ACTE PACE Summit 2024

Join us as we explore how simple modifications can foster a more dynamic and inclusive learning environment where every student has the opportunity to excel. In this presentation, we will explore the seamless integration of Competency-Based Education (CBE) principles into a lock-step class structure. By marrying the flexibility of CBE with the structure of a lock-step course, we offer students the chance to remain in the formative phase until they demonstrate proficiency. Our focus will be on practical strategies to adapt assignment prompts, rubrics, and grading methods to ensure students acquire targeted skills effectively. These adjustments empower students to progress at their own pace while maintaining the integrity of the course framework. Together, let us shape a technical education that is not only rigorous but also responsive to individual learning needs.

Discover how educational leaders across the US use creative approaches including AI, AR, and VR to engage and inspire students. This session will highlight how students at State Fair Community College research, learn, and experience a variety of concepts and the associated career pathways in STEM, Health Science, Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Science, Transportation and more. Based on this exploration, students are able to develop plans for post-secondary study and/or earn valuable certifications.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the AI/AR/VR landscape and its role in supporting STEM curriculum and CTE certifications
- Discover clinical evidence supporting learning gains through learning with AR/VR
- Consider funding sources for the integration of new technology

In July 2023, the 1.2 million people incarcerated in prisons across the U.S may now be eligible for Pell grants. This is a historic moment for colleges to increase the number of postsecondary education programs offered in prisons and reimagine career pathways for learners who are incarcerated by implementing CTE programs that lead to quality jobs. Research shows that people who participate in CTE in prison improved their odds of post-release employment by 12% and reduced their odds of recidivism by 16%. This workshop will highlight promising practices emerging from Jobs for the Futures’ Postsecondary Education in Prison CTE Accelerator Network, a community of practice that pairs colleges with subject matter experts to develop, adapt, and scale quality, credit-bearing CTE programs in prison. Workshop attendees will hear from one network member, the Director of Prison Education at Amarillo College, who will share how they implemented an Intermediate Diesel Mechanic Certificate Program in a state prison facility. After the workshop, participants will understand the importance of providing CTE options for people who are incarcerated; familiar challenges faced when implementing CTE programs in prison; and viable solutions and critical actions for success, including partnership and learner engagement and creative funding strategies.

The importance of retaining skilled and effective administrators cannot be overstated in higher education institutions. The retention of senior leaders within an organization is crucial for its stability, growth, and long-term success. Administrators play a vital role in shaping campus culture, fostering a supportive environment, and advancing the institution's goals. However, the responsibility for their retention should not solely rest on the shoulders of top-level administrators or human resources departments. It is a collective responsibility that extends to the entire campus community, including faculty, staff, and support personnel. This presentation explores the critical role that overall campus employees play in ensuring the successful retention of administrators. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all stakeholders in creating an environment that supports those in senior leadership positions and encourages their long-term commitment to the institution. By understanding their shared responsibility, employees can actively contribute to retention efforts, fostering a culture of support, collaboration, and professional growth. The concept of shared responsibility for retention could be viewed as an innovative approach in itself. It broadens the traditional view of retention being solely an HR or top-level administration issue and instead promotes a culture of support and collaboration across all levels of the institution.

This session will enlighten participants about the significance of CPL in education. Attendees will learn how CPL acknowledges, and rewards knowledge and skills acquired through non-traditional avenues like work experience and self-directed study. Key topics include the principles and practices of CPL, its benefits for learners and institutions, best practices, and challenges. Participants will gain insights into designing, implementing, and evaluating CPL programs, fostering stakeholder collaboration. By reducing time to degree completion and lowering costs, CPL enhances workforce readiness and promotes lifelong learning. Through case studies and discussions, attendees will understand how CPL aligns with institutional access and equity goals. The session's impact on the field of education will be profound. It will empower educators, administrators, and policymakers to embrace CPL as a tool for educational attainment and social mobility. By catalyzing innovation and collaboration, the presentation will enhance the accessibility, affordability, and relevance of higher education.

For many students, exposure to postsecondary career pathways that can lead to a living wage is not happening until senior year in high school. They need more effective support along the work-based learning continuum, at a much earlier stage, so they can make informed decisions about their future. Four leaders at the intersection of education and workforce development delve into some of the innovations and promising programs they have been involved with, to provide students with earlier and more hands-on practice across the construction trades, healthcare, and IT industries. They will discuss a summer immersive CTE experience at Microsoft that amplifies career exploration; workshops for students interested in Propel America’s accelerated postsecondary training program in allied health; the Chicago Public Schools' innovative Health Science Pathway; and CPS’ approach to broadening understanding among school counselors and students about construction trade pathways. They will share insights from the perspectives of students, teachers and counselors, district leaders, and employers, about the need for deeper engagement with career opportunities; the importance of cultivating employer partnerships across industries; preparing for the emergence of AI; and broader recognition of persistent obstacles. Lastly, they will share recommendations on policy changes to improve postsecondary CTE outcomes.

Have you noticed students falling behind, disengaging, and checking out of your class and their learning? Come participate in a Gallery Walk of strategies to keep students engaged and active in their own success. Participants will explore ten diverse mindsets and strategies to promote student well-being and self-advocacy. Focusing on curiosity and student agency, in this session, you will be actively engaged in directing your own exploration and contributions to the strategies being shared. Participants will leave with an aspirational vision of how to foster a sense of well-being for ALL students, a plan for prioritizing their own self-care (you have to secure your own mask before helping others!), and a toolkit of resources, including those gathered by the presenters as well as those shared by attendees in the session.

In recent years, the importance of providing education and training opportunities to incarcerated individuals has been increasingly recognized as a key strategy for reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry into society. This presentation will explore the crucial role of career and technical education (CTE) for justice-involved populations, both within correctional facilities and in community settings. By examining innovative strategies and hands-on activities, this session aims to equip participants with practical insights to support the reintegration of justice-involved individuals through education and skill development. Emphasis will be placed on building robust partnerships with community organizations, governmental agencies, and employers to enhance the impact and reach of postsecondary CTE programs. Attendees will learn how to leverage these partnerships to foster successful reintegration and academic success for justice-involved individuals.

The focus of this presentation is to examine and connect Social-Emotional Learning to learning readiness in the CTE Classroom. Illustration and discussion will be part of the presentation to help faculty to become more engaged in recognizing when their content materials are not meeting the expectations of the learner, though well-grounded in the topic of the day. We will examine barriers to engagement and success and mindfully discuss best practices to engage the lens of the student perspective and what that means to the learning experience. Interactive discussion during the session period will coalesce attendee’s common issues in the CTE Classoom engagement experience and explore the experiences of the attendees to share and critically think their remedies and dialogue their concerns. The expectation is that those attendees will leave with a more profound view of their teaching methods and a broader lens of what the diverse nature of the CTE classroom members require for engagement. Brain-Based Learning strategies will be presented for consideration.

As the landscape of apprenticeship models in Maryland undergoes transformation, the role of postsecondary partners is swiftly evolving. Historically, Maryland's community colleges have had limited involvement in youth apprenticeships at the high school level. However, there is a growing recognition of the imperative for these institutions to step into this space, providing relevant, high-quality instruction to high school students. Community colleges in Maryland are not only beginning to offer related instruction to high schoolers but are also actively developing pathways for students to transition seamlessly into adult registered apprenticeships. These innovative apprenticeship programs enable students to concurrently work towards an associate degree while gaining invaluable experience through employment with an industry partner. Hosted by the Maryland State Department of Education, this session will delve into various aspects of Maryland's evolving apprenticeship landscape. Attendees can expect insights into Maryland's former youth apprenticeship model, the newly adopted apprenticeship framework, and how dual enrollment and early college initiatives can align with work-based learning. Furthermore, the presentation will provide data-driven insights into how high school students are accessing the workforce through apprenticeships and associate degrees, shedding light on the effectiveness and impact of these programs on both students and industry partners.

Join us for a discussion about California's approach to AI. Learn about their action plan, including how they harness the potential of AI and emerging technologies to enhance learning, operations, and student support services. This discussion will center around anticipated impacts, challenges, and strategies for ensuring AI augments rather than replaces human touch and expertise in education.

How do we successfully engage business beyond that annual Advisory Board meeting? As we grow apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities throughout America, we cannot do it without industry partners that are deeply committed. This session will provide tangible tactics to implement, and is intended to create a venue for everyone in attendance to share both best practices and lessons learned.
Session Learning Objectives:
• Strategies for growing committed industry partners.
• Tactics for improving business engagement in the classroom.
• Best Practices for Engaging and Enhancing Industry Advisory Boards
• Understanding of technology tools (CRM) to enhance employer engagement
This session will help CTE educators cultivate employer partnerships that foster continuous program improvement and innovation. Notably, it shall introduce the appropriate use of technology (CRM software) in managing employer relationships.

In a rapidly evolving job market, the importance of establishing robust career pathways by way of strong collaborative efforts across regions cannot be overstated. In this presentation Utah’s state regional pathways team aims to share with attendees the initiatives and successes in Utah regarding state alignment, region collaboration, and industry involvement across career pathways. Participants will gain insights into innovative strategies, intentional actions, and the transformative impact of cohesive efforts in building career pathways. Presentation topics include Regional Dynamics, Collaboration Across Sectors, Innovative Programs and Models, and Building a Statewide Network. This presentation will include interactive elements such as Q&A sessions, intentional networking, and opportunities for participants to share their own experiences and insights. Attendees will leave with an understanding of Utah's efforts in building effective career pathways and how to execute thoughtful collaborative actions, along with practical ideas to implement in their respective regions.

Career dual enrollment is an invaluable opportunity for high school students, and maximizing options for students requires collaboration and commitment of all stakeholders. Participants in this session will learn how a large urban school district has dramatically expanded career dual enrollment opportunities for high school students, by not only offering dual enrollment on technical college campuses, but also on campuses of our large comprehensive high schools.
In this session, we will explore the following topics:
• Program delivery models
• The process used to identify program offerings aligned with local workforce needs
• Developing a multi-year plan for implementation and growth
• Student scheduling model development
• Teacher support, including district-wide PLCs
• Administrative support and supervision
• Curriculum support
• Business partner engagement
• Overcoming funding challenges
• Incentivizing student participation in summer school
• Encouraging students to return to the technical college after graduation when needed to complete their program

This study analyzes CTE students’ transition to postsecondary education using a three-prong approach. First, it distinguishes four levels of CTE credit-taking during high school to capture any difference in school CTE offerings. Second, it focuses on occupational programs rather than taking CTE as a general and overarching category. Third, it differentiates the transition to subbacalaureate (Associate’s degree) from enrolling in Bachelor’s degree. The purpose is to show that credit-taking choices differ depending on the type of degree students will pursue, and that the impact of CTE credit-taking, along with other variables, impacts transitions to postsecondary differently, depending on the degree sought. We used two sets of logistic regression models for our analysis. The first model analyzes enrollment in postsecondary education at the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree levels. The second set of logistic models examine whether students enroll in a similar major to the occupational program they participate in while in high school—i.e., school-to-major alignment.