Transcript CBuilding the 21st Century Economy: Lessons from Silicon

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 21st 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
Career Tech Industry Sectors
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Agriculture and Natural Resources
Arts, Media, and Entertainment
Building Trades and Construction
Education, Child Development, and Family
Energy and Utilities
(more)
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Career Tech Industry Sectors (continued)
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Engineering and Design
Fashion and Interior Design
Finance and Business Industry Sector
Health Science and Medical Technology
Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation
(more)
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Career Tech Industry Sectors (continued)
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Information Technology
Manufacturing and Product Development
Marketing, Sales, and Service
Public Service
Transportation
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Job Openings in Silicon Valley 2006-2016
350,000
297,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
122,000
100,000
50,000
-
Job Growth
Attrition
Jobs in the next 10 years
140
121
120
98
Thousands
100
93
80
64
60
36
40
20
0
Construction
Retail Trade
Health & Social
Services
Accommodations &
Food Service
Other Services
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
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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
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Achievement Gap
45%
43%
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Counselors can:
…provide college and career guidance
…identify career pathway options based on
student interest inventories
…review career assessment information with
students
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)