CTE Related Items from May 2011 NYS Board of Regents Meeting Earning Additional Course Credit through Integrated CTE Courses The Board discussed staff recommendations to provide additional integrated options in grades 9-10, where currently most BOCES districts offer CTE courses in middle-level and grades 1112. Specific career pathways available in grades 11-12 in approved CTE programs could be expanded downward to reflect specific academic and technical skill sets necessary to provide the foundational content knowledge needed for success in college and careers. The Board discussed a multi-year phase-in approach with the option for some districts to begin as early as the 2011-12 school year, by identifying existing CTE courses at the high school level that have the potential for integrated academic enhancement. Staff will begin to further develop the implementation plan and come back to a future meeting to update the Regents. For more information, see the Regents item on Earning Additional Course Credit through Integrated CTE Courses. Career and Technical Education Approval Process The Board discussed the Regents-approved CTE policy permitting students to earn up to one unit each of required credit in English, science, and mathematics, and the combined unit of economics and government through integrated CTE courses in approved CTE programs. This allows students to pursue career and technical education through coursework that also offers credit for commencement-level academic skills and content. Department staff will review the existing Regents CTE policy to identify ways to expand access to high-quality CTE programs. Staff will return to the Regents at a future date with considerations for policy decisions. See the Regents item on the Career and Technical Education Approval Process for more information. Graduation Rate Reporting The Board discussed several approaches to developing valid and rigorous aspirational performance standards that are aligned with college and career readiness. Among the approaches discussed were the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, the ELA/Math Aspirational Performance Measure and using additional course and achievement differentiation for Math. Since fewer students pursue advanced math courses, the latter approach will need further development. In the next few weeks, the Department will release the graduation rate for students who entered grade 9 in the 2006-07 school year. This release will make clear the percentage of students in the cohort – by school and district – that met the following aspirational performance standards discussed in the meeting (which can be viewed as possible indicators of potential postsecondary success): Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation and the ELA/Math Aspirational Performance Measure. Please see the Regents item on Graduation Rates for more information. CTE Panel Presentation - Academic Integration in Approved CTE Programs Panel Members: o David Arntsen, Career and Technical Education Director, Madison-Oneida BOCES o Ms. Gene Silverman, Executive Director, Department of Career and Technical Education, Nassau BOCES o James Weimer, Principal, Emerson High School of Hospitality, Buffalo City Schools o Shirley Ware, Career and Technical Education Teacher, North Syracuse Central School District The panel presented overviews of their programs and answered questions relating to how academic integration is operationalized in their CTE approved programs. The discussion focused on current options for students to earn academic credit through integrated CTE coursework and how integrated CTE coursework improves student learning and achievement. See the Regents item on Integrated Academic Credit in Approved CTE Programs for more information.