CTSOs: The Key to
Unlocking Student Potential
Reno Palombit, NBCT
Family & Consumer Sciences Education Consultant
Division of Career & Technical Education
NC Department of Public Instruction
Part I
What are Career &
Technical Student
Organizations?
Fill-in-the-blank
“Career & Technical Education is
all about __________!”
Design 101: The Elements
Design 101: The Principles
Design 101: The Result
Design 101: The Result
Career & Technical
Education: The Elements
Career & Technical
Education: The Principles
CTSO and The Law
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006, U.S.C. § 250
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘career and technical student organization’
means an organization for individuals enrolled in a career and technical
education program that engages in career and technical education
activities as an integral part of the instructional program”
“PERMISSIVE.—Funds made available to an eligible recipient under this
title may be used [to] support for career and technical student
organizations, especially with respect to efforts to increase the
participation of students who are members of special populations”
PRC 014 (Support)
•
•
•
•
•
Substitutes for advisors
Travel/subsistence/registration for advisors
Student transportation
CTSO instruction-related supplies/materials
National CTSO competition
PRC 017 (Improvement)
•
•
•
•
Substitutes for advisors
Travel/subsistence/registration for advisors
CTSO instruction-related supplies/materials
National CTSO competition
Activity: CTSO-Program
Area Match Up
14 volunteers needed to find their “partner”
Audience members can help if called upon
Part II
Why support
CTSOs?
Aligned to Standards
Enhances Teaching & Learning
• Business partnerships
• Competitive events =
hands-on, project-based
learning
• Educator resources
• Work-based learning
programs
State and National Leadership and
Career Development Conferences
Student Achievement
•
•
•
•
•
•
Small learning communities
Experiential learning activities
Rigor and relevance
Diverse activities
Strong business partnerships
Advisor professional
development
Gateway to Career Pathways
• Links secondary and
postsecondary
• Strong partnerships with
employers
• Career exploration
• Knowledge and skill
development
Benefits to Schools
• Engages students in school
• Facilitates partnerships between school and business
community
• Application of core studies, cross-curricular
connections
• Connects school to life
• Builds community support for schools
• Workforce development
• Supports school activities and initiatives
• Showcases classroom learning in the community
• Builds support systems for students
What Administrators are Saying
“FFA activities are an evaluated portion of the
educational program. The positive attributes of
FFA and their many activities, including CDEs,
are extremely important to the national goal of
‘No Child Left Behind.’ When used correctly,
CDEs, conventions and other FFA activities
provide the incentive for students to have better
grades, positive behavior and to develop into
educated, well-rounded young adults.”
Van Smith, Principal
Billingsley High School
What Administrators are Saying
“…students are interested in CTSOs and they
enjoy the competition. [Administrators] need to
give the kids more opportunities to put into
action what they learn in the classroom.”
Dr. John Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia Department of Education
Part III
Is just having a
chapter enough?
Looking Inside the Black Box: The Value Added by
CTSOs to Students’ High School Experience
“…we did find evidence that the benefits of CTSOs can be
enhanced the more a student participates, and the effects for
academic engagement are particularly strong”
“…positive outcomes for individual students could be enhanced
by participating in CTSOs at high levels, particularly in
competitive events, which we found to have effects on the most
outcomes.”
CTSO Program of Work
“The heart of SkillsUSA is the program of
work or what your chapter is going to do.
It is the activities and projects—the plan
of action—that your chapter will carry out
during the school year.”
Core Component:
Leadership Development
Core Component:
Professional Development
Core Component:
Competitive Events
Core Component:
Community Service
Auxiliary Components
• Ways and means
• Public relations
• Social activities
Activity: Program of
Work Evaluation
Work with a partner to evaluate a CTSO
Chapter’s Program of Work.
-What are the strengths and weaknesses?
-What are the opportunities and threats?
Part IV
How can you support CTSOs?
Supporting CTSOs
• Ask questions
– “Why don’t we have a chapter?”
– “Are any of our students competing this year?”
– “May I see your program of work?”
• Set the expectation
• Make it part of your program and teacher
evaluation
Supporting CTSOs
•
•
•
•
Advocate for CTE and CTSOs
Provide funding when possible
Attend CTSO events
Promote opportunities for advisers and
students
• Offer your assistance
• Judge competitive events
Activity: Teacher
Evaluation Rubric and
the CTSO Adviser
Work in teams to analyze your assigned
standard for opportunities where a CTE
teacher may use CTSOs to meet standard.
Be prepared to report out to the group
Thank you!
Reno A. Palombit, NBCT
Family & Consumer Sciences Education Consultant
Division of Career & Technical Education
NC Department of Public Instruction
Reno.Palombit@dpi.nc.gov
(919) 807-3904