Using Career Clusters In Career Development Presented by Belinda McCharen, Ed.D., LPC, NCC, NCCC Tuttle Endowed Chair for Occupational Studies College of Education Oklahoma State University belinda.mccharen@okstate.edu

So Why Are We Here? I find this is a confusing time…..how do we make all the changes required today? What is a plan of study and how do we design it in this new CTE format? We need to stop and think about our mission.

Essential Questions Why are we using career clusters, career pathways and programs of study to provide a basis for career development? Is our current system of guidance and advisement providing avenues of success for all learners (secondary, postsecondary, adults)?

It’s all about maximizing student success It’s all about maximizing student success. We are the key part of the educational system that is positioned to add value for the students we touch. We are the connection, the gateway between high school, college, apprenticeships and workforce for an entire range of students from TANF recipients to Pre-Engineering students.

Vocational Education vs. Career and Technical Education “Then” Career and Technical Education “Now” For Some Students For All Students For a Few Jobs For All Careers 6 to 7 “Program Areas” 16 Clusters – 81 Pathways In Lieu of Academics Aligns and Supports Academics High School Focused College Competitor High School and College Partnerships This slide illustrates the enormous change our system and CTE from all across the country has been impacted. It requires a new way of approaching our system and the way we serve students and the value we add.

Key Terms Career Cluster Career Pathway Program of Study Career Major Plan of Study Dual Credit

“Need to Know” Information about Perkins? At least one Program of Study must be in place during the 2008-09 school year; The Programs of Study must include courses at both the secondary and postsecondary levels;

“Need to Know” Information about Perkins The Programs of Study must include both academic and CTE/degree major courses; and The Programs of Study must lead somewhere – a credential, certificate, license, degree, etc.

Key Terms Career Clusters are groupings of occupations and industries A Career Pathway represents a grouping of occupations within a cluster based on commonalities A Program of Study is sequence of courses used to get students from high school entry to success in careers and postsecondary education/both academic and technical courses

Key Terms, cont. A Plan of Study is the tool used to help students identify the courses needed to reach their career goal and establish their educational strategy Dual Credit is college credit earned by being enrolled in courses at the tech center and earning credit from a community college

National Perspective System Philosophy for Career Clusters: Career-focused educational reform Career Development + Instruction + Delivery= Seamless Education Framework in which occupationally-specific programs are one component Connects career development and guidance to delivery systems Vertical and horizontal transfer of knowledge/skills

National Perspective Career Clusters require a shift in thinking from ONLY specific occupational education and skills training to a seamless system Career Clusters require CTE “programs” to quit thinking as stand-alone and begin thinking as part of a seamless system Career Clusters require long-term commitment of every partner in its role within the system Career Clusters support workforce preparation and economic development

Let’s Say It Again…… A Plan of Study is the framework to get students from high school entry to success in careers and postsecondary education It’s not hard, but someone has to take the lead and dedicate the time You are the leaders to implement

What’s Most Important? NOT – What you call courses NOT – How many courses you take It’s being sure students get the content and the career development they need in a format they can understand

Where Do Clusters Fit in the Educational System? Elementary, Middle and Comprehensive High Schools Career Academies Small Learning Communities Technology Centers/Tech Colleges Magnet Schools Community Colleges Universities Business and Industry (re-tool, cross-train, career ladders/lattices) One question that we often receive is “Where are clusters appropriate?

16 Career Clusters Represent the entire world of work Flexible!

Connections Strategies Perkins School-to-Careers HSTW Tech Prep Career Academies Small Learning Communities Career-Themed Instruction Career Development Career/Transition Planning

What are the Programs of Study? A sequenced listing of courses, both academic and CTE/degree major, that connects student’s high school and postsecondary educational experiences

REMEMBER…… Courses that teach knowledge and skills to reach industry standards for specific careers NEED TO BE ADDED to the student program of study

www.careerclusters.org

The common element are the foundation knowledge and skills The common element are the foundation knowledge and skills. These support all the pathways like a good foundation or for us girls Spanx under a slinky dress.

Next on the pyramid are the pathway K & S these add to the foundation and provide more specialized skills

The time it takes to gain the pathway K & S will vary based upon the educational requirements.

We must understand this is not a secondary model only, it must allow for adult entry and exit points, yet provide for additional education to build career ladders.

CAREER PS CAREER MAJOR PATHWAY K&S CLUSTER K&S 9TH GRADE SKILL DEVELOPMENT CAREER MAJOR PATHWAY K&S This is another way to look at it from a developmental model from 9th to PS CLUSTER K&S 9TH GRADE

How Is A Plan of Study Used? It is the advisement document that interprets the program of study to students and parents/guardians Provides a tool to plan academic and technical courses to achieve a career goal It is a student, teacher and counselor roadmap to career success

This is a format for a cluster and pathway based program of study This is a format for a cluster and pathway based program of study. It does provide for advisement for 9th grade requirements but provides that non-duplicative sequence of courses from high school through the tech center and college.

The additional information provides broad course descriptions which incorporate the appropriate knowledge and skills for cluster and pathways. It serves as a guide and a model but cannot be adopted without adaptation.

How Will You Help Implement? Understand the purpose of clusters and pathways Understand how clusters and pathways help connect to the next level of education and careers How will teachers be involved? Know if clusters and instruction will be connected to a career plan Let’s brainstorm so we are clear on the direction you wish to move. We need to answer these questions in order to move forward with the development.

So Are You Ready?

ASCA National Standards Academic Development The academic standards serve as a guide for the school counseling program to implement strategies and activities that support and maximize student learning. Academic development includes: Acquiring skills, attitudes, and knowledge to learn effectively; Employing strategies to achieve success in school; and Understanding the relationship of academics to the world of work, and to life at home and in the community.

ASCA National Standards Career Development Program standards for career development serve as a guide for the school counseling program to provide the foundation for acquiring the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that enable students to make a successful transition from school to the world of work. Career development includes: strategies to achieve future career success and job satisfaction; fostering an understanding of the relationship between personal qualities, education and training, and the world of work; and the development of career goals by all students as a result of career awareness and experiential activities.

ASCA National Standards Personal/Social Development Program standards for personal/social development serve as a guide for the school counseling program to provide the foundation for personal and social growth which contributes to academic and career success. Personal/social development includes: the acquisition of skills, attitudes, and knowledge which helps students to respect self and others; the use of effective interpersonal skills; the employment of safety and survival skills; understanding the obligation to be a contributing member of our society; and the ability to negotiate successfully and safely in the increasingly complex and diverse world of the 21st century.

Which Standards Do Programs of Study Facilitate? Understanding the relationship of academics to the world of work, and to life at home and in the community. Strategies to achieve future career success and job satisfaction; Fostering an understanding of the relationship between personal qualities, education and training, and the world of work; and Development of career goals by all students as a result of career awareness and experiential activities

Plan of Study Checklist Are both academic and degree major courses included? Are both secondary and postsecondary courses included? Do courses represent a sequence of instruction that leads to a degree, certificate or credential? This is a good process to determine how well your POS are being developed

POS Checklist, con’t. Do courses represent a coherent and rigorous program of studies? Does completion of the high school courses ensure success at the postsecondary/career level? Does the high school plan reflect opportunities for postsecondary and dual enrollment?

Implementation of the Pathways Provides: Consistency for better data (results) and shared opportunities for development Articulation within and between states Employer and postsecondary validated standards Opportunities for “all” students A “place” for all career goals and interests Does this mean you have to develop courses in all 16 clusters---of course not.

Critical Components for Cluster Implementation Administrative Support Shared Planning Career Development Professional Development Parent and Community Support Education Partnerships B&I Support and Understanding

Critical Components for Cluster Implementation Career Development Process Connect Planning with Enrollment Student Centered Learning Commitment to Career Development/Guidance for all students

Why Do All This? Worst Reasons!!! Perkins Legislation— Just to get the money Someone says we have to

Why Do All This? Best Reasons!!! It is best for students It links the various levels of education It causes academic courses and CTE/degree major courses to have a linkage It gives faculty members a reason to work together

Why Do All This? It puts a “reason” into what students are learning Reduce remediation Increase academic and career success It adds value to CTE—no one else is doing it for students!!

Benefits for Learners Enhances academics by providing real-world relevance Provides opportunities to explore multiple pathways and relates high profile careers to real life situations Relationships among educational institutions Sets them apart from the “pack” Based on our work with pilot sites across the country, we have learned that clusters benefit a variety of audiences. First they benefit the learners. This is what John Foster, at Ballard Maritime Academy had to say about clusters. He said Use some guidance theory here……

Benefits for Teachers/Faculty Curriculum can be tailored to the needs of the community Opportunity to integrate CTE and traditional academics Opportunity to enhance academic achievement for all students There are also many benefits to teachers

Benefits for Counselors/Advisors Provides structure for advisement Provides context to discuss enrollment, assessment and future transitions/career plans Provides information for parents to partner in planning process Provides connection to business and industry and demand careers

Benefits for Postsecondary Learners who have established a career path Learners with better academic skills and in need of less remediation Avenue to connect with high school

Benefits for Parents Smoother entry into postsecondary education Students can make better career decisions Students have a plan for high school completion and college

Benefits for Workforce Development and Business Provides a well qualified workforce which can quickly adapt to changing needs Opportunity for input in school curriculum Framework for cross-training or re-tooling the workforce In all of the career clusters there is a strong business connection.

Get Excited!!

And get moving The students are waiting to plan their future!

If I can provide you with any assistance, please contact: Belinda McCharen belinda.mccharen@okstate.edu 405.744.9502 Or 405.623.6196 (cell)