Career Academy National Standards Of Practice

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CareerAcademyNationalStandardsOf Practice

• CareerAcademyNationalStandardsOf Practice

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Partnering Organizations

• Career Academy Support Network (CASN)
• National Academy Foundation (NAF)
• National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC)
• National Center for Education the Economy
  (NCEE)
• High Schools That Work (SREB)
• Talent Development High Schools (CRESPAR)

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I. Defined Mission Goals.

• The career academy has a written definition of
  its mission and goals. These are available to the
  administrators, teachers, students, parents,
  advisory board, and others involved in the
  academy.

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II. Academy Structure.

• An academy needs to have a well defined structure
  within the high school, reflecting its status as
  a small learning community.

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III. Host District High School.

• Career academies exist in a variety of district
  and high school contexts, which are important
  determinants of an academy's success.

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IV. Faculty Staff.

• Appropriate teacher selection, leadership,
  credentialing, and cooperation are critical to an
  academy's success.

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V. Professional Development.

• Since an academy places teachers and other adults
  into roles not normally included in their
  previous training, providing adequate
  professional development time, leadership, and
  support is critical.

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VI. Governance Leadership.

• The academy has a governing structure that
  incorporates the views of all stakeholders.

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VII. Curriculum Instruction.

• The curriculum and instruction within an academy
  meets or exceeds external standards and college
  entrance requirements, while differing from a
  regular high school by focusing learning around a
  theme.

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VIII. Employer, Higher Education, Community
Involvement.

• A career academy links high school to its host
  community and involves members of the employer,
  higher education and civic community in certain
  aspects of its operation.

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IX. Student Assessment.

• Improvements in student performance are central
  to an academy's mission. It is important to
  gather data that reflect whether students are
  showing improvement and to report these
  accurately and fairly to maintain the academy's
  integrity.

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X. Cycle of Improvement.

• No new academy functions perfectly. Even well
  established and operated academies benefit from
  self examination and refinement. Ensuring and
  improving the quality of a career academy
  requires engaging in a regular cycle of
  improvement.

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ReformingHigh Schools The Role
forCareerAcademies

• Reforming High SchoolsThe Role
  forCareerAcademies

December 1, 2004
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Why Change is Needed

• High School Dropout Rates
• College Going Rates
• Postsecondary Remediation Rates
• Student Engagement

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What Are Career Academies?

• Small, personalized learning communities within
  a high school
• Rigorous academics embedded in a career theme
• Partnerships with employers, communities, and
  higher education

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Framework for Reform

• Rigor
• Relevance
• Relationships

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Career Academies Contribution to Rigor

• High expectations for all students
• Access to college prep curriculum
• Students get the help they need --
• From qualified teachers
• Curriculum meets or exceeds state standards,
  college entrance requirements, and industry
  standards

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Career Academies Contribution to Relevance

• Students are motivated by applied, contextual,
  project-based teaching and learning
• Students select program based on life goals
  career interests
• Career themes linked to local workforce needs
• Workplace experience, community service
• Students develop skills important to success in
  careers, life, society, not just academic skills
• Programs provide pathways to postsecondary
  education

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Career Academies Contribution to Relationships

• Smaller settings allow for students and teachers
  to know each other well
• Students grouped together over several years with
  advisors, teachers
• Employers serve as role models, mentors, advisors

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Career Academies Work

• Labor market outcomes (MDRC)
• High school graduation (CA)
• Entry to postsecondary education (CA)
• Attend four-year college (CA)

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QuestionsComments

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