Reminder: NASDCTEc’s Spring 2011 Meeting Registration Rates Set to Go Up After March 7

We have received many registrations for the Spring Meeting so far, and don’t want you to miss out on the best rates NOW, before they go up early next week.

UPDATED AGENDA: The program agenda is updated and we have included more time dedicated to programs Of study-  which, according to Secretary Duncan’s recent speech, is how good CTE is being defined. As Secretary Duncan remarked, career pathways now spelled out in the Rigorous Programs of Study initiative would span secondary and postsecondary education by design, and concentrate much more on high-demand, high-wage occupations.

As State Directors and State Leaders know, and Secretary Duncan shared in his speech “For all its importance, the role that CTE plays in building the nation’s economic vitality often gets overlooked. Too many educators assume that career and technical training is for the last century, not this one. Many reformers treat CTE as old school–rather than as a potential source of cutting-edge preparation for careers.”

Duncan is also aware of struggles CTE has: “To be fair, the uneven quality of career and technical education is one reason CTE fails to receive the attention it deserves. The shortcomings of the old vocational educational system are well-known. And unfortunately many of them persist today.” NASDCTEc is addressing this issue with new branding – hear about this at the spring meeting, and learn how to implement strategies in your home state.

At the national level, Duncan shares NASDCTEc’s vision to transform CTE. He discusses “our vision for transforming CTE … . But our goals are even more ambitious. In the new CTE we are working towards, all CTE programs would serve as viable and rigorous pathways to postsecondary and career success.”

If you haven’t already registered, do so now to participate in our annual Spring Meeting. The NASDCTEc Spring Meeting is a must-attend professional development experience in the nation’s capital. The main meeting will be held at the Marriott Washington Wardman Park Hotel Monday, April 18 through Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

Meeting information Register for the meeting and make your room reservations today.

This meeting will expose you to new ideas, provide time to work with your colleagues in small groups to develop ways to implement new marketing and branding strategies in your own state, and allow for valuable interaction with the leadership and staff of OVAE, as well as the leadership and staff of your national association.

 At this meeting, you will…

·         Hear about the new brand for NASDCTEc and CTE, and discuss how it can be implemented in your state,

·         Take a look at the legislative implications for CTE in the 112th Congress,

·         Hear updates from your fellow State Directors on Race to the Top and RPOS work going in their states,

·         Meet business and industry partners who will share effective ways to work together,

·         Share two minute roundups: a window into the work of your peers, and

·         Explore ways in which data can be used effectively to enhance CTE.

·         Agenda overview

 Registration Information: meals included in your registration fee include: two Continental Breakfasts, two lunches, and two afternoon breaks.

Registration Rates

o    Member on or before March 7, 2011: $425.00

o    Non-member on or before March 7, 2011: $600.00

o    Member after March 7, 2011: $525.00

o    Non-member after March 7, 2011: $700.00

o    REGISTER NOW!

 Hotel Information

The meeting will be held at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008. You can make your hotel reservations today in one of two ways:

RESERVE YOUR ROOM NOW at our special group reservations link  (preferred) or call 800-228-9290 or 202-328-2000 and request group name State Directors.

Please use one of these registration methods to be assured the special room rate of $181, plus applicable taxes. This rate is only available until March 23, 2011 or when our block fills – whichever comes first. So make your reservation today! At the time of your lodging reservation, you will be charged a first night’s deposit, guaranteed with a major credit card. Reservations may be cancelled up until 6 PM on day of arrival.  More about the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel:

·         Hotel Information and special group hotel reservation link

·         Directions to the hotel once you arrive in the area

·         Check in is 4 p.m./check out is Noon.

·         Parking: If you drive to hotel, please be aware that parking at the hotel costs $17 hourly, $32 daily for self parking; $37 daily for valet parking. Please note that the hotel does not provide shuttle service.

Travel to hotel: Save money by using Washington DC Metro’s Trip Planner to get to the hotel. It’s fast, easy and inexpensive. The Metro rail is just steps away from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan metro stop  about a 5 minute walk away.

We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC!
Call the NASDCTEc office if you have any questions at 301-588-9630.

The United Sates is making incremental gains in science and math on the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment but scores remain below the international average, according a report released this week. Experts reacting to the data say the progress is encouraging.

Highlights From PISA 2009: Performance of U.S. 15-Year-Old Students in Reading, Mathematics,

and Science Literacy in an International Context compares the academic performance of students across 34 industrialized countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. PISA is intended to illustrate how well students can apply their academic knowledge in the real world.

The United States has ranked near the middle among the OECD countries – a status that has fueled talks regarding academic standards and students’ ability to be globally completive. The nation’s improvements in science and math are notable bright spots given the shortages of qualified workers in fields that heavily involve those subjects. The nation ranks 17^th in science and 25^th in math.

In reading, the nation has remained stagnant in its performance and ranks 14^th.

With global competition on the mind of educators, economists and other stakeholders, it is clear that the latest PISA report will further fuel conversations about how the nation can best prepare students to lead our nation.