Advisory Committees “Partners in Education” for Agricultural Science Programs

Questions for Consideration What are my program ’ s goals and objectives for the upcoming school year? What are my program ’ s goals and objectives for the upcoming school year? Can businesses and individuals assist in developing or improving some of these goals and objectives? Can businesses and individuals assist in developing or improving some of these goals and objectives? How can I involve businesses and individuals in sponsoring student competitions, FFA activities, or providing incentives for student recognition? How can I involve businesses and individuals in sponsoring student competitions, FFA activities, or providing incentives for student recognition?

Questions for Consideration How can I involve a business to sponsor some form of recognition for the other CTE staff or programs on my campus? How can I involve a business to sponsor some form of recognition for the other CTE staff or programs on my campus? How can businesses & community members enhance my Agricultural Science classes? How can businesses & community members enhance my Agricultural Science classes? How can I increase opportunities for my students with special needs? How can I increase opportunities for my students with special needs?

Questions for Consideration What Agricultural Science/FFA activities outside of the classroom could businesses & individuals assist with? What Agricultural Science/FFA activities outside of the classroom could businesses & individuals assist with? What are the areas of the campus/district improvement plans that a business may be able to participate? What are the areas of the campus/district improvement plans that a business may be able to participate?

Questions for Consideration How can input from businesses & the community help align my Ag Science curriculum/course offerings to the needs of my students, and the region I live in? How can input from businesses & the community help align my Ag Science curriculum/course offerings to the needs of my students, and the region I live in?

Questions for Consideration How do I improve communication and relations with the administration on my campus or in my district? How do I improve communication and relations with the administration on my campus or in my district? How can businesses & individuals help spread the word about the good things my program does? How can businesses & individuals help spread the word about the good things my program does?

Questions for Consideration How can businesses & individuals help to improve my program’s facilities & equipment? How can businesses & individuals help to improve my program’s facilities & equipment? How can I make the individuals who truly make the decisions in my district aware of my program’s needs? How can I make the individuals who truly make the decisions in my district aware of my program’s needs?

Questions for Agriculture Science Teachers How can businesses & individuals increase employment opportunities for my students How can businesses & individuals increase employment opportunities for my students How do I know if my program is successful in accomplishing its goals and objectives? How do I know if my program is successful in accomplishing its goals and objectives?

LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Objectives Definition of an Advisory Committee. Definition of an Advisory Committee. Laws referencing Advisory Committees. Laws referencing Advisory Committees. Membership of an Advisory Committee. Membership of an Advisory Committee. When the advisory committee should meet. When the advisory committee should meet. Describe the functions of an Advisory Committee. Describe the functions of an Advisory Committee.

Advisory Committee Defined A group of individuals who form a partnership to Improve student learning through identified goals that create a means for curriculum to remain relevant and assure that graduates will be capable of either entering the world of work or post secondary education.

Partnerships in Schools Currently 400,000 partnerships involving 7 million volunteers work effectively in our nation ’ s schools. Currently 400,000 partnerships involving 7 million volunteers work effectively in our nation ’ s schools. - The National Association of Partners in Education - - The National Association of Partners in Education -

Partnerships A Primary goal of the A Primary goal of the Achieve Texas initiative is to… Vastly increase the quantity and quality of partnerships in CTE programs.

Changes in Schools Partners have become an important component of school redesign Partners have become an important component of school redesign Schools have become more accepting of partners in education Schools have become more accepting of partners in education 51% of Superintendents state that partnerships are essential in educational plans. 51% of Superintendents state that partnerships are essential in educational plans. - National Association of Partners in Education - - National Association of Partners in Education -

Philosophy of Partnerships in Schools Students and teachers of the 21 st century must take part in positive collaboration between the education and business communities Students and teachers of the 21 st century must take part in positive collaboration between the education and business communities School-business partnerships are about growing relationships that support students and their learning School-business partnerships are about growing relationships that support students and their learning

THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN SCHOOLS IS TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN SCHOOLS IS TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

Partnerships… are an avenue for the business and education communities to positively interact are an avenue for the business and education communities to positively interact are a two-way street for education and business to provide expanded opportunities for students are a two-way street for education and business to provide expanded opportunities for students increase the available resources and assistance from the local/area business community increase the available resources and assistance from the local/area business community can improve the quality of your Agricultural Science Program can improve the quality of your Agricultural Science Program

Why should I have an Advisory Committee?

IT’S THE LAW Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 28, Subchapter A; Chapter 29, Subchapter F; Chapter 42, Subchapter C; Section Part II, Title 19, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapters 74 and 75, Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, Title I, Part C. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

Types of Advisory Committees Single, district-level Single, district-level - One committee for all CTE programs - One committee for all CTE programs Program-specific, district-level Program-specific, district-level –Same CTE program on multiple campuses Program-specific, campus-level Program-specific, campus-level –You have your own committee

Advisory Committee Purpose: Purpose:  Develop long- and short-term goals specific to Ag Science program needs  Conduct annual program evaluations  Provide curriculum development and content advisement –Do graduates possess the skills necessary for community & area/regional employers? –Are graduates prepared for post secondary education? –Advice offered on content; not on teaching methods

Advisory Committee Provides Agricultural Science teacher with advice on new technology developments in workplace … present and future Provides Agricultural Science teacher with advice on new technology developments in workplace … present and future  TEKS: “ The student is expected to anticipate and adapt to changing employment situations. ”

Advisory Committee Provides awareness of your program through promotional techniques Provides awareness of your program through promotional techniques  News coverage  Sponsorship of events  Assist with career days  Create opportunities to network within business community

Advisory Committee Provides for review of Agricultural Science program equipment, facilities, and resources Provides for review of Agricultural Science program equipment, facilities, and resources  Review and evaluate available facilities and equipment  Identify program needs  Establish a plan for procuring needed equipment  Help locate sources for donations and/or discounts

Advisory Committee Provides legitimate TEKS alignment to workplace expectations Provides legitimate TEKS alignment to workplace expectations  “ The student is expected to identify employer expectations of punctuality, attendance, and time management. ”  “ The student is expected to recognize ethical behavior standards. ”

Advisory Committee Provides an opportunity to enhance professionalism within educational environment Provides an opportunity to enhance professionalism within educational environment Enhances public perception of Agricultural Science Program Enhances public perception of Agricultural Science Program - Improved image - Improved image –Improved communication skills –Changed attitudes –Improved relationships with administrators

Development of Advisory Committees Once voluntary, now mandatory via Performance Based Monitoring indicators; Perkins Administrative Guidelines; State Plan for Career & Technical Education Once voluntary, now mandatory via Performance Based Monitoring indicators; Perkins Administrative Guidelines; State Plan for Career & Technical Education Consult your administration because their support is critical Consult your administration because their support is critical Bottom Line …“ If you ’ re going to have to do this anyway, why not be recognized as a leader in your school district by developing an Advisory Committee before being mandated by the state or local administration? ” Bottom Line …“ If you ’ re going to have to do this anyway, why not be recognized as a leader in your school district by developing an Advisory Committee before being mandated by the state or local administration? ”

Advisory Committee Parameters Size Size  5-10 works best  Identify stakeholders of your program  Don ’ t always select “ yes men ” Terms of Service Terms of Service  Best — two-year terms, rotation of new members each year. Three-year terms also work well. Procedures Procedures  Terms of service, responsibilities, sub-committees, establishing Program of Work, guidelines for meetings (length, number), minutes Agenda and Minutes Agenda and Minutes  Agenda mailed in advance; minutes mailed after meeting

Members Parents Academic Teachers and CTE teachers Administrators Faculty Career guidance and academic counselors Local business and industry representatives

Membership Considerations Demographics (gender & ethnicity) Demographics (gender & ethnicity) Knowledgeable of “At Risk” Students Knowledgeable of “At Risk” Students Parents of students who receive special services Parents of students who receive special services “Yes Men” “Yes Men”

Membership Considerations Whose voices and opinions carry weight in your school or community? Whose voices and opinions carry weight in your school or community? Do prospective members have enough time to devote to the committee? Do prospective members have enough time to devote to the committee?

Meetings At a minimum twice annually At a minimum twice annually * First meeting – set goals & objectives * End of year – program evaluations

Meetings Have an agenda Have an agenda Mail agenda out prior to meeting Mail agenda out prior to meeting Schedule at a time convenient for members Schedule at a time convenient for members Provide refreshments Provide refreshments Student presentations Student presentations Facilities inspections/walkthroughs Facilities inspections/walkthroughs

Advisory Committee Summary Gives your program direction Gives your program direction Program Public Relations Program Public Relations Enhances communication Enhances communication Improves image Improves image Can help you get what you want/need for your program Can help you get what you want/need for your program Required by Law! Required by Law! Brings about program improvement Brings about program improvement

Advisory Committees You’ll get out of them what you put into them…