The NRCCTE at ACTE 2008

Researchers from the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education participated in a number of activities and sessions at the ACTE 2008 Convention in Charlotte, NC, in addition to hosting a booth at the Career Tech Expo on Thursday, December 4th, and Friday, December 5th. Pre-conference activities included a Math-in-CTE "Jump-Start" initiative and a day-long NRCCTE colloquium.

Read about the Center's activities and download featured presentations here.

Various Center Researchers and Visiting Guests at ACTE 2008. From Slide 1: Heather Sass (SREB) and Pat Copeland (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools); Morgan Lewis (NRCCTE) and Mary Fudge, Math-in-CTE; Jennifer Sawyer (NRCCTE, second from right) talks to two visitors about the Math-in-CTE project, Morgan Lewis at far right; Pradeep Kotamraju (NRCCTE), Sharon Stone (University of Louisville), and Steve Klein (MPR Associates, Inc); Sandy Pritz (NOCTI) and a visitor at the NRCCTE booth; Jim Stone (NRCCTE), Ric Hernandez (OVAE), and Ivan Charner (AED).

Massachusetts test scores for CTE schools rise

Massachusetts's Salem News (12/4, Fraser) reported, "MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) scores for the 26 [CTE schools] have jumped 40 percent since 2001, and 6 of the 10 most improved high schools on the 2008 MCAS are, in fact, [CTE] schools. Statewide, [CTE] schools' graduation and MCAS pass rates both top state averages, and dropouts are less than half as frequent as in other public high schools." The News mentions "a number of reasons for this success. Research shows that the same skill level is required for entry-level career success as for college entrance. Today, trade manuals are written at up to a Grade 14 reading level. Math plays a large role in occupations like carpentry and automobile technology, and science expertise is needed for everything from metal fabrication to the agricultural fields." Reacting "to these findings, [CTE programs] upgraded their academic programs. The upgrades were undertaken soon after passage of the commonwealth's landmark 1993 Education Reform Act, which put high standards in place for all public school students."

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