News

Report on the State Board of Education Meeting - March 2008

The State Board of Education met on March 19 and 20 in Harrisburg. Several items of interest to PACTA members were on the agenda. The Board approved the Perkins IV State Plan including the funding guidelines. The Plan will now be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for approval. The Board also approved a final version of the 339 Standards with several technical corrections. The 339 Standards are now at the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for final approval. You can review the final form Standards by going to IRRC's website at: www.irrc.state.pa.us The Board also approved Chapter 16, Special Education for Gifted Students.

Report of the State Director

Below is the report of Dr. Lee Burket, Director of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education, to the State Board for Vocational Education.

High Performing Career and Technical Centers

Working with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, a high performing career and technical center recognition program has been designed and released. The High Performing CTC standards were developed to reflect the Governors efforts to improve Pennsylvanias preK-16 education system and develop an economy supportive of innovation. The standards will be used to evaluate applications from each of the 86 Pennsylvania career and technical centers. A panel of experts will review each application and assign a score that reflects the information provided in the application and visit selected CTCs. The panel is comprised of representatives from the Pennsylvania Departments of Labor and Industry and Education and the State Workforce Investment Board. Individuals serving on the panel will have knowledge and skills in the area of workforce development and preK-12 educational systems. Schools receiving scores within the range of 26 to 39 will be selected for visitation by May 30, 2008. Final selection of the High Performing CTC Recognition will be based both on the application and interviews conducted during the CTC visits.

The application review process examines in detail the impact, support and importance of the career and technical education programs to students, business, industry, educational staff and the community. The written application is a self-assessment completed by the career and technical center; the visit is conducted by the panel of experts who will review supporting documentation for the application and conduct interviews.

Program Approval

Approved Program Evaluations - 13 evaluations have been completed and 18 are scheduled between now and May 8, 2008. A meeting was held with Pittsburgh SD administration and teachers Feb 21-22, 2008. The meeting included a request to update the district on the status of their currently approved programs to discuss the evaluation scheduled for next school year.

The Bureau has identified the schools to visit next year. Both Philadelphia School District and Pittsburgh School District will be visited. All career and technical center buildings in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will be visited.

All school districts with approved career and technical education programs have received a self-assessment. The self-assessments are being returned. Many of the school districts do not understand the regulations associated with career and technical education and the completed self-assessment evidences this lack of understanding. A staff member is providing technical assistance to the school districts. The overall goal is to ensure the school districts are fully aware of all of the compliance issues related to offering an approved program.

BCTE is following up with previously visited career and technical centers and school districts to ensure they have taken action on the corrective action plans. A number of districts have completed the actions they identified on the corrective action plan. Other districts have not taken steps to come into compliance. Discussion is being held on withholding approval of those sites that have not taken steps to comply with regulation.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh School Districts

BCTE continues to provide on-site technical assistance to the two largest urban school districts in the state. The focus of the assistance is to provide guidance in meeting the requirements of Chapter 339 and Perkins IV regulations. Each district is in the process of reforming CTE and is developing different delivery models.

Perkins IV State Plan

The purpose of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) is to develop more fully the academic and career and technical skills of secondary education students and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs. The Perkins Five Year State Plan has been submitted for review and consideration for approval by the State Board of Vocational Education. Once approved, the State Plan will be submitted to the United States Department of Education (USDE). The deadline for submission to USDE is April 1, 2008.

Civil Rights

Six of the 11 reviews required for the 2007-08 school year have been conducted. Staff continues to visit school entities to ensure all individuals are provided access to education. On-site reviews are conducted to ensure that sub-recipients are in full compliance with Office of Civil Rights guidelines. Recipients of federal financial assistance, including postsecondary institutions, must comply with the Title VI, Section 504 and Title IX implementing regulations. The Title IX implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R.' 106.8 (a) require that each recipient designate at least one employee to coordinator its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under each of these Titles. On-site reviews may consist of investigating complaints communicated to the recipient alleging noncompliance with Title IX. Section 106.8(a) also requires the recipient to notify all students and employees of the title, address, and telephone number of the designated coordinator. Section 106.8(b) requires that each recipient adopt and publish grievance procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints under Title IX. Section 106.9 requires that the nondiscrimination notice be displayed prominently in each announcement, bulletin, catalog, school's website or application form used in connection with recruitment of students or employees. During on-site reviews, PDE staff reviews all of these materials.

A staff member will attend a national Methods of Administration (MOA) conference in April and discuss these regulations, guidelines and compliance with other civil rights coordinators.

New Choices-Single Parents and Displaced Homemakers

The purpose of the New Choices program is to provide services to single parent/displaced homemaker across the Commonwealth enabling them to pursue careers leading to high-demand occupations or those paying family-sustaining wages, and achieve economic independence. Projects were required to increase the number of hours of service from 60 to 100. Each project was given the latitude to offer the curriculum in a form that best serves the participants in their area. They establish the number of hours participants are required to meet as a group. The remaining hours could be self-directed in activities such as adult education, wellness, and use of career exploration software.

New Options-Nontraditional

The purpose of New Options is to provide services to nontraditional participants across the Commonwealth enabling them to pursue careers leading to high-demand occupations or those paying family-sustaining wages, and achieve economic independence. Training is to be provided by partner institutions. The PA CareerLink is the states system of one-stop employment information and assistance centers. Many of the workforce programs and services are integrated into the PA CareerLinks. Each recipient of funding for the New Choices/New Options programs is to coordinate activities with a CareerLink. The projects are expected to promote nontraditional career exploration as part of their curriculum. The state president for the steel workers and representatives of unions were presenters at the New Choices/New Options winter in-service. Project directors are encouraged to provide services to secondary teen parents and Skills USA students. The state office alerts directors to other initiatives in their area such as PA Construction Career Day in Centre County, GETT at Chester IU, and applicable webinars.

Accreditation

Clearfield County Career and Technology Center had their accreditation site review on December 20th and 21st. A training session was held with the review team on December 19th at CCCTC to review the standards, guidelines, procedures and schedule. A team of 9 reviewers reviewed documentation and conducted interviews referencing answers given in CCCTCs accreditation self-study. A review of the findings was presented to CCCTC. The IAAG reviewed the final report and voted on recommending to the State Board for Vocational Education to grant CCCTC accreditation status. The IAAG meeting was held February 14, 2008.

The following schools will be sending in their self-study for review by PDE in spring of 2008:

  • Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
  • Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center
  • Indiana Career and Technology Center
Industry Partnerships

BCTE staff is working in collaboration with PA Partners regarding their annual Symposium in May. The theme for the symposium is Leading the Way in the Global Economy. BCTE will provide a number of workshops and assist with the symposium in general. Each year the BCTE identifies a business education partnership that exemplifies how career and technical education centers and businesses can work together to make a difference in the workforce and students' lives.

The Bureau, PA Workforce Investment Board (WIB), PA Association for Career and Technical Administrators and PA Partners are jointly developing a survey. The survey will be used to better understand the relationship between local WIBs and career and technical centers (CTCs). Information collected will inform BCTEs strategic planning efforts as well as make quality improvements on the overall connection and alignment of efforts among the WIB and CTC.

Nurse Aide Training

New guidelines for completing FBI checks are being implemented. The new guidelines for FBI checks, as developed by the State Police include: State Police will only process fingerprints for individuals who (a) make an appointment, and (b) reside within their municipality. All other applicants for nurse aide training are directed to go their local police station for fingerprint processing. The person is advised to make an appointment and be prepared to pay an additional processing fee to the local police department.

PDE staff and PSU/Greater Allegheny continue to plan for the April 16th Teleconference. The topic of the teleconference is Culture Competency. The benefits of this teleconference workshop for instructors of nurse aide training. There are 13 downlink sites across the Commonwealth. The topic will focus recognition of the different needs, values, expectations, beliefs and cultural behaviors among healthcare providers and residents/clients. Participants will: (a) Explore the healthcare providers personal identity as it relates to diversity and culture, (b) Define diversity, culture and cultural competence, (c) Define micro-inequities, (d) Relate micro-inequities to cultural competence in health care. (e) Examine the impact of cultural competence in delivery of quality services to a diverse population, (f) Discuss healthcare provider role in developing a culturally competent workplace.

Pennsylvania NOYS (National Organizations for Youth Safety)

Pennsylvania is one of two pilot states for developing a collaboration of groups invested in youth safety. Sue Fisher, PA FCCLA State Facilitator, and Felicity DeBacco-Erni, PA SADD spearheaded the inception of the plan and organized the first meeting. At the first meeting nine groups met to brainstorm and plan how to work together in Pennsylvania. One of the outcomes is to establish an e- newsletter to share with the others. They will develop an Idea-Day where safety professionals come together to talk about their programs and network with other professionals. They have established a goal to conduct a summit of professionals who will discuss and develop strategies for addressing injury prevention for 2009. Agencies represented include: Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Pennsylvania SADD, Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania Department of Health- Violence and Injury Prevention and Program, America Trauma Association-Pennsylvania Division, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Highmark.

PACTEC (PA Career and Technical Education Conference)

The PACTEC will be held at the Host Conference Center in Lancaster from June 23-25, 2008. This years Conference will offer opportunities for teachers to update their technical skills and industry certifications. The conference planners expanded on technical updating for secondary and postsecondary teachers. Conference participants will have an opportunity to network with other educators and industry professionals, visit with a variety of commercial and educational exhibitors, and participate in a concurrent sessions covering a variety of topics from curriculum, to special needs, to special state initiatives.

2008 PA DECA State Career Development Conference

This conference was held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on February 27-29, 2008. This conference was largest state Distributive Education Clubs of America conference ever held. A total of 1,414 participants; 1,269 students, 145 advisors/chaperones, and 54 chapters were represented. This conference provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in various skills events. In addition to receiving awards, 33 scholarships were awarded for a total of $28,750. Students had the opportunity to participate in 44 different skills demonstration events. Individuals receiving awards will have the opportunity to participate in national/international events. The DECA ICDC (International Career Development Conference will held on April 25-30 in Atlanta, GA.

  • Awards given for the top 6 places in 18 individual and team events, top 4 places are eligible to participate in the national/international DECA conference.
  • Awards given for the top 6 places in 18 written (research manuals) events, top 3 places are eligible to participate in the national/international DECA conference.
  • Awards given for the top 6 places in 8 'state only' events

The winners of the 'state only' events are not eligible to compete in the ICDC because these events are not part of the ICDC. The national/international conference is one in the same. It became known as the 'international' conference when Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and recently, Germany started DECA chapters.