Career Clusters: Career Clusters: Framework for Framework for

Oklahoma Tech Prep Oklahoma Tech Prep SuccessSuccessRobin Schott

OK Dept. of Career and Technology Education

Sally ArringtonTech Prep Coordinator, Great Plains Technology

Center

Background for Background for Oklahoma ClustersOklahoma 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 IssuesThe 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 Why Clusters for Tech Prep?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 Why Clusters for Tech Prep?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 PrepImpact 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 PrepOklahoma 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 Common Understanding and Philosophyand 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 ActivitiesDevelopment 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 01-02– Total dollars $385,000

Tech Prep Carry Over– Awarded 2002-03 supplemental funding for cluster

development on application basis– Total dollars $350,000

Awarded 03-04 supplemental funding for professional development and strategic planning $7,500 per consortia

Agency Support for Local Agency Support for Local ImplementationImplementation

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 03-04 Health Cluster Workshop, September 2003 Marketing Cluster Orientation, February 2004 Health Cluster Institute, March 9-10, 2004

Agency Support for Local Agency Support for Local ImplementationImplementation

Nurture Partnerships with Other Statewide Agencies and Organizations

Website Resources www.okcareertech.org/iis/careerclusters.htm Monthly Health Cluster NewsletterCareer Cluster Plans of Study TemplatesRelated Cluster Reading ListContent Experts for Cluster AreasCluster Workforce Data Cluster Research Reports

Oklahoma Career Oklahoma Career Cluster ImplementationCluster 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 How Do We Measure Progress?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 FormPDOS Form

Student Data FormStudent Data Form

Implementing the Law, Implementing the Law, Public Safety and Public Safety and Security ClusterSecurity Cluster

Sally ArringtonGreat Plains Technology

CenterLawton, Oklahoma

Partnership TeamPartnership 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

MarketingMarketing

• 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 Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

• 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 ActivitiesStudent 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 Criminal Justice Summer AcademySummer Academy

• First academy this summer: June 21-25, 2004 -- 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 Firefighter/EMT Summer AcademySummer 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 Law Enforcement AcademyAcademy

For More InformationFor More Information

Robin Schott,Manager, Innovative Initiatives & ServicesOklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education1500 West SeventhStillwater, OK 74074Rscho@okcareertech.org405.743.5554

Sally Arrington,Tech Prep CoordinatorGreat Plains Technology Center4500 SW Lee BlvdLawton, OK 73505Sarrington@gptech.org580.250.5639