1 Carol Jurgens Nebraska Department of Education 2004 Nebraska Career, Academic, and Life Skills (CALS) Performance Assessment

2 Career Academic Life Skills (CALS) Performance Assessment Skills that prepare young people for both the workplace and life “ Soft skills ” – behaviors and attitudes that help employees successfully adapt and contribute to their workplace CALS parallels the 16 Career Clusters Foundation Knowledge & Skills

3 It is difficult to count what “ counts ” ! Why CALS Assessment? “ Not everything that counts can be counted... Not everything that can be counted counts. ” Albert Einstein

4 Career and life skills are critical for attaining, maintaining, and advancing in a career Why CALS Assessment? Critical nature of CALS confirmed by local, state, and national data

5 “Soft skills are the most important. We want employees who are committed to the community as a whole, with capability and drive to improve themselves, and who value honesty and integrity and who show up to work on time. That should come with ease, but it doesn’t.” Nebraska Business Person...

6 “Businesses are looking for computer skills and other technical skills. And more and more, they are looking for soft skills – the ability to get along with people, build relationships, take direction and put out effort.” Nebraska Business Person...

7 QualityExtremely ImportantVery Important Attendance/Punctuality75.4%23.5% Desire to Learn56.2%40.8% Oral Communication48.7%44.9% Written Communication 27.5%48.7% Teamwork53.6%41.1% Organization26.4%55.5% Problem Solving37.4%44.9% Qualities for Entry Level Workers 2003 Employer Survey N = 265

8 QualityExtremely ImportantVery Important Customer Service65.7%30.2% Motivation/Initiative33.6%51.3% Self-Improvement26.9%59.5% Professionalism47.2%41.5% Time Management34.0%53.2% Perseverance23.0%55.5% Follow Through45.7%48.7% Diversity48.7%35.5% Qualities for Entry Level Workers 2003 Employer Survey N = 265

9 WORK ETHIC, including self-motivation, time management PHYSICAL SKILLS – health, appearance VERBAL communication – 1 on 1 and in group WRITTEN communication – e.g., editing & proofing one ’ s work PEOPLE SKILLS – relationship building, team work Top 10 Skills for the Future Futurist Update – February Things Employers Want you to Learn in College: The Know-How You Need to Succeed Ten Speed Press, 2003, by Dr. Bill Coplin, Syracuse University, New York

10 INFLUENCING PEOPLE – salesmanship, leadership USING INFORMATION – gathering & organizing USING QUANTITATIVE TOOL – statistics, graphs, spreadsheets “ ZEROING IN ” – asking & answering the right questions, evaluating information, applying knowledge SOLVING PROBLEMS – identifying problems, developing & launching solutions Top 10 Skills for the Future Futurist Update – February Things Employers Want you to Learn in College: The Know-How You Need to Succeed Ten Speed Press, 2003, by Dr. Bill Coplin, Syracuse University, New York

11 Student Self Assessment Observations – Parents – Counselors – Teachers – Coaches – Mentors – Employers Students exhibit strengths differently in different situations or environments! CALS Performance Assessment 8 th 9 th 10 th 11 th 12 th PS Career

12 CALS Performance Assessment Integrates – Career Cluster Foundation Knowledge & Skills – Career, Academic, & Personal/Social Competencies – Employability Skills – SCANS Skills – Character Education Provides an Average Score – 11 Competency Areas 50+ Assessments 8 th 9 th 10 th 11 th 12 th PS Career

13 Academic Foundations Career Development Communication Employability Skills Information Technology Applications Leadership & Teamwork Legal Responsibilities & Ethics Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Safety, Health, and Environmental Systems Technical Skills CALS Competency Areas 8 th 9 th 10 th 11 th 12 th PS Career

14 Pilot Sites - Bellevue - Blair - Pleasanton - Ralston Parent/Student Focus Group Interviews – Six – 8 th grade students/parents – Six – 11 th or 12 th grade students/parents Educator Focus Group Interviews – 8 th Grade Team – High School Team CALS Pilot Project – Phase I

15 CALS Pilot Project – Phase I Development of CALS District Implementation Plans Including...  Privacy issues  School burden to manage – train staff  Interrelationship with STARS? School improvement?  Is it optional? Required?  How will it be used as a developmental tool?  Curriculum issues?  Identification of ultimate users – student, parents, teachers, employers?

16 Mission Middle School Bellevue West High School Student Population Mission Middle: 668 Student Population Bellevue West: 1419 Student Population Entire District: 8,886 80% of students will attend a postsecondary school More than 1/3 of students earn scholarships with a 4-year value that has averaged $ 2.5 million

17 Infuse CALS into 8 th grade Industrial Tech & FCS course curriculum MCC Trades Academy course curriculum Use CALS assessment/developmental tool for All 8 th graders in Home Room High school HelpDesk Technology Support students Senior early work release students MCC Trades Academy students Juniors/Seniors in Special Needs English course Bellevue Plan

18 Blair High School Student Population High School: 750 Student Population Entire District: recipient of the U.S.D.O.E Secondary School Recognition Award

19 Incorporate CALS into New 8 th grade career exploration course Core academic classes along with character education units Use CALS as a developmental tool in 10 th grade career pathways classes 11 th grade special education programs 12 th grade workplace learning programs Blair Plan

20 Pleasanton High School Student Population High School: 192 Student Population Entire District: 270 Rural School with the Latest in Technology 10 to 1 student/teacher ratio 100% Graduation Rate

21 Incorporate work readiness as a major focus of the school improvement process Emphasize CALS skill development at all grade levels through multiple in school and extracurricular approaches Integrate employer-reviewed electronic portfolios and resumes Pleasanton Plan

22 Ralston High School Student Population High School: 978 Student Population Entire District: 3,100 AA Accreditation (highest standard granted by the NE DOE) 1 st district in the state to implement higher graduation requirements and standards Graduates must complete 240 credits as well as demonstrate mastery of established performance based Exit Outcomes

23 Develop a 7-12 integrated curriculum that includes CALS concepts Consumer skills Career exploration Language arts Incorporate CALS assessment in Grades 9-12 Career Exploration Course – an elective Alternative High School – for at-risk students Integrate portfolio documentation of academic and CALS growth by high school students Ralston Plan

24 Business/Industry Focus Group Interviews Representing career clusters Small and large businesses Rural and urban businesses CALS Pilot Project – Phase II

25 CALS Business/Industry Focus Group Comments A powerful soft skills development tool Helpful to look at skill mastery as a continuum since employability skills are constantly being improved upon Reflects a degree of mastery/improvement – NOT a “ grade ” compared to others Career and life skill attainment is “ vital ” to success in today ’ s workplace

26 Seek Funding to Support the Project Validate Assessment Instrument Develop Marketing Plan Provide Professional Development – Administrators – Counselors – Teachers – Parents – School Boards Integrate CALS into Electronic Portfolio CALS Pilot Project – Phase III

27 Nebraska Department of Education Carol Jurgens