Programs/Solutions that are Working- Best Practices National Academy Foundation Academy of Engineering March 19, 2008 San Francisco, CA

NAF National Academy Foundation ( –501(c)3 –Small learning communities (SLCs) –Started in 1982 – 1 Academy of Finance –Key Components Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum Paid Student Internships Local Advisory Board –Four Academy career themes Finance Hospitality and Tourism - 98 Information Technology Engineering – 13 (22 sites budgeted for 2008/09)

NAF’s Track Record of Success  NAF academies have a 90% national graduation rate, well above the national average of 67% and the 50% average in urban areas;  80% of NAF students go on to post-secondary education; almost half were the first in their families to do so;  Academy students are twice as likely to take college-level courses in high school as their non-Academy peers;  Academy graduates are 60% less likely to require remedial college coursework, compared with all first-time college goers; and  52% of NAF students complete 4-year college degrees in 4 years, compared with 32% nationally.

AOE - PARTNERS

Academy of Engineering 13 pilot sites, expanding to 110 sites over several years Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum –Project Lead The Way (PLTW.org) Paid Student Internships –Summer between junior and senior years –6-10 weeks of supervised interaction with business –Extension of the classroom into the workplace Local Advisory Board –Local business leaders –Program support –Professional development for educators

Local Advisory Board local business leaders, primarily (but not exclusively) from Academy-theme industry, who meet regularly, and provide various resources for Academy Resources include (but are not limited to): –Classroom participation (including presentations, coaching, judging competitions, etc.) –Mentoring, job shadowing –Paid internships –Funding (scholarships, field trips, etc.) –Professional development for educators –Assistance with student recruitment –Advocacy

Ways to Get Involved NAF Employee Involvement Continuum –Advisory Board Chair or member –Internship sponsor –Student mentor –Activities volunteer –Other Willingness to participate Time available Passion, enthusiasm and employer support for this work

Benefits of being involved What’s In It For Me? (WIIFMs) –Altruistic Factors –Financial Factors –Higher employee recruiting opportunities (ability to:) Identify and groom future entry-level workers Reduce recruiting costs Retain local talent in the geographic area

Benefits of being involved What’s In It For Me? (WIIFMs) (Continued) –Lower training costs 1 –Lower employee turnover 1 –Higher morale in current workers 1 –Greater ability to work in teams 1 –Greater work ethic –Greater employee productivity –Increased positive public relations news –Greater exposure in the markets served by the company 1 Shaping Postsecondary Transitions, Orr, Hughes and Karp, Institute on Education and the Economy, Teachers College, Columbia University, (IEE BRIEF April 2003)

Next Steps Find out more about the Academy of Engineering… Go to NAF’s website ( or Contact NAF – Charlie Katz – , or Contact local AOE in your area (8 in Western U.S.) –San Francisco, CA – Lynn Garcia – –Porterville, CA – Mike Henson – –Los Angeles, CA – Mark Karaptian – –San Diego, CA (3) – Lynn McConville – –Las Vegas, NV – David Phillipi –Seattle, WA – Eric Hong –

Partner Contacts Contact information –Charlie Katz – NAF – Director, AB Development –Jon Reinhard – NAF – Project Manager, AOE –Raluca Cadar – NACME – Program Manager, Pre-Engineering x 202 –Crickett Thomas O’Dell – PLTW, Director of School Relations x317