This a statement from Arkansas Senate Majority Leader Joyce Elliott in regards to college bound students vs. career-tech students. "College-prep curriculum is often viewed as being only for kids dubbed smart, while vocational and career-preparation programs are for those who aren't so brainy but are good with their hands, she said. What are the secretary's (Arne Duncan)thoughts on rigor and readiness in career and technical education, she asked?
For the complete article, check out this link http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high-school-connections/2009/10/college-ready_and_career-ready.html
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
CTE Instructors Concerns
The following questions were generated from teachers who are currently full time CTE instructors (via Kawanda):
1. Those who hold Occupational Teaching license cannot have any add on endorsements such as Driver's Education. They find it interesting that they tach students a skill and teaching driver's ed is nothing but teaching them a skill. They were told by the state dep[t of ed that they cannot teach this course. Why is this an issue that has not been addressed?
2. The Skills/USA National contest are held in the summer. Every year the contest is scheduled during a week in June. We are asked to participate in thie contest but with no type of stipend for our involvement. This means that we have to ask off or our summer jobs for a week and lose that pay plus that time of our summer vacation. We do not have to go but then that means students who qualified for the right to go, have to rely on another teacher or parent to take them. When this was during a time that Career and tech. (Vocational) teachers were paid for eleven months therefore, this was part of their job.Since we are no longer paid for eleven months, I believe one of two things should occur, one the contest should be required to be held during the school year such as a lot of the other Career and tech clubs are or two the state should you have to pay the teachers and equivalent of one weeks salary to go during the summer. Or the national contest should be dropped.
3. There are some CTE classes that do not need the 20/25 class limit. Ex. Marketing and some FCS classes. When districts are looking to get the most bang for their buck, we may be the first to go.
4. There needs to be a careful look at what the new state standards for elective focus is doing to the CTE classes across the state. I do believe that in the next few years we will see a dramatic drop in our CTE enrollment as students and parents will not want to lock their children into a 3 year CTE program.
1. Those who hold Occupational Teaching license cannot have any add on endorsements such as Driver's Education. They find it interesting that they tach students a skill and teaching driver's ed is nothing but teaching them a skill. They were told by the state dep[t of ed that they cannot teach this course. Why is this an issue that has not been addressed?
2. The Skills/USA National contest are held in the summer. Every year the contest is scheduled during a week in June. We are asked to participate in thie contest but with no type of stipend for our involvement. This means that we have to ask off or our summer jobs for a week and lose that pay plus that time of our summer vacation. We do not have to go but then that means students who qualified for the right to go, have to rely on another teacher or parent to take them. When this was during a time that Career and tech. (Vocational) teachers were paid for eleven months therefore, this was part of their job.Since we are no longer paid for eleven months, I believe one of two things should occur, one the contest should be required to be held during the school year such as a lot of the other Career and tech clubs are or two the state should you have to pay the teachers and equivalent of one weeks salary to go during the summer. Or the national contest should be dropped.
3. There are some CTE classes that do not need the 20/25 class limit. Ex. Marketing and some FCS classes. When districts are looking to get the most bang for their buck, we may be the first to go.
4. There needs to be a careful look at what the new state standards for elective focus is doing to the CTE classes across the state. I do believe that in the next few years we will see a dramatic drop in our CTE enrollment as students and parents will not want to lock their children into a 3 year CTE program.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
On the Horizon
The Tennessee Comptroller's Offices of Research and Education Accountability recently released a new report, More Rigorous Standards and New Graduation Requirements. The report is available on OREA's website This is the link to the report we reviewed on October 3. http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/OREA/
TEA - CTE blog under construction
The TEA - CTE blog is now under construction. Updates will be made soon.
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