1. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2006. All rights reserved.
3/2/2007, TETN
Our Children Are Our Future: No Child Left Behind
                                                                                                                                                                                   
       
AchieveTexas is a system that allows EVERY student to achieve excellence through rigorous academics and relevant career education - preparation for a lifetime of success.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

2. Our Education Challenges
3/2/2007, TETN
Our Education Challenges
high school dropout rates too high
too few students find their high school experience academically challenging
secondary-to-postsecondary transition rates are too low
postsecondary dropout rates are too high
too many college students require remediation
need for a globally competitive workforce
Today’s education system faces many challenges. High school dropout rates are estimated to be 30% annually – up to 40% in some inner-city schools.
Estimated U.S. university dropout rate is 38% and college student remediation has been estimated to cost as much as 1 billon dollars a year.
In preparing students for the 21st century, we must seriously consider how to better motivate and encourage ALL students to focus on productive outcomes for their lives.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

3. What is AchieveTexas? 3/2/2007, TETN
Let’s begin by looking at the basics of the initiative.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

4. 3/2/2007, TETN
Concept - Students can succeed in school, career, and life if they plan their own individual pathways to success.
Philosophy - No option is intrinsically better than the other. Whether the choice is right or not - depends on the personal college and career objectives of the student.
Goal - To prepare students for college and career, and to allow them to make wise choices.
The concept of AchieveTexas is simple – it is based on the belief that ALL Texas students can succeed if they have the support and resources to plan their own futures – a system designed to help students and their parents make wise education choices, whether continuing their education, going directly into the workforce, joining the military, whatever their choice might be.
The idea is to connect what students learn in school every day to what they aspire to do tomorrow, which will increase their engagement with school and their motivation to achieve. When schools integrate academic and technical education, students can see the “usefulness” of what they are learning.
AchieveTexas recommends a sequence of courses based on a student’s personal interests and career goals thereby helping them plan their educational experience and also facilitates a seamless transition from secondary to postsecondary opportunities.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

5. A vision for education reform
3/2/2007, TETN
A vision for education reform
Career Cluster System
16 Career Clusters
112 Programs of Study
The Career Pathways system is based on:
16 Career Clusters
– based on those developed by the Department of Education
– a Career Cluster is a grouping of occupations based on common knowledge and skills
– they serve as a tool used for identifying and connecting technical, academic, and employability skills
The Governor’s six industry clusters focus the state’s resources on industries that will be the engines of job creation and economic development in Texas for the 21st century.
They are based on high-skill, high-wage, high-demand career opportunities.
113 Programs of Study or Career Pathway Models that identify career options, recommended high school courses, curricular experiences, extended learning experiences, and postsecondary opportunities.
The pathway models link secondary courses to community college and university programs to clearly show that there is more than one way for a student to achieve their education and career goals.
It’s important to note that students are not locked into a chosen career pathway.
All students will complete their four-year high school plan or Texas Achievement Plan referred to as “TAP” in the 8th grade. The plan will be reviewed annually and may be revised at any time. No plan is set in stone and students will be completely free to change the path. They will still be able to participate in athletics, band, fine arts, and so forth.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

6. 16 Career Clusters 3/2/2007, TETN
These are the 16 career clusters identified by the DOE and representing all of work. While CTE may not traditionally be represented in some of these clusters, the knowledge and skills that are required of CTE students are represented here.
Each Career Cluster has multiple career pathway opportunities and serves as a guidance tool designed to help students plan their educational experience based on their career goals.
These career clusters encompass virtually all occupations from entry level, through professional.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

7. Career Clusters
Improve learner achievement – both academic and technical
Successful transitions across all instructional levels
Support workforce and economic development
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

8. National Career Clusters: Resources
Career Clusters/Programs of Study
Knowledge & Skills Components
O*Net Crosswalk Report
Cluster Profile and Advisory Committee
List of Existing Credentials
Validation Overview/Results
Protocol for Assessment & Certification
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

9. 3/2/2007, TETN
Governor’s Industry Clusters for economic development 1. Advanced Technologies and Manufacturing 2. Aerospace and Defense 3. Biotechnology and Life Sciences 4. Information and Computer Technology 5. Petroleum Refining and Chemical Products 6. Energy
The Governor’s six industry clusters focus the state’s resources on industries that will be the engines of job creation and economic development for the 21st century – career opportunities that are high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand career.
Economic competition is real and building the educational pipeline is critical to the recruitment and retention of high-paying growth industries to Texas.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

10. Benefits for Learners More engaged learning
Relevancy in academic learning
Related technical preparation
Opportunities to explore multiple careers
Connected instructional transitions
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

11. Benefits for Parents More focused and engaged student
Better informed of academic and career options
Smoother transitions among instructional levels and workforce
Potential savings – dual credit and articulated credit opportunities
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

12. Benefits for Secondary
More engaged learners
Broader community support
Promotes integrated teaching and learning
Enhanced achievement for students
More students graduate prepared for college and career
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

13. Benefits for Postsecondary
Learners are focused – more likely to graduate - and graduate on time
Reduced remediation
Resource sharing between secondary and postsecondary systems
Creates a college-going culture
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

14. Benefits for Employers
Builds a pipeline of 21st century workers
Workforce is better qualified and able to adapt to changing needs
Business and industry partners engaged in the local school system
Framework for cross-training or re-tooling the workforce
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

15. What can we do?
Achieve Texas is a tool that can pull all of this together
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

16. AchieveTexas Implementation Guide
3/2/2007, TETN
AchieveTexas Implementation Guide
AchieveTexas is endorsed by the Commissioner of Education and the Governor’s office - for ALL students!
Distribution of the Implementation Guide began during the summer of 2006.
If you have not received a copy of the AchieveTexas Implementation Guide and would like one, please let us know – our contact information will be shown at the end of this presentation, or you can submit a request through the Texas Counselors’ Network website at
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

17. Career Programs of Study
3/2/2007, TETN
Career Programs of Study
A way of organizing educational activities within a career cluster related to a student’s academic and career goal
A coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career and technical courses
Links the classroom to the real world of college and career
Implementation – achieved through local education and business partnerships
A Career Pathway can be described in the following ways:
A coherent…career/technical courses
Integration of academics and technical skills help prepare students for the workforce.
A way…or career goal
Contextual formatting enables students to apply what they’re learning to career opportunities of interest.
Concept…postsecondary education
Tech Prep and AchieveTexas pathways align and provide students a seamless transition from secondary to postsecondary education. In addition, students gain hands-on employability skills.
Pathway…business partnerships
It’s imperative that Career Pathways Programs of Study provide students the skills and preparation to meet the needs of the workforce.
There are currently 113 Career Pathway Models, or Programs of Study, that identify career options, recommended high school courses, curricular experiences, extended learning experiences, and postsecondary opportunities.
These Career Pathways commence in the ninth grade and can lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree and beyond, as well as industry-recognized certificates, and/or licensures.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

18. Programs of Study
rigorous and challenging academics with high student achievement standards
Relevant and challenging technical courses
Focus on dual credit, articulated credit, etc.
Lead to a degree, certificate or credential
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

19. 3/2/2007, TETN
Front cover
Let’s briefly take a look at a sample Program of Study, or Career Pathway Model – over 100 documents are available on CD ROM and at Updates will be completed early this summer.
The front of the model has the cluster graphic and a brief introduction to careers in the pathway.
Models for all pathways within a cluster have the same picture on the front.
Below the picture is a paragraph to get students interested in a career specialty within a pathway.
The inside pages provide career planning information for students.
The pathway models link secondary courses to community college and university programs to clearly show that there is more than one way for a student to achieve their education and career goals.

20. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
1. Nationally recognized Career Cluster logos
The inside of the Pathway Model contains:
Recommended core academic and career-related courses that comply with new 4 x 4 high plan.
Career preparation strategies, including industry licensure and certifications
Extracurricular learning
And postsecondary opportunities
Let’s quickly review sections of the Program of Study.
Section 1: Nationally recognized logos identify the Career Cluster for each model.

21. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
2. Pathway names, established in the State's Career Cluster Initiative ( ), head each model - focus attention on a specific career field within a cluster.
Section 2: Pathway names, established in the State's Career Cluster Initiative ( )

22. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
3. Cluster Overview - maintains the 16 USDE Career Cluster definitions.
Section 3: Cluster Overviews maintain the 16 U.S. Department of Education Career Cluster definitions.

23. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
4. Career goals correlate with occupational names and O*NET codes used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Section 4: Career goals correlated with occupational names and O*NET codes

24. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
5. Career Options provide examples of job titles appearing in current sources, such as WorkInTexas ( Jobs are aligned to the postsecondary education required for the careers.
Section 5: Career Options provide examples of contemporary job titles

25. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
6. High School suggested coursework identifies the core academic courses and career-related electives recommended. Programs of study are based on the Recommended Graduation Plan or the Distinguished Achievement Graduation Plan.
Section 6: High School Suggested Coursework highlights the Core Courses and Career-Related Electives. Models are based on the Recommended High School Graduation Plan and can easily be adapted for the Distinguished Achievement High School Graduation Plan.
Established models will aid counselors in working with students, including making changes to four-year plans.

26. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
7. Footnotes regarding high school coursework to make counseling more meaningful.
Section 7: Footnotes regarding high school coursework. Note that counseling will be more meaningful if these are kept consistent.

27. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
8. Industry certifications are associated with specific career goals.
Section 8: Certificates associated with specific courses. Note the website to research postsecondary certifications. (

28. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
9. Work-Based Learning Experiences and On-the-Job Training identifies experiences that may be suitable for a student pursuing a particular career.
Section 9: Work-Based Learning (WBL) Experiences and On-the-Job Training (OJT)

29. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
10. Extended Learning Experiences - examples should always extend learning in settings suitable and safe for students.
Students can record volunteer service in their portfolios, or participate in a program such as The President's Volunteer Service Award ( where school groups may, likewise, record their service hours.
Section 10: extended learning experiences

30. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
11. Professional Associations are a good resource for exploring a career. Many associations allow pre- professional memberships while enrolled in a postsecondary program. Their websites usually provide career advice or industry information.
Section 11: Professional Associations

31. What is a Program of Study?
3/2/2007, TETN
What is a Program of Study?
12. The file name in the footer restates the Career Cluster: Career Goal and publication date.
Section 12: the file name restates the Career Cluster, Pathway Group, etc.

32. Program of Study Back Cover
3/2/2007, TETN
Program of Study Back Cover
Reiterates cluster information for career specialty
Reminds student of other career paths in cluster
Provides brief occupational profile of a sample occupation
Provides information on program of study inside brochure.
The back of the model briefly describes the terminology related to career clusters and career pathways and includes information that…(refer to slide)

33. www.AchieveTexas.org 3/2/2007, TETN
The NEW AchieveTexas web site has ALL the information posted as well as many more career resources. This site will be maintained with updated models, as well as additional resources for stakeholders.
Implementation Guide
Career Pathway Models
CTE Course Guides
Career Cluster Resources

34. July 2007 Cluster Guides for the 16 Career Clusters 3/2/2007, TETN
A guide will be developed for each of the 16 Career Clusters, based on the format of the AchieveTexas Implementation Guide.
These guides will be helpful in reaching out to both students and parents.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

35. July 2007 3/2/2007, TETN B.E.S.T. brochure for Employers
Business-Education Success Team
This team will bring together leaders from education, business and industry, government agencies, professional and trade organizations, and other groups to implement AchieveTexas.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

36. July 2007 CTSO Brochure 3/2/2007, TETN
A brochure will be developed with information pertaining to Career and Technology Student Organizations.
Examples of such organizations would be:
Business Professionals of America
DECA
Future Business Leaders of America
And Skills USA
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

37. 2007 Counselor Kit 16 Career Cluster Guides AchieveTexas Poster
3/2/2007, TETN
2007
Counselor Kit
16 Career Cluster Guides
AchieveTexas Poster
Achieve Texas One-Pagers
AchieveTexas Counselor’s Guide
The counselors’ guide will serve as an implementation aid for counselors and advisors.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

38. Communications kit for schools
3/2/2007, TETN
July 2008
Communications kit for schools
Additional resources for schools will include a communications kit.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

39. July 2008 Translate materials into Spanish 3/2/2007, TETN
Once all materials are developed, they will be translated into Spanish with an estimated completion date of July 2008.
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

40. 3/2/2007, TETN
2009 and beyond - CTE TEKS revisions, including eliminate/redirect “old” CTE courses CTE instructional materials CTE Teacher certification Evaluate AchieveTexas
For 2009 implementation data will be generated to evaluate the success of AchieveTexas!
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

41. Spirit of the New Perkins Law
3/2/2007, TETN
Spirit of the New Perkins Law
Leading education into the 21st century
Global competition
Focus on CTE program improvement
Ensuring rigorous academic and CTE programs
Focus on high wage, high demand, high skill occupations
Current law was the starting point but lots of tweaking
Basic structure, funding mechanisms, uses of funds, etc. remain the same
Yes, there still is a title II, Tech Prep, but …
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

42. Culture of Continuous Improvement
No longer simple entitlement of funds
Data driven decisions
Connects state and local funds to:
data, monitoring, program improvement
strong professional development
technical assistance
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

43. Increased Accountability
Secondary and postsecondary performance measures
Performance levels for state and LEAs
Sanctions tied to performance
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

44. Embrace the Challenge! 3/2/2007, TETN
I’d like to close with another quote from Shirley Neeley, Commissioner of Education, Texas Education Agency…
“The Texas spirit is to pioneer new ideas. I invite you to join me in the journey toward making AchieveTexas a reality. Working together, we can all take education in Texas to a new level of excellence. Again, I hope you will support our mission of preparing the children of Texas for a lifetime of success.”
AchieveTexas: Lifelong Success for All Students, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.