JHS students, Ben D'Angelo and Masen Maggio, used dial calipers and protractors to take precise measurements of existing objects. They were creating working drawings of the objects using AutoCAD. Submitted photo

Cummins Inc. recently flew Jamestown Public School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe, Jamestown High School Principal Mike McElrath, JHS Assistant Principal Leslie Melquist, Chief Academics Officer Michelle McDowell and JHS Technology teacher Daryl Damcott to their headquarters in Indiana.

During the visit, JPS staff had the unique opportunity to see a Cummins partnership with two local Indiana high schools that have implemented project-based learning. Examples of the high schools’ innovative learning included student-teams working on real-life projects such as: building solar panels and windmills that power their school or creating experimental gardens to implement new agricultural techniques.

The visit gave JPS staff a firsthand look at how cutting-edge schools are creating project-based learning environments with the help of a local manufacturer leading to students leaving high school with not only a diploma, but also tangible skills for the workforce or college. This type of project-based learning is on the horizon for Jamestown High School students to help them succeed in a 21st Century working environment.

The visit to Indiana also reinforced Jamestown Public Schools’ understanding that Career and Technical Education (CTE) must be a high priority as our rapidly evolving global economy demands practical, relevant and multiple pathways for preparing young people for their roles in society. High-quality CTE promotes college and career readiness in the development of academic, technical and employability skills such as communication, reasoning, problem solving, the ability to work in teams, and other behaviors and skills vital to employers. New York State has just recently changed its CTE Pathway for graduation.

“As the experienced generations of workers begin to retire, we are already seeing numerous jobs in the area going unfilled. The manufacturing world has changed drastically over the last few decades so it only makes sense that our methods of providing education would mirror what employers need,” said Damcott. “There are plenty of good-paying jobs in our area that require skilled-labor but not necessarily a college degree. The benefit to the CTE Pathways is that it makes the content that our students learn, clearly relevant to future employment. By unlocking the opportunity of hands-on learning, students engage themselves in the daily tasks and skills that many of the employers in our area are already looking for.”

Previously, Jamestown High School students who did not earn 22 credits and pass at least five assessments (Regents exams, Department-approved alternatives, or pathway exams) were unable to earn a high school diploma – and they receive no credit for the classes and examinations they may have passed in their CTE education. The new CTE Pathway approved by the NYS Board of Regents opens up the possibilities for students to graduate who may have CTE skills that should be recognized.

“Career and Technical Education has changed to be more intentional in its goal,” said McDowell. “It recognizes that there is a labor shortage with career jobs, not just minimum wage jobs, that need to filled nationally and especially locally. The new CTE requirements understand that some students will excel in these areas and a path to graduation is needed for them to succeed. The importance of aligning education and workforce leads to better job opportunities and better wages. CTE doesn’t just prepare students for a particular career path, but provides skills that can be applicable to many occupational avenues.”

CTE is eliminating vocational education that consisted of low-level courses, job training, and single electives and replacing it with academically rigorous, integrated, and sequenced programs of study that align with, and lead to, postsecondary education. CTE is no longer just about teaching students a narrow set of skills sufficient for entry-level jobs; it is about preparing students for careers.

What is a CTE Pathway?

Student requirements for CTE pathway:

¯ Be in an approved CTE program of study (there are 16 career clusters) including: finance, health services, hospitality & tourism, manufacturing, transportation & logistics, marketing, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), law/public safety, information technology, human services, government & public administration, education & training, business management & administration, agriculture/food & natural resources, arts, and architecture & construction.

¯ Pass four required Regents examinations (instead of five) and meet graduation requirements.

¯ Meet the fifth assessment required for graduation by passing a Department-Approved Pathway Assessment in CTE following successful completion of a CTE program. There are currently 30 assessments approved as CTE Pathway assessments.

“The benefits of CTE are clear for students,” said McDowell. “Student participation in CTE programs shows that students see the relevance of what they are learning to real-life work and careers. The benefits are especially positive for the meaningful engagement of English as a New Language learners and students with disabilities.”