Decatur Career Academy Quarterly Report June 30, 2012

Decatur Career Academy Quarterly Report June 30, 2012 Mission and Goals The mission of the Decatur Career Academy (DCA) is to deliver authentic, technical education and training experiences that produce responsible and productive citizens of the world. These measurable DCA goals and their aligned CSD charter rationale [in brackets] are: (1) exceed the majority of the USDE benchmarks in Perkin s annual accountability measure [see Strategy 1-Q in CSD Charter System Petition] (2) increase the percentage of DCA students earning CTAE pathway completion and/or Technical Certificates of Credit (TCC) by 4% annually for 10 years or until the percentage reaches 80% of eligible DCA students [see Phase 3 in CSD Charter System Petition] Program # GPA Avg Architectural Drawing and Design 4 3.84 Video Broadcast 4 3.7 Early Childhood Education 3 3.1 Culinary Arts 3 3.37 Graphic Communication 6 Medical & Healthcare Information Technology N/A N/A Interactive Media 1 3.32 JROTC 12 Medical & Healthcare Information started this past school year and students will be completers in 2013 (3) increase the percentage of students with eligible pathway completion that earn professional certification or licensure by 4% annually for 10 years or until the percentage reaches 60% [see Phase 3 in CSD Charter System Petition] (4) increase the percentage of DCA students earning credits via dual enrollment, joint enrollment, and articulated credit in post-secondary programs by 4% annually for 10 years or until the percentage reaches 80% of eligible DCA students [see, Strategies 1-P and 1-Q in CSD Charter System Petition] There are currently nine DCA rising seniors enrolled in the DeVry HIT Advantage Academy. These students have completed a total of 12 courses each and have a 3.55 gpa as a cohort. Many of these students are completing internships in the healthcare field this summer as part of the program requirements. An Information session where held with Georgia Piedmont Technical College on May 16 for the Dual Enrollment. There will be an additional session on July 9. In attendance at the meeting where 12 students/families. GPTC has established a COMPASS testing 1

center on the DCA campus to allow entrance exam testing to take place in an convenient and familiar environment. Currently nine rising juniors have been accepted into the DeVry HIT Academy at DCA for the 2012-2013 school year. DeVry is providing summer developmental courses targeted at students that are interested in the HIT Academy and fell short on one-entrance exam areas. Students are eligible to enroll once they complete the course before the start of school will be allowed to enroll in the HIT Academy. (5) increase the number of CSD students in Work-based Learning (WBL-Youth Apprenticeship Program) programs by 4% annually for 10 years or until percentages reaches 65% of students at the DCA [see Phase 2 in CSD Charter System Petition] (6) increase the percentages of DCA seniors who earn Work Ready Certificates at the Silver level by 4% annually for 10 years [Phase 3 in CSD Charter System Petition] (7) create a post-graduation plan for 100% of DCA students [Phase 3 in CSD Charter System Petition], and (8) monitor and decrease the DCA student achievement gap between African-American and white students on all applicable DCA standardized assessments by 3% annually for 5 years [see Goal 4 in CSD Charter System Petition]. Need Goal 1 Design and engaging and academically environment that results in achievement for all students. Performance Objective A: Close the achievement gap for all groups of students Initiatives: (1) Create a CSD PreK-12 21 st Century plan (2) Examine the feasibility and effectiveness of intervention options (3) Increase rigor in academic offerings Performance Objective B: Every Student will graduate with a high school diploma and career pathway certificate Initiatives: (1) Extend and align career pathway advisement in middle school and high school (2) Develop and enhance partnerships and agreements with others (3) Develop an evening program for the career academy (4) More job training for students (5) Develop benchmarks for career academy (6) Showcase students more frequently Performance Objective C: Produce graduates who are high performers in postsecondary academics Initiatives: (1) Develop or access tracking process that provides feedback on graduates success through surveys graduates 2

Partnerships Emory Continuing Education will continue and increase course offerings in the 2012-2013 school year. Emory courses include: Excel, Web Design, Financial Planning, and Digital Darkroom. The DCA continues to work to the have two college degree level courses per semester as evening offerings. The courses slated to begin in August 2012 include English 1101 (Composition and Rhetoric) and Psychology 1101. English will run on Mondays, while Psychology will be held on Tuesdays. Courses will meet from 4:15-5:45 and be taught in a hybrid format, which means classes will meet face-to-face one day a week and online for the remainder of the course work. A minimum of ten students are required for a class to be conducted Budget DCA staff continues to work on reimbursements for equipment from the state Capital Equipment Grants. A total of $318,0000 has been requested for reimbursement. The City Schools of Decatur BOE has agreed to fund the DeVry HIT program in an amount not to exceed $55,000 per year. Governance & Leadership The Director of the DCA serves on the Decatur High School - School Leadership Team (SLT) as outlined by the Charter. The Director provides reports to the DHS SLT on a monthly basis throughout the school year. The DCA SLT Subcommittee had its first meeting of the school year in October. The focus was a tour of the programs then a breakout session in each program area centered around employers perspectives on challenges they currently face with new employees. In addition plans related to career month in February were discussed. Timelines April 18, 2012 Paul Mitchell Beauty School visited with students during lunches April 18, 2012 DCA and RMS teachers collaborate on Job Alikes with Kim Boswell and Duane Sprull to better deliver instruction with and IB Design focus April 26, 2012 North Region CTAE Technical Assistances Visit (Gwinnett County) April 26, 2012 DeVry HIT Academy Orientation Meeting for Rising Juniors May 3, 2012 Jobs for Georgia Graduates Learning Connections Presentation (Duane Sprull) 3

May 5, 2012 Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education Board Meeting (Duane Sprull serves as Vice President) May 12, 2012 DeVry HIT Academy Orientation Meeting for Rising Juniors May 16, 2012 Georgia Piedmont Technical College Dual Enrollment Information Session at DCA May 17, 2012 DeVry HIT Academy Orientation Meeting for Rising Juniors May 29, 2012 Met with Renfroe Middle School to develop plan to integrate JROTC program at middle school level for the 2012-2013 school year June 7, 2012 Attended JROTC JCLC Leadership Conference at Columbus State University and Ft. Benning, Georgia June 26, 2012 Attended Decatur Business Association Meeting with Jobs for Georgia Graduate Coordinator June 14-28, 2012 DCA Hosted Computer Programming Camp with Instructor Adam LeDoux (Former DHS Student and Current GA Tech Student) June 25, 2012 Hosted 11 Alive and Donna Lowery and she complied a piece on the City of Decatur (Video link: http://www.11alive.com/video/1711779544001/1/decatur-city- Schools-help-kids-focus-on-careers) Grade Levels DCA services students in grades 9 through 12 as well as our adult community. City School of Decatur students in 9 th grade will explore career opportunities and CTAE offerings at DCA, while they make the connections between schooling and the workforce. Standards & Curriculum Architectural Drawing & Design Students study the various levels of drawing and design in the mechanical and architectural fields. Instruction begins at the basic level of sketching and, upon pathway completion, students will be able to produce working mechanical and architectural drawings, designs and scale models. see Graphics Broadcast & Convergence Media This pathway is for students who enjoy using technology to tell stories through print, broadcast, and Web media. The emphasis is on real-world production and the development of reporting and communication skills. In addition to using field equipment and professional editing software, broadcast students work in a sophisticated broadcast studio. Those who pursue print media use imaging and layout applications to create the school magazine and yearbook. A studentproduced website showcases media projects. Career & Technical Instruction 4

This program is designed for ESS students who plan to begin their careers immediately after high school. Basic core academics are covered with an emphasis on functional skills, career research and exploration, and enhancement of effective life skills and habits needed to maintain a job. Job opportunities are provided according to interests. Culinary Arts The Culinary Arts pathway focuses on the fundamentals of cooking terminology, concepts, methods emphasizing basic kitchen and dining room safety, sanitation, equipment maintenance and operation procedures. The pathway is designed to create a complete foundation of culinary arts, leading to continuing post secondary education or a foodservice career. DCA hired a new Culinary Arts Instructor, Ms. Daphne Edison comes to Decatur from Morgan County Schools. She has additional experience teaching Spanish and French and has will work with the IB program that is at Decatur High School. She will hit the ground running as co-sponsor of the FCCLA program. Education Designed for students who are interested in a career in education, this pathway allows students to choose a specific concentration: early childhood education (with a focus on instruction of children from birth through pre-kindergarten) or K-12 education. Early childhood education students work in the on-site Frasier Child Development Center throughout their pathway courses with the opportunity for a yearlong internship as juniors and seniors. Students interested in K-12 Education work as teaching interns at the district s high school, middle school, and elementary schools. Graphic Communications & Design This pathway introduces students to the principles of graphic communications and design and their application in daily life. Students learn the principles and practices of illustration and graphic design as they are used in advertising. Areas include airbrush, logo/corporate identity development, layout and design, drawing skills, watercolor, marker and color pencil techniques, typography, color theory, prepress procedures, digital file preparation, industry-standard software, business and research procedures, client negotiations, and pricing and ethical guidelines. Max Waterhouse (SkillsUSA Officer) and Mark Jones (Sponsor) attended the SkillsUSA National Leaderships Conference in Kansas City. Max served as an ambassador as well as attended several leadership development workshops Medicine & Health Information Technology This pathway recognizes our community s demand for both clinical medical professionals as well as skilled health information technology professionals to design, operate, and maintain the technology that makes the healthcare system run. Students may specialize in clinical health occupations or health information technology. They will learn the skills required to work in hospitals, physician s offices, clinics, as well as for pharmaceutical companies, educational institutions, and government agencies. Interactive Media Interactive Media involves creating, designing and producing interactive multimedia products and services, including the development of digitally-generated or computer-enhanced media 5

used in business, training, entertainment, communications and marketing. Sample interactive media occupations include web designer, 3-D animator, virtual reality specialist, and multimedia producer. Leadership Development (JROTC) This pathway develops basic leadership skills that include leader values and attributes, character development, geography and government, leadership styles and basic principles of management. The curriculum of the Army s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps provides a structure for classroom instruction and field experiences. Miscellaneous N/A Enrollments Student enrollment for the 2012-2013 school-year began on January 6, 2012. Students participated in a speed dating type of elective fair immediately upon their return from the holiday break. Recruitment will continued into February. Counselors are finalize schedules for students at Decatur High School and DCA. Decatur Career Academy Enrollment 9 th 10 th 11 th 12 th AP Total 246 156 127 128 259 657 Charter School Law achieved charter system status in June 2008 the formal system charter has already been completed. The DCA will implement a school-within-a-school model for this grant application and has submitted an amendment to the charter. The system charter was amended and approved by the local school board on May 11, 2010. Below are the changes pertinent to the Decatur Career Academy: The Decatur Career Academy (DCA), working in tandem with Decatur High School, will be governed by the DHS School Leadership Team that will create its own standing DCA Subcommittee. The DCA Subcommittee will have the following composition: (1) maximum of 15 members, (2) two of the members must be parents or guardians of students enrolled at the DCA or an adult enrolled in a program or within one year of completing a program; (3) at least two of the members shall be teachers who work at the DCA; (4) the Career Academy Director and DCA Evening Supervisor must be active members; (5) at least five members should be members of business and industry in the local community; (6) one member will be a member of the DeKalb Technical College faculty; and (7) one member must be a Decatur High School Student. The DCA Subcommittee s duties shall include, but not be limited to: (1) develop, monitor and seek approval from the Decatur High School School Leadership Team of the DCA three-year 6

comprehensive improvement plan with annual reviews; (2) assess DCA charter goals; (3) assist with school accreditation and improvement reviews and assessments, such as SACS; (4) recommend school needs to the DHS School Leadership Team during the annual budget process. In addition to the Decatur High School Leadership Team and the DCA Subcommittee, two people will lead the DCA the Director (day), and the Evening Supervisor (evening). The administrators will be hired by the Board of Education at the recommendation of the Superintendent. To ensure district support of DCA, the Director will also serve on the System Charter Leadership Team, an intermediary body between School Leadership Teams and the Board of Education. All 9th through 12th grade students in CSD will have the opportunity to attend DCA. The application process will be used to identify students interests in pathways and not to determine acceptance into DCA. The application process will be used to categorize students by pathways if a lottery is deemed needed for available slots by particular pathway area. Since all DCA students will be students who receive their diplomas from Decatur High School, separate admission into DCA is not necessary. Students will participate regularly in job shadowing opportunities, field trips, mock interviews, and work based learning activities in programs of study alongside having opportunities to hear professional speakers present about pertinent careers and the chance to be a part of annual career days. DCA curriculum will follow the State of Georgia s Georgia Performance Standards. All career pathways, created by GADOE and DTAE, will be linked to DCA offerings. They will assist in the process of seamless education from secondary to careers and postsecondary options. College courses, as a branch of DeKalb Technical College (DTC), will be offered at DCA as well. These courses will follow, meet, and/or exceed the DTAE or Board of Regents requirements. Each pathway or program will offer applicable college course options. In its first year of operation, DCA will offer articulated credits in Math, English, Financial Services, Marketing, Accounting, Drafting, Business Administration, and Early Childhood Education. The DCA Director, Evening Supervisor and Counselor will work directly with the Decatur High School administration and staff, the DCA Subcommittee, the administration and staff at DTC, and the community. The Director will lead the DCA Subcommittee and provide feedback to the DHS School Leadership Team concerning the DCA s three-year plan, and will initiate and communicate all successes and challenges to the school s stakeholders. The DCA Evening Supervisor will have the role of evening administrator and will coordinate late afternoon classes with DTC. The DCA Counselor will act as principal advisor for all DCA students. The Counselor will lead the construction of all post-secondary plans using Peachstate Pathways as a guide to graduation and will lead in the coordination of college and technical college application and entrance. The Counselor will analyze and evaluate DCA students plan progression and completion. 7