On November 18, more than 85 superintendents, high school principals, school counselors, business leaders and BOCES staff attended the sixth annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) alignment meeting hosted by Questar III BOCES.
The group met at Questar III’s Conference Center in Castleton to design meaningful grade 9-12 career pathway for students in four diverse career areas including:
- Alternative Energy
- Health Occupations
- Media Communication
- Engineering
During the meeting, attendees broke into four smaller groups for facilitated discussions focusing on one career area. The conversations identified how to better prepare students to be successful, and what district counselors and teachers needed to do to develop and implement the pathway for students.
Questar III Assistant Superintendent Andy DeFeo said this annual meeting has been used effectively to implement changes in CTE programs that allow the BOCES and school districts better serve student needs.
“We have worked hard and you are the driving force behind our programs. Proof that pathways work is seen in increased student attendance, retention, and technical endorsements. The challenge is providing articulated and aligned experiences for students so they are college ready,” said DeFeo.
Questar III Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Superintendent Gladys Cruz provided an update on the NYS Board of Regents plan to provide multiple pathways to increase graduation rates and college and career readiness.
The new plan provides for a “4+1” graduation option through which students can take four Regents exams (ELA, math, science and social studies) and select a comparably rigorous exam in one of the following areas: career and technical education; science, technology; engineering and mathematics (STEM); the arts; bi-literacy or the humanities. Currently, students must take five Regents exams to graduate, including two social studies exams. Under the plan, students could replace one of these social studies exams with an SED-approved assessment.
Cruz said the plan would enhance BOCES Aid and expand access to P-TECH Schools.
Questar III Career Development Specialist Ted Hennessy also provided a statistical breakdown by school district of graduate success.
For more information please visit https://old.questar.org/education/career-tech-ed/index.php. Each program has a fact sheet listing high school and college credit available, curriculum and materials used, courses recommended to take before enrollment, and a video.
