| Tech Prep Tuesday - February 28, 2006 |
(posted February 2006)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
February 28, 2006
Update on ATC Training at April P-16 Conference
From the state Tech Prep Director:
At the ATC (Advanced Technical Credit) Leadership Committee meeting last Friday it was decided that ATC Training (Parts I & II) will be provided at the April conference at no charge and will not require individuals who want the training to register for the conference.
Gulf Coast Education That Works will continue to conduct ATC pre-registration and will conduct an on-site ATC registration at the convention center as well.
All reference to ATC has been removed from the online conference registration form and a link directly to ATC registration and course selection has been added to both the P-16 SLC web site and to the web page that comes up when one accesses online registration from the P-16 web site.
Questions about ATC training may be directed to Kay Maignaud at 281-260-3563 or kay.maignaud@nhmccd.edu.
As mentioned in last week’s edition of Tech Prep Tuesday, funding may be available for travel to the conference and/or ATC training. Contact Sherry Hollinger at 254-298-8482 for details.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - February 21, 2006 |
(posted February 2006)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
February 21, 2006
Southwest Regional P-16 Conference: Partnering for Student Success – April 24-26, 2006
Funds are available for Consortium partners to attend the April Southwest Regional P-16 Conference: Partnering for Student Success. Requests for funding (up to $450) should be made on school/college letterhead and state how your attendance at the conference would benefit your Tech Prep programs and students. Funding will be on a reimbursement basis. Funding is limited, so please send your request as soon as possible. Contact Sherry Hollinger at 254.298.8482 for more information.
Following is an overview of the conference:
The conference is designed to bring together in a single venue innovative and effective programs, projects, and activities which promote student achievement and facilitate student transition from one level of public education to the next.
The conference venue includes the more than 900 Texas independent school districts that have high schools, the various campuses of Texas’ 50 community college districts, four technical colleges, and three state colleges, and representative of the 35 state-supported universities, with support from the 26 Tech Prep consortia in Texas.
Workshops and presentations will showcase proven methods of developing and establishing partnerships between public education and the private sector. Teaching and learning styles, curriculum development/enhancement, counseling, advising, recruiting, and retaining students are the focus of this unique event. Credit for licensed, professional counselors and for the professional development of classroom teachers will be awarded to eligible conference participants.
Texas educators are inviting colleagues in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana to join them in exploring and sharing strategies for creating partnerships which maximize student achievement, enhance the preparation of students for the future, and provide the opportunity for all students to pursue satisfying careers.
Staff development for the ATC (Advanced Technical Credit) program will be offered at the conference.
Please see the following website for the conference Preliminary Schedule: www.TexasP16slc.org.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - February 14, 2006 |
(posted February 2006)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
February 14, 2006
Career Clusters & Career Pathways
Following is an update from the CTAT Conference held recently in Austin:
• Texas is transitioning from CTE Programs to 16 clusters.
• A career cluster is a grouping of occupations according to common knowledge and skills for the purpose of organizing educational programs and curricula.
• A career pathway is a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career/technical courses, commencing in the ninth grade and leading to an associate degree, baccalaureate degree and beyond, an industry recognized certificate, and/or licensure. (Sounds like Tech Prep!)
• In 1999, the U.S. Department of Education created 16 broad career clusters to begin to address problems in American high schools such as the high dropout rate.
• In January of 2005, Texas Tech University was awarded a grant to coordinate the statewide transition to career clusters and pathways. Other universities involved include Texas A&M University, University of Houston, University of North Texas and University of Texas-Tyler.
• Others states have already launched successful ventures in this area. (See education websites for the states of Maryland, Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina and Alabama.)
• Career Clusters Transition Plan for Texas:
o 2006 State Conference
Initial promotion and marketing of career clusters and pathways.
Provide professional development to districts on statewide clusters initiative.
o 2007 State Conference
Promotion and marketing of individual career clusters and pathways.
Provide professional development to districts on statewide clusters initiative
o 2009/2010
Identify gaps in existing clusters and pathways and add new courses as needed.
Crosswalk cluster pathways to CTE instructional materials.
Transition PEIMS data codes/business rules to clusters.
Eliminate/redirect “old” courses when it is the appropriate time to refine and align TEKS.
Rationale for Career Clusters: Often, careers are treated as an interest area rather than emphasized. For students in the neglected majority, the focus of careers provides a valuable context in which they are better able to learn challenging concepts in academic areas. Career clusters are not a vehicle for tracking students or channeling them into narrow job training in high school. Rather, students are prepared with the social, academic, and employability skills that will provide for numerous postsecondary opportunities.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - January 24, 2006 |
(posted January 2006)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
January 24, 2006
P-16 Conference: Partnering for Student Success – April 24-26, 2006
Funds are available to Consortium partners to attend the April P-16 Conference: Partnering for Student Success. This conference will be a combination of the Seamless Transitions Conference and the Recruitment and Retention Conference and will this year encompass five states. Requests for funding should be made on school/college letterhead and state how attendance at the conference would benefit your school’s Tech Prep programs and students. Requests granted will be on a reimbursement basis. Up to $300 per person will be offered on a limited basis. Contact Sherry Hollinger at 254.298.8482 for more information.
ATC (Advanced Technical Credit) training will be offered at the conference. Please see the following website for details about the conference: www.TexasP16slc.org.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - January 10, 2006 |
(posted January 2006)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
January 10, 2006
Happy New Year!
New Staff Member
Please join the Central Texas Tech Prep staff in welcoming Carol Lance as fulltime Administrative Assistant for the Consortium! Carol can be reached by calling 254-298-8480 or by email at carol.lance@templejc.edu.
Articulation Meetings
In conjunction with the Consortium goal of assisting partners in updating and adding articulation agreements, we plan to schedule a series of meetings between high school teachers and college faculty members in the coming months. If you are interested in participating, please send us the following information to help us better plan:
Suggested dates between mid-February and early April
Dates to avoid due to holidays and testing
Subject area of interest
Please send suggestions to Sherry Hollinger at shollin@templejc.edu.
Counselors’ Network Workshop Opportunity
The Heart of Texas Tech Prep Consortium will sponsor a Seamless Transitions workshop on Thursday, January 26, 2006, at TSTC Waco. Counselors from the Central Texas area are invited to attend.
The agenda includes Eighth Grade Aptitude Testing, Graduation Plans Roundtable, and the New 16 Career Clusters. Following lunch, there will be an optional TSTC Waco tour. To receive a workshop flyer and registration form by fax or email, please call 254-298-8482 or 254-298-8480.
TEA Deadline Approaching for Innovative Courses
From TEA Correspondence at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/taa/curr010606.html:
“If you wish to submit an application for approval of a new innovative or magnet course to be taught Fall 2006, or an evaluation and/or application for renewal of a course that is currently approved, please submit your application and/or evaluation by February 16, 2006.”
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - December 5, 2005 |
(posted January 2006)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
December 5, 2005
CATEMA System Update
Career And Technology Education Management Application (CATEMA™) is a system that helps manage Tech-Prep information relating to courses, classes, school districts, high schools, teachers, counselors, college registrars, college advisors, and students.
The Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium is in its second year of using the CATEMA system. Seventeen school districts participated last year, and over 5,000 students were entered into the system. There were a few improvements made to the system this fall, but it is now ready for teachers and students to enter their classes. The Consortium is scheduling training for those districts interested in participating in CATEMA for the 2005-2006 school year, or to give “refresher” training to those who participated last year but might need a quick review of the system. If you would like to schedule training for your district please contact Misty Harrell at mharrell@templejc.edu.
CTAT Winter Conference
The CTAT Winter Texas Career Education Conference is scheduled for January 31-February 2, 2006, at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas. For more information, please visit the following website: http://www.ctat.org/ctat_winter%20conf_2005%202006.html
Happy Holidays from the Tech Prep Staff!
Sherry & Misty
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - November 15, 2005 |
(posted November 2005)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
November 15, 2005
News Items from Quarterly Tech Prep Directors’ Meeting Held November 9 & 10
Upcoming Conferences – Registration for the state conference, Partnering for Student Success: The P-16 Conference is set to begin the middle of this month. The website should be operational around Thanksgiving. It will combine the best of the Seamless Transitions and Recruitment and Retention conferences and is scheduled for April 24-26, 2006, at the Austin Convention Center. Additional information will be featured in later additions of this newsletter. The National Tech Prep Network Annual Conference will be in Texas next year! Scheduled for November 1-4, the conference will be at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Dallas.
GO Center/Campaign – Full-time specialists have been hired to work in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio and South Texas areas. Eight part-time field specialists will cover the rest of the state and should be in place in early 2006.
Perkins Update – Although the joint congressional committee has not yet been appointed, legislative aides have been meeting regarding the Perkins bill. If a vote takes place soon, the new Perkins law would take effect September 2007. Several federal programs may be eliminated, but currently it appears that the main part of Perkins will remain intact.
Test Prep Resources – Two new free resources are available to Texas students. One is TOPCAT – Texas Online Preparation for College Admissions Tests. Developed with joint funding from TEA and THECB, the program features test preparation for the ACT, SAT and GRE. The website is http://testprep.collegefortexans.com. The other standardized test prep resource is from the Army and is called March 2 Success. The website is www.march2success.com.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - November 8, 2005 |
(posted November 2005)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
November 8, 2005
Tech Prep Subgrants – Requests for Proposals
The Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium will be awarding a limited number of subgrants to participating institutions on a competitive basis, with a total of $50,000 in funds available for 2005-2006 (FY 2006). Projects involving the creation/updating of articulation agreements and six year plans and projects supporting the CATEMA system will receive extra points in the evaluation process.
An application package was sent last week to the primary contact at each ISD and college. First round of applications must be received in the Consortium office by 12:00 Noon, November 30, 2005.
Central Texas Counselors’ Workshop – Seamless Transitions - November 16, 2005
The Texas Counselors’ Network and the Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium will sponsor a workshop for the Central Texas Counselors’ Network on Wednesday, November 16, at Temple College beginning at 8:00 AM. Programs to be featured include “Interacting with your Future”, “I’m Going to College”, “College Connection”, Special Support Services and Disabilities Services at Temple College, “Central Texas Technology Two Step”, Tech Prep, and the “Texas Two Step”. An update on area Advanced Technology Centers and the Bioscience Institute also will be presented.
There is no charge for the workshop, but registration by November 14 is required. A continental breakfast will be included.
To register, go to the Consortium website at www.centraltexastechprep.com. Click on Teacher Training, Register online, complete the form and then click on Sign me up. Call Sherry Hollinger at 254-298-8482 for more information.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - November 1, 2005 |
(posted November 2005)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
November 1, 2005
Central Texas Counselors’ Network Workshop – Seamless Transitions
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Temple College
Arnold Student Union – Leopard Room
8:00 – 11:30 AM
No fee – Continental Breakfast Included
Please join the Central Texas Counselors’ Network for an informative workshop featuring programs that assist students in transitioning from one level of education to another and programs which encourage students to attend college. Attendees also will hear an update for the Advanced Technology Centers for this area. Continental breakfast and networking activities will begin at 8:00 AM. The workshop is free but registration is required by November 14.
Area school district counselors, CATE directors and college advisors are encouraged to attend.
The workshop is sponsored by the Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium and the Texas Counselors’ Network.
To register, complete the attached form or register online through the Consortium website:
Go to www.centraltexastechprep.com
Click on Teacher Training
Register Online
Click on Sign me up!
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - October 25, 2005 |
(posted October 2005)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
October 25, 2005
Counselors’ Network Workshop – “Seamless Transitions”
The Consortium will sponsor a workshop for the Central Texas Counselors’ Network on Wednesday, November 16, 2005, at Temple College. The workshop will feature programs that assist students in transitioning from one level of education to another.
The workshop will be in the Leopard Room of the Arnold Student Union building from 8:30 – 11:30 AM. Registration information will be available later this week. For further information, please contact Sherry Hollinger at 254.298.8482 or email shollin@templejc.edu.
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