1 Video Streaming Session #7 Selecting Appropriate Industry Certification Examinations Virginia Department of Education Joseph Wharff School Counseling Career Connections October 16, 2014 March 13, 2014

Video Streaming Training Sessions for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Administrators Agenda  Welcome  The Value of Credentialing  Types of Industry Credentials  Industry Credentialing Resources  Standard Diploma Requirement and Scenarios  Improving Industry Credentialing  Utilizing SSWS for Program Improvement  Industry Credentialing Priorities  Wrap Up and Announcements 1

Value of Credentialing Various Aspects of the Virginia Credentialing Initiative Workplace Value Exposure to External Testing Proof of Career Pathway Skills Standard Diploma Graduation Requirement Student-Selected Verified Credit Perkins IV Accountability CTE Program Improvement 2

Types of Credentials The Virginia Board of Education has approved for student-selected verified credit over 350 industry certification exams, licensures, and occupational competency assessments. The various credentials are defined as:  State-Issued Professional License  Full Industry Certification  Pathway Industry Certification  Occupational competency assessment 3

Types of Credentials, continued 4  State-Issued Professional License, required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency;  Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Examination  FAA Private Pilot Written Test  Cosmetology Examination  Real Estate Salesperson Examination

Types of Credentials, continued 5  Full Industry Certification, from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation. An important “first step” in exploring job related skill sets while working toward advanced certification levels and/or other credentials  A+ CompTIA,  Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)  Virginia Pharmacy Technician  Fundamental Marketing Concepts Certification

Types of Credentials, continued 6  Pathway Industry Certification, which may consist of entry-level exams as a component of a suite of exams in an industry certification program leading toward full certification.  Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)  Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)  A+/CompTIA Certification Examination (A+ Essentials)  Heating, Electrical, Air Conditioning Technology (HEAT) Examination (HVAC Excellence)

Types of Credentials, continued 7  Occupational competency assessment, a national standardized assessment of skills/knowledge in a specific career and/or technical area  NOCTI/Skills USA  Production Agriculture Assessment  Accounting—Basic  Administrative Assisting Assessment  Early Childhood Care and Education Assessment

What Is Important To Know About Credentialing Types  Many credentials are developed specifically for the workplace, not designed around technical skill courses (but target competencies, etc.).  Occupational competency assessments are designed for the student learner in CTE programs/courses.  Some credentials are “stepping-stone” exams in a program of examinations. 8

Board Of Education’s List Of Credentials Approved On April 24,

Board of Education criteria for a Student-Selected verified credit Designed to prepare students for an occupation or occupational area. Knowledge-based; however, the credential may contain a performance-based component. In a CTE field that confers a credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association or entity. Administered on a multi-state or international basis Standardized and graded independent of the school in which the test is given. A credential must be one that is: 10

Check Available Resources for Credentialing Examinations Does the credential have an entry-level examination? Has instruction been “aligned” to better cover the exam blueprint? Does the credential have related curriculum materials? Does the credential have a pre-test? Does the credential have “exam prep” materials? Does the assessment have study guide materials (i.e., NOCTI study guide packets)? Are you familiar with the test entity’s web site? 11

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Facts Sheets Now Found in APG 14

Diploma Changes 8VAC B. Requirements for graduation A student must earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board of Education to graduate with a Standard Diploma. The credential could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment; 15

Standard Diploma Discipline Area Standard Units of Credit Required Verified Credits Required English 42 Mathematics 1 31 Laboratory Science 2,6 31 History and Social Sciences 3, 6 31 Health and Physical Education2 Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education 7 2 Economics and Personal Finance1 Electives 4 4 Student Selected Test 5 1 Total226 5 A student may utilize additional tests for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, career and technical education, economics, or other areas as prescribed by the board in 8 VAC VAC Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association or acquires a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for (i) the student selected verified credit and (ii) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the Board of Education as an additional test to verify student achievement. 16

 Students who complete a career and technical education program concentration sequence (a sequence of two or more 36 week courses or combinations of 18 and/or 36 week courses that are equivalent to two 36 week courses) AND pass a Board-approved credentialing test may substitute the credential for (1) the student selected verified credit (see FN 5) and (2) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the credential confers more than one verified credit. (see FN6) Source: Standard Diploma 17

Earning Student-Selected Verified Credit: Source: Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8 VAC )  One student-selected verified credit will be awarded for passing each certification or licensure examination that meets all of the criteria and the student earns one standard unit of credit only in the career and technical education concentration or specialization.  Two student-selected verified credits will be awarded for passing each certification or licensure examination that meets all of the criteria; and  The student meets the career and technical education concentration or specialization course requirements for program completer.  The student earns at least two standard units of credit in the career and technical education concentration or specialization.  The student may substitute one of these verified credits for a verified credit in either science or history and social science. 18

Scenario 1  CTE Sequence:  Accounting (6320/36 weeks)  Accounting, Advanced (6321/36 weeks)  Industry Credentialing Exam:  Basic Accounting- NOCTI (Passed)  Advanced Accounting- NOCTI (Passed)  Earned:  Industry Credential for graduation- Yes  Program Concentration Sequence- Yes  Eligible for one student-selected verified credit AND one verified credit in either a science or history and social science- Yes 19

Scenario 2  CTE Sequence: Design, Multimedia, and Web Technologies (6630/36 weeks) Design, Multimedia, and Web Technologies, Advanced (6631/36 weeks)  Industry Credentialing Exam: Interactive Media Assessment (NOCTI)- (Passed) Apple Certified Pro Examination– (Passed)  Earned: Industry Credential for graduation- Yes Program Concentration Sequence- Yes Eligible for one student-selected verified credit AND one verified credit in either a science or history and social science- Yes 20

Scenario 3  CTE Sequence:  Office Specialist I (6740/36 weeks)  Office Specialist II (6741/36 weeks)  Industry Credentialing Exam:  Fundamental Business Concepts- A*S*K* (Passed)  Microsoft Word- MOS/Certiport (Passed)  Earned:  Industry Credential for graduation- Yes  Program Sequence Completer- Yes  Eligible for one student-selected verified credit AND one verified credit in either a science or history and social science- Yes 21

Scenario 4  CTE Sequence:  VA Teachers for Tomorrow I (9062/36 weeks)  VA Teachers for Tomorrow II (9072/36 weeks)- did not pass  Industry Credentialing Exam:  Early Childhood Education (AAFCS)- Did not pass  Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examination- Passed  Earned:  Industry Credential for graduation- Yes  Program Sequence Completer- No  Eligible for one student-selected verified credit- Yes 22

Scenario 5  Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) - Graduation Requirement (BUS6120, Finance 6121, 18 weeks, Economics, 18 weeks, History and Social Science 2801, Virtual Virginia Economics and Personal Finance course, other courses that are aligned with the Economics and Personal Finance Standards of Learning)  Industry Credentialing Exam:  WISE Financial Literacy- Did not pass  Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examination- Passed  Earned:  Industry Credential for graduation- Yes  Program Sequence Completer- No  Eligible for one student-selected verified credit- Yes/No?  NO- EPF course not part of a CTE concentration 23

Scenario 6 Course:  Microsoft IT Academy Virtual Course  Industry Credentialing Exam:  Microsoft Word- MOS/Certiport (Passed)  Earned:  Industry Credential for graduation- Yes  Program Sequence Completer- No  Eligible for one student-selected verified credit- Yes/No?  NO- virtual course is not a CTE state-approved course

Standard SSWS Reports Available Using the “Reports” Menu 25

Standard SSWS Reports Available Using the “SSWS Reports” Menu  Credentials by School  Credentials by School (Sorted by Year)  State Summary of Credentials Report  State Summary of Credentials Report (Alphabetic Sort)  State Summary of Credentials Report (Most Utilized)  State Summary of Credentials Report (Most Passed) 26

SSWS Data Posted CTE Credentialing Web Page Access: Instruction, Career & Technical Education, Industry Credentialing 27

CTE Performance Trends 28

Virginia’s Credentialing Initiative 29

Virginia’s Credentialing Initiative 30

Total Number Test Takers 20,74234,75039,705 Total Number Test Takers Passed: 13,12221,31528,349 Total Test Takers Not Passed 7,62013,43511,356 Total Percentage Passing 63.26%61.33%71.40% Mean Score 74.94%74.33%76.96% Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examination Data Source: Career and Technical Education Consortium of States (Eighty two school divisions participated in 2012, 107 in 2013, and 109 in 2014.) 31

State Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examinations Funding 32  Supts. Memo No dated August 1, 2014  Subject: State Allocation for Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth and/or Other Industry Certification Assessments and Reimbursement Forms for June 2014 and School Year  $308,655 FY 2015 State Funding  $ per CTE student enrollment  Provide support grants to the school divisions for standard diploma graduates.  May be used for any Board-approved industry certification preparation and testing.  Funding allocation based on school year enrollment data for students in secondary CTE courses.  100% Reimbursement of exam costs, not to exceed approved allocation amount

State Industry Certification Examinations Funding 33  Supts. Memo No dated August 1, 2014  Subject: CTE Reimbursement for Industry Certification Examinations, Licensure Tests, and Occupational Competency Assessments Allocations and Reimbursement Forms for June 2014 and School Year  $1,331,464 FY 2015 State Lottery Funding  $2.27 per CTE student enrollment  Funding for Student Credentialing  Industry Certification Examinations  Licensure Tests  Occupational Competency Assessments (NOCTI)  Certification Site Licenses  100% Reimbursement of exam costs, not to exceed approved allocation amount  State Approved Industry Certification Examinations by the Board of Education

 W!SE Financial Literacy Certification  Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examination  National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT)  Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel and PowerPoint  National Professional Certification in Customer Service  NRA: ServSafe Certification  Nurse Aide Examination Know What Credentials Are Most Successful 34

Determine the Most Recent State “Benchmark” for the Credential Being Used or Considered 35

Why is Knowing The State “Benchmark” For A Credential Important?  To establish realistic expectations (goals) for students regarding examination pass rate.  Students should be able to score at or above the state benchmark for an examination.  To understand why the difficulty level of credentials differ.  To understand that many credentials do not have comparatively high pass rates (80 to 100%, etc.). 36

Examine How Credentials Are Being Utilized By Specific CTE Courses 37

Why Is It Important To See What Credentials Are Being Used in Specific Courses?  To see which credentials are the most successful in specific CTE courses.  To see how credentials are working in specific years of a multi-year CTE program.  To identify programs where more credentialing options are needed.  To identify where “across the board” credentialing may be the best option. 38

Perkins IV Performance Standards Core Indicator Of Performance State Negotiated Level of Performance S1 - Academic Attainment: Reading- (English 11) 85% 66%69.00% 1S2 - Academic Attainment: Mathematics (Highest level) 61% 64%66.00% 2S1 - Technical Skills Attainment a. Student Competency Rate84% 87.00% b. Completers participating in Credentialing Tests 55% 58.00% c. Test Takers (Completers) Passing Credentialing Tests 75% 76%77.00% d. Completers Passing Credentialing Tests 35% 38.00% e. Completers Earning Advanced Studies Diploma or Passing a Credentialing Test 43% 46.00% 39

Credentials That Count!  Consider priority testing using those credentials that have the highest “market place” and/or “career pathway” value even though some credentials may not have comparatively high passing rates.  To improve student job seeking resumes and where budget permits, test all CTE students with a technical skills exam and/or a across-the-board assessment. 40

EleVAte Virginia Workforce Month is October! 41  Governor Terry McAuliffe recently unveiled the “EleVAte Virginia Proclamation”  October 2014 is EleVAte Virginia Workforce Month in the Commonwealth of Virginia  The Virginia Department of Education and Career and Technical Educators are helping to increase the number of Virginians earning workforce credentials to be competitive for highly skilled jobs.

Thank You!  Next Video Streaming Session 8 – November 6, 2014: “School Counselor Advisement: Industry Certifications”  Note: Please complete the evaluation Contact Information: Virginia Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education Services