (517) Office of Career and Technical Education Michigan Department of Education P.O. Box Lansing, Michigan 48909

Presentation Goals Define Non-traditional student Understand how 6S1 and 6S2 CPI’s are computed Explore barriers to participation in nontraditional career training Explore factors that support nontraditional career training success 5/18/2015

Five Minute Activity 5/18/ Challenge Game

Nontraditional Student A secondary or postsecondary student enrolled in a career training program leading to occupations or careers in which 25% or less of the persons usually employed in that occupation or field of work are of their gender. 5/18/2015 5

Sex Segregation in CTE FACT: In Michigan secondary CTE programs, Female students are still the majority of students in traditionally “female” courses (health care, child care, cosmetology) and the minority in nontraditional clusters (Transportation, Distribution, Logistics; Manufacturing; Architecture & Construction; STEM) 5/18/2015 6

And this is a problem because…. In the thirty-eight years since the enactment of Title IX, high school CTE remains as sex segregated as it was when the law was passed! 5/18/2015

And furthermore The traditionally “male” dominated occupations or fields of work offer higher lifetime earnings, opportunities for advancement, and a degree of security and self-sufficiency not possible in most of the traditionally “female” occupations. 5/18/2015 8

A requirement of Perkins Funding Legislation to measure participation and completion of students of the nontraditional gender in CTE programs. Core Performance Indicators

5/18/2015 Nontraditional enrollment Numerator: Number of students of the underrepresented gender enrolled Denominator: Total number of students enrolled Results indicate the number of students of the underrepresented gender 6 S1

6S2 5/18/2015 Nontraditional Completion Numerator: Number of students of the under represented gender who complete the program. Denominator: Number of students of the under represented gender enrolled Results indicate the number of non- traditional enrollees who complete

Overt Barrier: Discrimination 5/18/2015 Gender disparity begins at the point at which students select a specific area Influences include: Stereotypes Gender-based discrimination

5/18/2015 Stereotypes Different treatment by guidance personnel Steering Discourage (or lack or encouragement) Recruitment Lack of pro-active efforts to recruit females Lack of visible role models Male pronoun use exclusively in materials/media

Impact of Stereotypes 5/18/ Assessment of Competence Negative stereotypes lead to decreased task performance Negative stereotypes lead individual to judge their performance by harsher standard Aspiration and Decisions Stereotypic Beliefs

Sexual Harassment in CTE 5/18/2015 Pervasive and overt: “Cat calls”, sabotage of projects, fondling, etc. No female bathrooms or changing area Pin-ups, calendars with suggestive pictures, etc. Requirements: weightlifting or strength tests Sexual gestures, suggestive language Retaliation for complaints of sexual harassment Exclusion by other students, lack of ”friendship” Boys monopolizing equipment or teacher time

Subtle Harassment 5/18/2015 Powerful in deterring female students Girls are not strong enough She is enrolling to get a boyfriend She is too cute to take … Girls don’t know anything about … She must be a “Dyke” if she is interested in…. Tolerance of inappropriate language, remarks Subtle messages that girls are not welcome Peer Pressure Parental Concerns about sexual harassment

Other Potential Barriers 5/18/2015 Lack of knowledge or familiarity with area Lack of experience with tools Family objections (especially father) Pressure from friends Femininity ideals /gender identity Lack of role models Insufficient career exploration Media messages

Strategies: Recruitment 5/18/2015 Early unbiased career exploration activities for all students Exploration of interests and abilities links to career fields Role Models of under represented gender Gender neutral posters, brochures, illustrations Recruit “groups” Targeting Opportunities to try it out (hands on projects)

Strategies: Retention 5/18/2015 Schedule in same section Support groups Mentor (same gender) from field Gender “Fairness” in programs Appropriate tools, uniforms, etc. Enforced harassment policy Consideration of learning styles

5/18/2015 Monitor progress Encouragement Intern/WBL with same gender Exit interviews with “leavers”-use information gained Credit recovery if needed Peer support Same-gender alumni experience Strategies Completion

Strategies Increase Equity Control the message Communicate clear performance standards Hold gatekeepers accountable for gender disparities 5/18/

5/18/2015 Questions?

5/18/2015 Contact Information: Jacqueline Dannis, Research Consultant 517 ( ) Norma R. Tims, Title IX and Civil Rights Review Coordinator (517) Office of Career and Technical Education Michigan Department of Education P.O. Box Lansing, Michigan 48909