CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION “Connecting Students to School, College and Careers” Charles Weis, Ph. D. County Superintendent of Schools November 13, 2009

Career Technical Education What it’s NOT…  … the vocational classes my generation took (remember wood shop?)  … a refuge for kids who are NOT going to college  … a place to stick kids who don’t seem to fit into a curriculum  … merely exploratory

Career Technical Education What it IS…  …a series of courses grouped together to prepare students for college AND careers  …a method to give students 21 st century skills  …a series of UC a-g approved courses  …an opportunity for all students

Career Technical Education What it DOES…  …increases student attendance  …helps close the achievement gap  …raises grade point averages  …increases graduation rates  …assists in getting a job  …paves the way to college

Career Development Pre K-16

Career Tech: 15 Industry Sectors  Career Tech classes are organized into 15 groups of inter-related occupations and broad industries called “industry sectors”  Each sector has two or more career pathways, for a total of 58 pathways options

7 Career Tech Industry Sectors  Agriculture and Natural Resources  Arts, Media, and Entertainment  Building Trades and Construction  Education, Child Development, and Family  Energy and Utilities (more)

8 Career Tech Industry Sectors (continued)  Engineering and Design  Fashion and Interior Design  Finance and Business Industry Sector  Health Science and Medical Technology  Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation (more)

9 Career Tech Industry Sectors (continued)  Information Technology  Manufacturing and Product Development  Marketing, Sales, and Service  Public Service  Transportation

Job Openings in Silicon Valley

Jobs in the next 10 years Thousands

12 Dropouts: Virtually Unemployable  33,485 Statewide in 2008  3,264 in Santa Clara County  High school dropouts have considerably lower earning power  Over a working lifetime, dropouts earn $400,000 to $500,000 less than those who graduated Source: Left Behind in America: The Nation’s Dropout Crisis

13 SJ 2020 Initiative  A commitment to join together to eliminate the achievement gap in San Jose by 2020  Our Standard: All students will test proficient or advanced on state assessments –  Dropout rate –  Graduation rate –  College retention as a result

14 Achievement Gap 43% 45%

 … provide college and career guidance  …identify career pathway options based on student interest inventories  …review career assessment information with students Counselors can:

Teachers can:  … provide insights into student’s interests and learning styles  …adjust their instruction to meet the needs of various learning styles  … identify careers and skills relating to their subject area

Parents can:  …provide students information on career pathway options and career plans at school site  …create opportunities to start discussions with child regarding skill and career assessment tools at school  …create opportunities to discuss plans for the future

Business Partners can:  …serve in advisory roles  …offer job shadow days  …participate in school- based enterprises  …offer internships  …provide guest speakers  …host field-trips  …assist Career Tech Student Organizations (CTSO’s)