Career Clusters: Framework for Oklahoma Tech Prep Success Robin Schott OK Dept. of Career and Technology Education Sally Arrington Tech Prep Coordinator, Great Plains Technology Center

Background for Oklahoma Clusters  School-to-Work –Foundation –Philosophy of STW system High Schools That Work was the secondary model Tech Prep was our transition strategy Perkins was a funding source for sustainability

The Issues  Perkins III –Opportunity for Changing Tech Prep Stagnant Little innovation over time Problems with focus Weak accountability data Program dependent on coordinator Good but scattered and disconnected activities No way to measure impact of activities No real buy-in from schools No impact on system change or programs

Why Clusters for Tech Prep?  Effective in Focusing Guidance Activities –Plans of study –Teachers as advisors –Career and education transition counseling –Connection with labor market information –Easy for parents to relate to information

Why Clusters for Tech Prep?  Focused the Programmatic Implementation for Tech Prep –Developed new funding process –Required focus on at least one cluster –Required specified guidance activities –Required active, real industry involvement –Redefined Tech Prep student –Limited funds used for salaries –Required real student data

Impact on Tech Prep  Added 2 new consortia  Engaged all Technology Centers for first time in Tech Prep  More interest in data collection and use  More interest in professional development  Better quality programs for students  Stronger ties to industry

Oklahoma Tech Prep  24 Tech Prep Consortia  Tech Prep Goal: Consortia will work cooperatively with high schools, technology centers, colleges, universities and business and industry to design Tech Prep content (academic and technical) resulting in a seamless transitional system.  Career clusters provide our framework for delivering that goal.

Common Understanding and Philosophy  Career Clusters Aren’t Just for Guidance Anymore  Career Clusters Will Be the Framework for Creating our Seamless Educational System  Career Cluster Development Should be Driven by Economic Development at the Local Business/Industry level, and With Educational Resources  Student Outcomes Would be the Measure of Our Success

Development Activities  Cluster Institute –Funded with last of STW grant –Funded consortia teams and presenters  Used STW Extension Grant –Funded 11 partnerships to develop clusters –Awarded – Total dollars $385,000  Tech Prep Carry Over –Awarded supplemental funding for cluster development on application basis –Total dollars $350,000 Awarded supplemental funding for professional development and strategic planning $7,500 per consortia

Agency Support for Local Implementation  Encourage local consortia clusters to participate in national pilot initiatives 2 consortia currently working with EDC on IT pilot sites 1 consortia just identified as Law, Public Safety and Security pilot site  Facilitate Professional Development Career Cluster Institute February, 2002 Health cluster workshop May, 2002 utilizing NCHSTE Cluster strand added to annual School Improvement Conference, September, 2002 and October, 2003 Health and IT curriculum alignment workshop in December, 2002 and Problem- based Scenario Writing for Health and IT Health Cluster Workshop, September 2003 Marketing Cluster Orientation, February 2004 Health Cluster Institute, March 9-10, 2004

Agency Support for Local Implementation  Nurture Partnerships with Other Statewide Agencies and Organizations  Website Resources Monthly Health Cluster Newsletter Career Cluster Plans of Study Templates Related Cluster Reading List Content Experts for Cluster Areas Cluster Workforce Data Cluster Research Reports

Oklahoma Career Cluster Implementation Health Cluster – 18 Sites IT Cluster – 2 National Pilot Sites with EDC Law, Public Safety and Security Cluster – 1 National Pilot Site with 3 additional sites planning implementation Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Cluster – 1 Pre-Engineering Academy, with 5 additional sites implementing in the Fall of 2004 Architecture and Construction Cluster – 1 academy currently planning for implementation in Fall 05

How Do We Measure Progress?  Oklahoma Tech Prep PDOS (Program Data Outcome System) – an online data collection system for program components  Oklahoma Tech Prep Student Outcome System – an data collection system that will utilize our ODCTE student accounting system, Oklahoma Higher Education accounting system, and Oklahoma Employment Security system

PDOS Form

Student Data Form

Implementing the Law, Public Safety and Security Cluster Sally Arrington Great Plains Technology Center Lawton, Oklahoma

Partnership Team Great Plains Technology Center Cameron University Lawton Police Department City of Lawton Attorney’s Office Comanche County Sheriff’s Department Comanche County Courts Oklahoma Highway Patrol Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation GEO Corporation (Private Prisons) Fort Sill Provost Marshall’s Office Area High Schools

Marketing Produced three separate brochures targeting specific audiences Emphasis on cluster foundation knowledge and skills for each occupation Held parent nights and other special interest events Newspaper articles featured activities Ran newspaper advertisements for Academy Events

Professional Development Teacher Inservices - tours, presentations, and job shadowing (35 teachers and counselors involved) Teacher externships (47 teachers, in 5 counties in different legal, law and fire specialties and departments) Forensics and Law/Legal Pathway workshops for Science, English and Social Studies teachers

Forensics - Fingerprinting with Sergeant Tommy Harrell, Lawton Police Department Forensics - Polygraph Testing with Professor Shelby Kervin, Cameron University Student Activities

Joint effort with Great Plains Technology Center, Cameron University, and local law enforcement, correction and legal agencies 5 day program with 40 students participating in Law Enforcement, Corrections and Legal/Law career awareness 2nd Academy this summer June 7-11, 2004 Criminal Justice Summer Academy

First academy this summer: June 21-25, Joint effort of Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton Fire Department, Fort Sill Fire Department, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, and other agencies 5 day program with 30 students participating in firefighting and emergency medical technology career awareness Firefighter/EMT Summer Academy

New Program for High School Students starting August 2004 Will train toward Security Guard and Private Investigator (unarmed) Certification and other law enforcement occupations (605 hours) Subject areas include Security, Hazardous Materials, Investigations, Interviewing, Criminology, Police Ethics, Applied Spanish, and Physical Training Law Enforcement Academy

For More Information Robin Schott, Manager, Innovative Initiatives & Services Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education 1500 West Seventh Stillwater, OK Sally Arrington, Tech Prep Coordinator Great Plains Technology Center 4500 SW Lee Blvd Lawton, OK