Update on CTE Initiatives March-April, 2010

The CTE team continues to engage various organizations and groups in discussions around the priorities and action steps. These discussions have begun the process of forming partnerships needed during the implementation phase.

• February 2: Nassau BOCES hosted a video conference on CTE data issues for component school district personnel regarding the SIRS collection of CTE data. (Priority 5). Consequently a central source for CTE data information was established, see  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/Data/home.html .
• February 5: CTE staff facilitated a New York State Council of Education Associations (NYSCEA) session concerning the CTE Initiative and to gain insight on how various constituent member groups perceive technical subjects in the general education context (Priority 1 and 2, see http://www.nyscea.org/meetings.htm . )
• February 26: The Association of CTE Administrators (ACTEA) annual meeting included an SED Update session which included a focused discussion on CTE data issues (Priority 5, see  http://www.acteainc.org/ .)
• March 11: To obtain a more detailed perspective from business and industry on their role in CTE, a facilitated discussion took place with the New York City CTE Advisory Council to garner viewpoints on necessary workplace skills. (Priority 2 and 3; see  http://council.icte.us/ .  )
• March 18: A district superintendent’s white paper in response to the CTE Future Directions Discussion Framework provided the framework a meeting of SED staff with the DS’s Ad Hoc committee meeting held at Cayuga- Onondaga BOCES. This meeting provided an opportunity for both groups further clarify the meaning of the priority action steps and develop a better understanding of how they may be implemented (Priorities 1- 6).
• March 24: A companion discussion to the March 11 business/industry engagement was held with the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB). This statewide group provided a broad perspective through a lively facilitated discussion. The discussion prompted a renewed interest in the work that had been done by the Board regarding a work readiness credential. (Priority 2 and 3 see www.labor.ny.gov/workforcenypartners/swibs.shtm . )

Concurrent with these activities, work continues on identifying career and college readiness skills. A workgroup lead by SED VESID and P-12 staff has been researching how to document student achievement beyond those represented by a Regent’s diploma.

Related to this effort, VESID has proposed that the IEP diploma be replaced with a new credential that has more meaning for students, parents, and future employers. (Priority 2 and 3, see
www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2010Meetings/January2010/0110emscvesidd1.doc .)