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Please Welcome New NASDCTEc Associate Executive Director Kate Blosveren Kreamer

April 30th, 2013

NASDCTEc is pleased to welcome new staff member, Kate Blosveren Kreamer, who serves as the Associate Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc), leading policy and communications efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality career technical education.

From 2006 to 2013, Kate worked at Achieve, beginning as a policy analyst and leaving the associate director of strategic initiatives, leading a range of policy, research, and communications projects to support states’ adoption and implementation of the college- and career-ready agenda.

Prior to her time at Achieve, Kate was a policy advisor at Third Way, where she acted as a policy liaison between the organization and its Corporate Leadership Committee, engaging on a very broad legislative agenda. Kate also spent a year as a research assistant at the Progressive Policy Institute, focusing exclusively on education policy issues.

Kate serves as the co-founder and President of Young Education Professionals-DC (YEP-DC), a nonpartisan organization, created by and for young professionals that connects tomorrow’s education leaders around the common goal of improving education through policy, research, and practice. Kate also helped co-found and acts as a strategic advisor to YEP National, the umbrella organization that supports the now eight YEP chapters across the country.

An Orange, Connecticut native, Kate received her bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University, and her master’s of public policy from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute in 2006, with a concentration in Education, Family, and Social Policy.

In addition to serving as an organizational spokesperson, Kate’s other responsibilities include:

  • Supporting states’ adoption and implementation of the CCTC and the related policies/programs, through the development of relevant research, policy guidance and other tools/resources
  • Overseeing the organization’s communications strategy, including the expansion of the CTE: Learning that works for America® campaign

When asked for her goals in her position, Kate said she wants to help ensure CTE is a full partner and component of the broader college- and career-ready agenda currently underway in most states; to raise the visibility of CTE as the most effective strategy in graduating all students and preparing them for life after high school; to develop and maintain strong partnerships with key national and state-based organizations; and to help ensure even stronger support and engagement from business/industry around CTE.

Please extend a warm welcome to Kate. She can be reached at kblosveren@careertech.org or 301-588-9630.

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

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Advance CTE Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

November 15th, 2018

Across the country there is renewed interest in growing apprenticeship programs for youth and adult learners. By integrating classroom instruction and hands-on learning, apprenticeships can serve as a meaningful part of a Career Technical Education (CTE) program of study,  enhance the educational experience and better prepare learners for future career success. In June 2017, Advance CTE, in partnership with JFF, Vivayic and RTI International was contracted by the U.S. Department of Education to explore ways in which secondary CTE students could be better connected to apprenticeship programs. As a result, Advance CTE published  a report that profiled eight secondary apprenticeship programs to identify strategies to connect CTE with apprenticeship programs. The report highlights major takeaways as well as recommendations for program design, effectiveness, student-parent engagement and communications, financing, equity and access.

Last month, we expanded our commitment to youth apprenticeship programs by joining the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship Initiative (PAYA), along with CareerWise Colorado, Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships, Education Strategy Group, JFF, the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, the National Governors Association and New America. Over the next four years, PAYA will support efforts in states and cities to expand access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for high school age youth. PAYA will convene experts and partners, support a community of practitioners, publish research and provide grants and direct assistance to promising youth apprenticeship programs in cities and states across the U.S. We join our PAYA partners in thanking the funders of this initiative – Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Ballmer Group, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Joyce Foundation, JP Morgan Chase & Co. and the Siemens Foundation.

Earlier this week the Apprenticeship Forward Collaborative released their Definitions and Principles for Expanding Quality Apprenticeships in the U.S. that Advance CTE signed on to and supports. These guiding principles for quality apprenticeships include:

  1. Strong business demand for apprentices;
  2. Advancement of the livelihood of U.S. workers;
  3. Partnerships between local businesses, the workforce and education systems, human services organizations, labor and labor-management partnerships and other community-based organizations;
  4. Accessibility for new and incumbent workers that supports the success of a diverse pipeline of apprentices;
  5. Alignment with K-12 and postsecondary educational opportunities to support lifelong learning and skill attainment;
  6. Robust data systems to continuously improve outcomes for business and workers; and
  7. Building on innovative state and local practice.

At a roundtable discussion hosted by the Apprenticeship Forward Collaborative, Advance CTE’s Deputy Executive Director Kate Blosveren Kreamer emphasized that our economy supports the continued skill attainment that apprenticeships provide.

We are excited to continue learning about – and advocating for -impactful apprenticeship opportunities!

Meredith Hills, Policy Associate

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Highlights from Advance CTE’s 2016 Annual Report

February 15th, 2017

Advance CTE is excited to release our 2016 Annual Report, sharing our major accomplishments, partnerships and initiatives from the last year.

There’s no question 2016 was an incredible year for the field and for our organization!

Just consider:

 

Some of our major highlights include:

  • Launching a new organizational rebrand – Advance CTE: State Leaders Connecting Learning to Work
  • In partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers and Education Strategy Group, and with support from JPMorgan Chase & Co.,  launching the New Skills for Youth initiative.
  • The U.S. House of Representatives passing a bill reauthorizing The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.
  • Advance CTE directly engaging our members in all 50 states through our events, technical assistance and resources.

We hope you enjoy reading about Advance CTE’s major accomplishments of 2016, none of which could have been possible without our members, partners and the greater CTE community!

Kate Blosveren Kreamer, Deputy Executive Director

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Exploring Work-Based Learning across the Globe…and throughout Baltimore

August 4th, 2016

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Strengthening Work-based Learning in Education and Transition to Careers Workshop in Baltimore, Maryland.  This workshop was co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Adult and Technical Education (OCTAE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Advance CTE, along with other federal agencies, non-profit organizations and philanthropies served on the event’s steering committee.IMG_3585

Over the course of two days, the workshop featured a series of sessions exploring work-based learning (WBL) and apprenticeship systems in a range of countries – from Germany and Switzerland to the U.K. and Denmark – as well as the impact of such programs and policies on the key stakeholders, notably students and employers. Established research on the major components of a WBL systems, such as WestEd’s well-regarded WBL continuum, was shared, along with brand new international analyses on the intersection of apprenticeship participation and youth engagement, basic skills and equity.

The workshop also highlighted local “trailblazing” programs and a session on the state role in supporting WBL, which I had the opportunity to participate along with leaders from the National Governors Association, The Siemens Foundation, Colorado and Tennessee.

image1Probably the most fun part of the event was the afternoon dedicated to visiting WBL in action at programs throughout Baltimore. I had the chance to visit Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 486 and FreshStart-Living Classrooms, two very different programs supporting individuals through rigorous technical instruction and on-the-job training.

This workshop is part of OECD’s research and technical assistance project, entitled “Work-based Learning in Vocational Education and Training,” which is being implemented and funded jointly by Australia, Canada, the European Commission, Germany, Norway, Scotland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. We’ll be sure to share the research as it is released!

Kate Blosveren Kreamer, Deputy Executive Director

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This Week in CTE

June 10th, 2016

TWEET OF THE WEEK

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

The Hechinger Report released an article this week, A State Embraces the Idea that not Everyone Needs to go to College, taking a look at how Kentucky ensures students are both college and career ready. Kate Blosveren Kreamer, Advance CTE Deputy Executive Director suggests utilizing accountability systems to validate high-quality programs and weed-out those that are not. “There are a lot of people that still think these programs are lower rigor,” said Blosveren Kreamer. “I don’t think that’s inherently true, but there is a mix out there. Hopefully, we can eventually use accountability to find and replicate the good programs.”

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Launch My Career is a new website for students that allows them to determine the return on investment of their educational choices. Users can determine what careers align with specific skills, and what education pathway they need to be on to achieve their desired career.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

The College & Career Readiness & Success Center at American Institutes for Reacher released a new video, Designing Assessments for College and Career Readiness: Performance Tasks. The video takes a dive into how educators can determine students’ college and career readiness through performance tasks that demonstrate mastery of skills and content.

Katie Fitzgerald, Communications Associate 

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Spring Meeting Staff Reflections Part 1

May 31st, 2016

This time last week we were in the midst of our 2016 Advance CTE Spring Meeting which brought over 150 participants from across the country together to dive into all things CTE. From unveiling our new vision to diving into the federal policy landscape, staff takes a look back at what they found most valuable at this year’s meeting in this two-part series. 

Kimberly Green, Executive Director: Each year, Advance CTE hosts an annual awards ceremony that recognizes two categories of winners. The Stars of Education acknowledges leadership in our own community and those in Congress who fight the good fight on behalf of CTE.  This year, Dr. Charisse Childers, State Director in Arkansas won the Rising Star award and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) won the Star of Education award. We also recognize high-quality programs of study through our Excellence in Action Awards. The selection committee has over 100 applications from 30 states to review and selected 11 winners, each in a different Career Cluster.

I had the honor to emcee this year’s awards ceremony and truth be told I had to hold back tears as some of the winners made their remarks. Their commitment, leadership, inspiration and dedication results in changing the lives of thousands of students each year.  And this array of winners is proof that high-quality CTE can be successful in any and every community in our country.

What is common across all the winners is that they all have leaders who have an unrelenting commitment to quality, create cultures of high expectations, see obstacles as opportunities and put the learner first. My hope is by sharing and celebrating these winners, we both shine a light on their accomplishment but also position them as a beacon for others to benchmark against and learn from.

So to our winners, I say thank you. Thank you for reminding us that high expectations bring about excellence.  Thank you for proving that excellence can be found in any zip code and reminding us that high quality programs for all students – ALL students – is an achievable goal. Thank you for reminding us why we do this work but mostly thank you for what you do every day to help students find their voice, their path and their success.

Kate Blosveren Kreamer, Deputy Executive Director: For me, the release of our new vision was the absolute highlight of the Spring Meeting and, in particular, seeing all of our members and partners sign their commitment to this new vision. After over a year of planning – from the early design phase, the Future of CTE Summit hosted with our eight co-conveners, and the work to synthesize the many (many) awesome and innovative ideas to come out of that Summit – seeing the new shared vision in the hands of our members, Putting Learner Success First, was an amazing experience. From the presentation by Advance CTE officers, the panels of our vision supporters and feisty reformers and the Enacting the Vision roundtable, Monday demonstrated how impactful this vision can and will be within and beyond the CTE community and I can’t wait to start putting it into action!

Steve Voytek, Government Relations Manager: Along with the roll-out of Advance CTE’s new vision, federal policy was top of mind for many at our Spring Meeting. While we heard much about the forthcoming effort to renew the Carl D. Perkins Act (Perkins) towards the end of our conference, Perkins was a recurring theme throughout many of the conference sessions during the week.

The recently passed Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) also took center stage with both bills providing unique opportunities (as well as some challenges) for the CTE community in the coming years. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) also provided some timely updates for attendees on some national initiatives of interest.

All in all, it was a great week for Advance CTE members and attendees alike to hear from leading experts, Congressional staff, and other stakeholders about what the federal policy environment has in store for CTE.

Katie Fitzgerald, Communications Associate 

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How States are Making Career Readiness Count: A 2016 Update

May 3rd, 2016

In May 2014, Achieve and Advance CTE (as NASDCTEc) released Making Career Readiness Count, the first analysis of the ccrcoveruse of career-focused indicators in states’ reporting and accountability systems to increase understanding and catalyze action through guidance and recommendations for states to take steps to ensure that the “career” in their CCR accountability and public reporting system is not an afterthought but rather a powerful lever for success.

This report was timely and influential, cited in the Career Ready Act of 2015, introduced by Senator Kaine, which then became an amendment to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as well as the Council of Chief State School Officers’ Career Readiness Task Force report, Options and Opportunities: Making Career Preparation Work for Students, which was endorsed by 41 states.

Since the original release of Making Career Readiness Count, two significant events have occurred that are pushing states to take a closer look at their accountability systems to better capture a broader range of college and career readiness outcomes for students: the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (now known as ESSA) and the launch of the New Skills for Youth initiative, a competitive grant program, funded by JPMorgan Chase & Co, which requires participating states to transform their systems – including state accountability systems –to support high-quality career-focused education for all students.

It is within this environment that Achieve and Advance CTE have partnered again to release How States are Making Career Readiness Count: A 2016 Update. This new report provides state-by-state information on how and which career-ready indicators states are including in their reporting and accountability systems, and highlights promising practices in several states at the forefront of this work. It also raises some important areas for consideration as states begin or refine their focus on career readiness.

Findings in Brief

  • Thirty-four states publicly report and/or include career-focused indicators in their accountability systems, an increase from the 29 states reported in 2014
  • Thirty-two states currently publicly report on at least one indicator of career readiness for high school students, the majority of which report on dual enrollment participation or success or postsecondary enrollment.
  • Twenty states, include some measure of career readiness in their accountability formulas or as bonus points, with dual enrollment participation or success and industry-recognized credentials the most common indicators.
  • Over half of states with career-ready indicators in their accountability systems utilize “meta-indicators” or composite measure of college and career readiness or career readiness that may include components such as AP, IB, or dual enrollment. As a result, it can be very difficult to ascertain how much weight or value career-ready indicators have within states’ accountability systems.

Read How States are Making Career Readiness Count: A 2016 Update and read Making Career Readiness Count for critical background information.

Kate Blosveren, Deputy Executive Director

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Register Today for NASDCTEc’s Upcoming Webinars

January 5th, 2016

Webinar: 2015 Year in Review: State Policies Impacting CTE

Register today for our newest webinar, where you can learn about state CTE policy trends around the country. Join NASDCTEc and the Association of Career and Technical Education on January 21, from 2-3 p.m. ET, as we unpack the findings of our third annual report, “2015 Year in Review: State Policies Impacting CTE,” which will also be released on January 21. Check out our 2014 and 2013 reports as well.

Speakers:
Senator Rollie Heath, Colorado State Senate District 18
Alisha Hyslop, Director of Public Policy, ACTE
Sarah Heath, Assistant Provost for Career and Technical Education, Colorado Community College System
Andrea Zimmermann, State Policy Associate, NASDCTEc

Webinar: Preparing a Globally Competent Workforce Through High-Quality Career Technical Education

And don’t forget to register for next week’s webinar on global competencies and CTE! On January 13, from 3-4 pm ET, NASDCTEc , the Asia Society, Longview Foundation and ACTE are co-hosting a webinar to release our joint publication, “Preparing a Globally Competent Workforce Through High-Quality Career and Technical Education.” Local leaders will share what globally-minded CTE programs look like at the classroom level.

Speakers:
JoAnne Honeycutt, State CTE Director, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Larisa K. Schelkin, CEO, President & Founder, Global STEM Education Center, Inc.
Mark Tronicke, Global Exchange Coordinator, Bergen County Academies, New Jersey
Heather Singmaster, Assistant Director, Asia Society
Jennifer Manise, Executive Director, Longview Foundation
Kate Blosveren, Associate Executive Director, NASDCTEc
Steve DeWitt, Deputy Executive Director, ACTE

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Upcoming Webinar: CTE and Global Competency

December 17th, 2015

Being globally competent is increasingly a requirement in today’s economy, where individuals are called upon to compete, connect, and cooperate on an international scale. Career Technical Education (CTE) programs offer a unique platform for teaching global competencies, providing the rigorous and authentic setting necessary to prepare students for the competitive world economy, while offering a more engaging, motivating and relevant education.

To explore the ways in which CTE and global education intersect and can be integrated, Asia Society, Longview Foundation, NASDCTEc and ACTE partnered on the new publication Preparing a Globally Competent Workforce Through High-Quality Career and Technical Education, which will be released in early January 2016.

Join us on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 from 3-4 p.m. ET for a webinar on this critical issue, featuring local leaders sharing what globally-minded CTE programs look like at the classroom level. Register today!

Speakers include:

  • Jo Anne Honeycutt, State CTE Director, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
  • Larisa K. Schelkin, CEO, President & Founder, Global STEM Education Center, Inc.
  • Mark Tronicke, Global Exchange Coordinator, Bergen County Academies in New Jersey
  • Heather Singmaster, Assistant Director, Asia Society
  • Jennifer Manise, Executive Director, Longview Foundation
  • Kate Blosveren, Associate Executive Director, NASDCTEc
  • Steve DeWitt, Deputy Executive Director, ACTE

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Webinar: Building a Strong Relationship Between Competency-Based Pathways and CTE

October 20th, 2015

On November 5, 2015 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET, the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) and Achieve are co-hosting a webinar to highlight our recently released brief, “Building a Strong Relationship between Competency-Based Pathways and Career Technical Education.” This webinar will provide an overview of the many leverage points between Career Technical Education (CTE) and Competency-Based Pathways (CBP) to support states’ adoption and implementation of integrated CTE and CBP.

The webinar will also explore Connecticut’s and Oregon’s strategies for integrating CTE into their CBP and the opportunities and challenges faced along the way. This webinar is for anyone looking to learn more about CTE, CBP and their potential when implemented together.

Speakers will include:

  • Suzanne Vita Loud, Associate Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education
  • Tom Thompson, Education Specialist, Oregon Department of Education
  • Stephen DeWitt, Association for Career and Technical Education
  • Kate Blosveren, NASDCTEc
  • Alissa Peltzman, Achieve
  • Andrew Valent, Achieve

How to participate?
To add this meeting to your calendar, click here
To join the web conference, click here
Dial-In: 1-866-297-6395 Confirmation Number: 41021850

Katie Fitzgerald, Communications Associate 

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