Preparing Career Ready Graduates

1/20/2009 - CART High School

Commission Members in Attendance: Randy Delenikos, Jesus Olaguez, Chris Gage, Bryan Gudgel, Yvonne Freve, Joel Rabin (staff), Richard Keyes, Sandy Cha, Tony Valtierra, Cori Winn, Manjit Atwal(staff), Tracewell Hanrahan

Work group members shared their feedback on the CART model. There was consensus in the room that this model is working extremely well and in a perfect world each high school would have such a model in place. There was discussion around the difficulty of replicating such a model at every high school due to the amount of financial (specifically human) resources required. Questions raised during the conversation were:

1. What are the key factors of success for CART that can be translated to every high school?
2. How do you prepare education to have a CART mentality?
3. Since CART has been in existence for 9 years, have they tracked graduates, to see where they are today?

These questions lead to a discussion around project based learning in order to prepare career ready graduates. The group conferred that some format should be recommended. There has to be relevance to what students are learning. At the same time there has to be a uniform system (with minimum standards allowing for flexibility and individuality) from school to school. Expectations need to be set for students, parents, community, teachers and administrators.

The group felt it was important for community and business engagement but it had to be well-organized and an efficient process. There has to be policies and procedures and a structure for volunteering.

Some commissioners explained that FUSD, as an organization, needs to regain trust and respect from the community in order to get more involvement from business and community at large.

Possible Engagment Requirements

• Career Awareness/Education
• Minimum of 6 major events per school year – pre-planned and communicated for later review & assessment of achievement
• Must be targeted to entire student body; additional events and/or specific further meetings also encouraged (such as career clubs for a range of jobs: Medical, Marketing, Engineering, Accounting, etc.)
• FUSD to provide resources, training, support for teachers (separate commission to assist FUSD with suggestions, materials, etc.)
• Activities such as career fair (with local businesses), parents coming to class to share their jobs, resume writing assignments, poster contest for recruiting, research & write papers on desired career path, role-play a day at desired job, field trips to businesses, community outreach, etc.
• Presentation of career paths (service, technical, executive, mid-management, production, sales, etc.) – Broad range of options, not just college-directed.  Use of school bulletins, hand-outs, posters, assemblies, etc.
• In-school and after-school activities (to involve parents, businesses, community, etc.)

• Career Aptitude Testing
• Annual assessment of student desires, skills, aptitude, etc.  Begin this as soon as possible (3^rd grade, for example?)
• Annual counselor review (career-focus, earnings/lifestyle expectations vs. educational progress)
• Annual educational review of skills to achieve career choice

• Project-Based Challenges
• Required at least 3-5 times per school year
• Individual and group activities
• Short and long-term assignments, requiring immediate response and planned/sustained activity.  Tap into most/all phases of BASIC Skills.

Principals/teachers to submit written strategies for each school year; annual assessment of achievement/success/adjustment.

Next Meeting:

Date: Monday January 26, 2009

Time: 7:00 a.m.

Location: United Way of Fresno County 4949 East Kings Canyon Road   Fresno, CA 93727-3812 Telephone: (559) 244-5710