Office of Postsecondary Coordination and AlignmentDivision of Career and Technical Education

TICUA Drive to 55 MeetingNovember 7, 2013

Who Is OPCA?Office of Postsecondary Coordination and Alignment

– An office in the CTE Division of the Department of Education

– Designed to expand and promote early postsecondary credit opportunities for all high school students (in general education and CTE content areas)

– Works closely with representatives from higher education (UT, TBR, THEC, TICUA) to support successful transitions from high school to postsecondary

Office of Postsecondary Coordination and Alignment Core Beliefs

All students should have an opportunity to earn postsecondary credit while in high school.

Early postsecondary offerings must be relevant and rigorous.

Students who demonstrate mastery of postsecondary curricula should be awarded college credit.

All stakeholders must collaborate to ensure smooth student transitions from secondary to postsecondary.

Students, parents, counselors, and educators need comprehensive information outlining early postsecondary offerings.

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What Are EPSOs?Early Postsecondary Opportunities (EPSOs) allow students to earn

college-level credits in high school.

Common types of EPSOs are:– Dual Enrollment (DE)– Dual Credit (DC)– Advanced Placement (AP)– International Baccalaureate (IB)– College Level Examination Program (CLEP)– Articulated Credits

Why Should EPSOs Be Offered?By 2020, nearly two out of every three U.S. jobs will require some postsecondary education and training.

Source: 2012. Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce, CTE: Five Ways That Pay

The Future Of The U.S. Workforce

– In 2012• 3.4 million job openings go unfilled because

companies cannot find qualified candidates– By 2014• Need to fill new jobs and replace retirees• Require high skills - 33% • Require middle skills – 45%• Require low skills – 22%

– By 2018• Labor market demand projected to increase by 10%• Expected addition of 15.3 million jobs

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Source: Sept. 2012. Achieve, Middle Skills Jobs and the Growing Importance of Postsecondary Education

Different Types of Dual Credit

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LOCAL STATEWIDEAgreement between one postsecondary and LEA (typically)

Agreement between all TN public postsecondary and high schools

Earned college credit only valid at institution stated in agreement

College credit transfers to all TN public postsecondary institutions

College records student assessment outcome until student enrolls at postsecondary institution

State repository maintains student assessment results until postsecondary accesses student record of EPSOs

2013-14 State Approved Dual Credit Courses

• College Algebra/Advanced Algebra Trigonometry (3124)

• Introduction to Agriculture Business/Agricultural Business Finance (5943)

• Introduction to Plant Science (Ornamental Horticulture)/Greenhouse Management (5954)

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What is P.C. 967?

– A legislative response to the needs of the Tennessee workforce

– A call for collaboration between education organizations

– An initiative to increase early postsecondary opportunities and participation

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2014-15 Statewide Dual Credit Pilot

• Art Appreciation

• Health Informatics

• Introduction to Criminal Justice

• Introduction to Sociology

• Pre-Calculus

• World History

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Logistics of the Dual Credit Pilots

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MOU and LCN will register students

All students enrolled sit for exam

Fall webinar-testing guidelines

Office of Postsecondary Coordination and Alignment

www.tn.gov/education/opca

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Questions?Patrice Watson, Program Manager

Office of Postsecondary Coordination and Alignment Division of Career & Technical Education

Early.Postsecondary@tn.gov (615) 532-2811