Creating Career Academies

A HOW TO GUIDE

Strength of Programming Adds another dimension to senior year Students earn high school and college credit Financial gain for community college and high

school (dual credit) Strengthens career awareness opportunities; learn

job related skills Adds value to business

(responsive to workforce development and community involvement)

Career Academies Definition

Career Academies are a defined sequence of studies offered to high school students through an agreement or contract between their high school and a community college.

Bettendorf High School Career Academies

Business Education Engineering Health Occupations Hospitality Logistics Transportation

Technologies

Career Academy Requirements Articulate two years of secondary education with an associate degree

program, which may include a diploma or certificate Ensure that the secondary and post-secondary components of the

career preparatory program are non-duplicative Identify a sequential course of study Delineate skill standards specific to the industry Integrate academic and technical instruction featuring student

presentations Utilize work based learning Utilize work site learning where appropriate and available Lead to an associate degree in a high skill and rewarding career field Provide for an individual career planning process, with parent or

guardian involvement Include articulation of a community college associate degree or, if

possible, a baccalaureate degree

Vocational, Career and Technical Program Approval

The career academy program of study shall include both secondary and post-secondary curriculum

A career academy program must meet requirements of the department of education.

The career academy must be an articulated program of study between secondary and postsecondary institutions.

Contract or Agreement The career academy program of study must receive school

district board and community college board approval. A contract (in Iowa 28E agreement) between the boards of

a school district and community college must be signed by participating parties and be in effect prior to initiation of a career academy.

The contract between the boards of the school district and the community college must set forth the purposes, powers, rights, objectives, and responsibilities the contracting parties and must specify assurances that the career academy program of study.

Essential Elements of Contract: The duration of course The purpose and the method to assess effectiveness The manner of financing and the budget The process of termination of program The manner of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and

personal property Provision of an administrator or a joint board responsible

* The school district board and community college board must approve the contract. An assurance form shall be sent to the director of the department of education.

Logistics

Include: Student learner information Assessment information Credit information and verification Transportation Safety/Training Instruction- who is responsible Communication Signatures 

Faculty Requirements Faculty providing college credit

instruction in a career academy program of study must:

meet community college faculty minimum standards and

meet the requirements of the quality faculty plan as approved by the community college board.

Credit Options

School districts may elect to offer high school credit for college credit courses within a career academy program.

The career academy program of study shall be designed so that a student who utilizes the program will graduate from high school with the class in which the student was enrolled.

Data Collection Data collection and enrollment

reporting must follow specified requirements as determined by the department of education.

Data should consider impact dual credit courses has student retention and career education

Application Process

Develop marketing materials

Meet with Counselors

Class meetings

Hand out applications

Applications due

Registration Essay Review

Nov. Dec Feb March Feb

Student Selection

Late March

Components to Developing a Career Academy

Determine the level of interest and need in your community

Look at job outlook and training programs Investigate current offerings at high school

and community college Determine if there is a strong business(s)

partner in your community to represent the field

Steps to Development of a Career Academy Choose the course to develop Get input from post-secondary institution Get permission and support from administration/school board Market the concept to the business (get buy-in from a

“champion” business representative) Get permission and support from business CEO Choose the “legwork” person from the company (should be

someone that has some clout in the company and is respected)

Establish timeline for planning

Steps to Development of a Career Academy (cont….) Establish calendar dates, location, instructor Bring high school and college instructors together with

local business representative –Curriculum Development (pre-requisites, high school offerings, industry skills and standards, what is currently offered at post-secondary institution)

Classroom Curriculum Industry Requirements (hands-on responsibilities)

Roles and Responsibilities Students Teacher Industry Mentors

Market the Academies

Newspaper articles Web-site Course descriptions in catalog Guidance meetings Classroom presentations Video

Questions?Feel free to contact us with questions

(563) 332-7001

Jimmy Casas, Principal Bettendorf High School

jcasas@bettendorf.k12.ia.us

Joy Kelly, Associate Principal Bettendorf High School

jkelly@bettendorf.k12.ia.us