Career technical education (CTE) and community colleges are grappling with the same issues brought by global competitiveness and the economy, said Frank Chong, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges at the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).

But those issues may have also fostered an opportunity for CTE to demonstrate why it can be the “lynchpin in economic recovery,” he added.

Speaking to NASDCTEc members at the Spring Meeting earlier this month, Chong, highlighted his positive experiences as a former CTE student.  He went on to note that the association’s new vision to transform all of CTE into programs that prepare students for college and career aligns with the Obama Administration’s goals of doubling the number of students who earn postsecondary credentials in the next 10 years. In turn, that would lead to filling the pipeline with qualified workers ready to fuel the global economy.

While Chong did give a nod to the vision paper’s emphasis on breaking down silos across education tiers and among stakeholders, he did note that there is no “consistent standard model “of how to collaborate with CTE. Under the direction of the Obama Administration, collaboration is major theme that all agencies are encouraged to integrate, Chong said. For instance, the Department of Agriculture is collaborating with STEM-education groups to determine how their goals align. He encouraged the CTE community to collaborate with others and connect the dots in order to underscore the value of CTE in the economy and nation.

“It’s time to crash the party and advocate for your students,” Chong said.

Don’t forget to register for the upcoming webinar on statistics relevant to the CTE community.

When: March 10, 2 p.m. EST

You must register to attend. Register at least 24 hours in advance.

 Event number: 200 009 917   Event password: input

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) staff will provide a brief background on the CTE data and statistics that NCES currently collects, and will seek your input on how they can do better. When: March 10, 2 p.m. EST You must register to attend. Register at least 24 hours in advance. Event number: 200 009 917 Event password: input The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the US Department of Education, is currently broadening the focus of its CTE Statistics program, from examining participation in CTE courses to education’s role in workforce preparation. More generally, the Center is adopting a more comprehensive view of postsecondary education, CTE, and adult learning as key determinants of workforce preparation. To guide this transition, NCES is seeking input on the issues and questions that their data should address. During this webinar, NCES staff will provide a brief background on the CTE data and statistics that NCES currently collects. But their main interest is to hear from you on how they can do better. They will ask for your input on the questions that should be addressed by statistical data, to improve the data’s usefulness for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners interested in the interplay of education, training, and working life. One caveat: As you reflect on this topic, it is helpful to keep in mind that NCES relies on descriptive data from nationally representative sample surveys and institutional records data. While these data are useful for describing and monitoring important aspects of education systems, they also have their limitations, i.e. they are not useful for evaluating programs or curricula. This webinar presents a rare opportunity to guide the direction of federal statistics. Please join us to make your voice heard, and to ensure that the federal government provides the data we all need.

Providing a glimpse into what the White House would like to see in the overhaul of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, President Barack Obama today proposed to tie Title I funds with requirements for states to implement college- and career-ready standards.

President Obama pitched his proposal at the White House this morning to the National Governors Association, which is spearheading a college- and career-ready national standards reform movement. The White House proposal is of particular interest to the CTE community as the definition of career ready remains varied across education groups.

President Obama said the standards would address the shortcomings found in the most recent iteration of ESEA, which he said allowed states to set varied standards and achievement expectations for the nation’s children. The new standards proposal would allow states to again set their own standards, however they must demonstrate that students who meet them are ready for higher education, he said.

CTE, through comprehensive programs of study, can play a strong role in achieving both of President Obama’s college- and career-ready goals as they provide students with career pathways and skill development, and a charted transition to postsecondary education. The resources and strategies to meet these new standards are available if states are seeking how to answer to the President’s proposal.

Registration for the 8th annual Career Clusters Institute has gone live and for the first time the Institute is offering attendees the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units. Educators will be able to acquire CEUs while they learn about the most up-to-date best practices taking place with Career Clusters.

To register for the Institute visit the Career Clusters Web site. Early bird registration continues until February 26.

The Institute has been accredited by the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Louisville to offer 12 hours of CEU earning potential. One hour is equivalent to 1/10 of a unit. The maximum possible units earned will be 1.2 units. Cost is $50 flat rate to participate; educators may earn the maximum units available.

Earning CEUs at the Institute can be done in a few easy steps:

Step 1: Pick up the forms

When you arrive at the Institute, visit the registration desk to pick up your general information/participation form. Hold onto this form until the end of your time at the Institute.

Step 2: Sign-in at breakout sessions

Each breakout you attend will be an opportunity for you to count towards earning CEUs. You must print and sign your name, and provide an e-mail address or telephone number at each session on a form that will be provided to you. This step will verify your participation and is essential for receiving credit. You are not responsible for sending in any sign-in forms.

Step 3: Turn in the paperwork and payment

You will have 6 weeks following the completion of the Institute to submit your general information/participation form and payment. There is a one-time fee of $50. You will submit payment via check (payable to University of Louisville) with your paperwork or call them to pay via credit card:

Julijana Curcic

Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning

University of Louisville

Shelby Campus, 110 Founders Union building

Louisville, KY 40292

If you have any questions about payment at any point, please contact Ms. Curcic: julijana.curcic@louisville.edu, 502-852-5636

Step 4: Receive your certificate!

You will receive a certificate via mail with your name, the Institute’s name, the number of hours accumulated and how many CEUs you have earned. (If you have questions about the certificate, please contact Ms. Curcic from the University of Louisville – see contact information above).