Minnesota West Hosts Breaking Traditions

Minnesota West and the SW MN Private Industry Council will be hosting their annual Breaking Traditions events at the Jackson Campus on Feb. 24, Canby Campus on March 3, Granite Falls Campus on March 18, and the Pipestone Campus on March 19. Breaking Traditions is a hands-on career exploration event for area alternative school students. Students attending this event have the unique experience of working side-by-side college students and instructors to complete projects and experience the programs in a way a simple tour could not provide. Over 100 students attend this event annually.

Don't Forget to Register Students!

Registration information for the Culinary Skills Challenge and the Technical Skills Challenge is available at http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/

CTE Program Approval

Districts interested in getting their CTE programs approved by the Minnesota Department of Education may access the necessary forms at http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/CarlPerkins.htm. This process allows schools to access Carl Perkins and Career Technical Levy funds for their district. To be eligible for Carl Perkins and CTE Levy funds, programs must have their forms turned into to the MDE office by December 1, 2009. But, it is the goal of the Minnesota West Consortium to have all programs approved by the end of the 2008-2009 school year.

Graduation Requirements and Revised Rules for CTE

The 2007 Minnesota Legislature directed the Department of Education to revise rules pertaining to the operation of career and technical education programs in the state. The rule clarifies the conditions under which districts may award credit for the delivery of core academic content in CTE courses.

The delivery of science, math, or art credits in CTE courses is a local district decision. Districts have flexibility and latitude to deliver media arts across the curriculum as long as the district determines locally that standards are being met with integrity. Music and visual arts require the teacher to be "highly qualified" under NCLB and districts would want to refer to the Minnesota Plan for Federal “Highly Qualified” Teacher Requirements for specific guidance.

Graduation Requirements:

Students beginning 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year and later must successfully complete the following high school level course credits for graduation:
(1) four credits of language arts; (2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability sufficient to satisfy the academic standard; (3) three credits of science, including at least one credit in biology; (4) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics or three credits of social studies encompassing at least United States history, geography, government and citizenship, and world history, and one-half credit of economics taught in a school's social studies, agriculture education, or business department; (5) one credit in the arts; and (6) a minimum of seven elective course credits. (b) An agriculture science course may fulfill a science credit requirement in addition to the specified science credits in biology and chemistry or physics under paragraph (a), clause (3). (c) A career and technical education course may fulfill a science, mathematics, or arts credit requirement in addition to the specified science, mathematics, or arts credits under paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (5).

Free Online GED Preparation

The Minnesota Department of Education offers a free online instructional program for Minnesotans preparing for their General Educational Development Diploma (GED). GED-I, a nationally-recognized and teacher-facilitated service, will help students prepare to take the five GED tests; students must take the test in person at one of the 58 examination centers across the state. For more information:
http://education.state.mn.us/mde/groups/Communications/documents/Announcement/035868.pdf

ISEEK Redesign Coming Soon

The new ISEEK will offer easy-to-find topics, the latest trends, interactive features, and a variety of multimedia.

In addition to the ISEEK content you've come to expect, you'll find features like assessments, quizzes, faceted searches, and articles. The new ISEEK will make it even easier to research, organize, and understand the best pathways to the hottest careers, best education, and perfect job.
In general, the important information that you have been used to accessing on ISEEK — career descriptions, skill assessments, school details, and job seeker information — will remain. However, the new framework will mean page URLs will change. If you have bookmarks, you will be redirected to the new pages.

Keep checking ISEEK for more details about the 2009 release!
http://www.iseek.org/

February Is CTE Month

This month-long celebration of Career and Technical Education kicked off with National Job Shadow Day on February 2 and will conclude with National Entrepreneurship Week USA, which runs February 21-28. Just click links for more information about either event.