Chef Dave
03-10-2008, 09:19 AM
I just read an interesting article about a successful CTE (career and technical education) program in Georgia.
CEC, Central Educational Center, is a charter school in Coweta County, Georgia. The school was formed because of needs from the business community for trained entry level employees.
In the old days, many businesses hired high school graduates but as the industrial workforce becomes more automated and computerized, new employees must have skills and education beyond that of high school.
CEC aligned itself with West Central Technical College. The charter school offers courses in welding, graphic communications, electronics, computer networking and health occupations. Unlike traditional vocational education programs, CEC has integrated higher academic standards with college level technical classes.
In addition to offering more challenging classes, CEC offers students the opportunity for work based learning.
Nearly 200 local businesses offer students "real world" on-the-job experiences via unpaid internships, job shadowing, or apprenticeships.
Since many employers have problems with employee attendance, CEC offers a work ethic grade in addition to a course grade. The work ethic grade evaluates attendance, the ability to get along with others, how well they work on a team, and their willingness to participate.
One of the many interesting success stories coming out of CEC was the example of a student named Toby Hughes. CEC gave him practical training in computer technology. After he graduated from high school, he was hired at the age of 18 as an operations manager and given a salary of $52,000!
The building administrator, who is actually the school CEO, chief executive officer, has said, "We know from two research universities that 98 percent of young people who dual-enroll in a technical college program while in high school and who earn a technical college certificate will graduate from high school." He adds that since CEC opened in 2000, there has been a dramatic decline in the annual dropout rate in Coweta County high schools.
Not only is CEC a shining example of a 21st century CTE program, but the school has even influenced the local economy.
Prior to the establishment of CEC, Yamaha, one of the biggest local employers, had considered the possibility of relocating due to concerns over a limited work force. CEC has been so successful that Yamaha not only stayed put, but they expanded their local plant, bringing $40 million in new facilities and 300 jobs to the community.
CEC has been nominated by the International Center for Leadership in Educaiton as one of 30 national model high school programs in the United States. This model high school is now in the early stages of being replicated at other vocational education schools in Georgia.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/07/cec.career.tech/index.html
The article made me think about our own CTE program. At this time, my high school offers drafting, wood shop, health (certified nursing assistant), and culinary arts.
Eastern Arizona college offers college level nursing assistant education to our high school students. I know the school does not have a culinary arts program, but they offer college level courses in nutrition and I think they also offer sanitation.
In Arizona, level III culinary arts students may spend their senior year as student externs working in area restaurants. I don't have any level III students - but it has occurred to me that it would be good to begin networking with local restaurant managers.
CEC, Central Educational Center, is a charter school in Coweta County, Georgia. The school was formed because of needs from the business community for trained entry level employees.
In the old days, many businesses hired high school graduates but as the industrial workforce becomes more automated and computerized, new employees must have skills and education beyond that of high school.
CEC aligned itself with West Central Technical College. The charter school offers courses in welding, graphic communications, electronics, computer networking and health occupations. Unlike traditional vocational education programs, CEC has integrated higher academic standards with college level technical classes.
In addition to offering more challenging classes, CEC offers students the opportunity for work based learning.
Nearly 200 local businesses offer students "real world" on-the-job experiences via unpaid internships, job shadowing, or apprenticeships.
Since many employers have problems with employee attendance, CEC offers a work ethic grade in addition to a course grade. The work ethic grade evaluates attendance, the ability to get along with others, how well they work on a team, and their willingness to participate.
One of the many interesting success stories coming out of CEC was the example of a student named Toby Hughes. CEC gave him practical training in computer technology. After he graduated from high school, he was hired at the age of 18 as an operations manager and given a salary of $52,000!
The building administrator, who is actually the school CEO, chief executive officer, has said, "We know from two research universities that 98 percent of young people who dual-enroll in a technical college program while in high school and who earn a technical college certificate will graduate from high school." He adds that since CEC opened in 2000, there has been a dramatic decline in the annual dropout rate in Coweta County high schools.
Not only is CEC a shining example of a 21st century CTE program, but the school has even influenced the local economy.
Prior to the establishment of CEC, Yamaha, one of the biggest local employers, had considered the possibility of relocating due to concerns over a limited work force. CEC has been so successful that Yamaha not only stayed put, but they expanded their local plant, bringing $40 million in new facilities and 300 jobs to the community.
CEC has been nominated by the International Center for Leadership in Educaiton as one of 30 national model high school programs in the United States. This model high school is now in the early stages of being replicated at other vocational education schools in Georgia.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/07/cec.career.tech/index.html
The article made me think about our own CTE program. At this time, my high school offers drafting, wood shop, health (certified nursing assistant), and culinary arts.
Eastern Arizona college offers college level nursing assistant education to our high school students. I know the school does not have a culinary arts program, but they offer college level courses in nutrition and I think they also offer sanitation.
In Arizona, level III culinary arts students may spend their senior year as student externs working in area restaurants. I don't have any level III students - but it has occurred to me that it would be good to begin networking with local restaurant managers.