Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy

Georgia Career Academies Project III Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy Quarterly Report March 31, 2013

Mission and Goals The mission of the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy (FCSCCA) is to ensure a viable 21st century workforce for Floyd County. FCSCCA will define the needs of employers, the career interests of students, and then match the two in a seamless process. The online needs assessment and data collection was conducted to show the positive impact that a seamless approach to secondary and postsecondary public education will have on the local economy of Floyd County. Data is currently being analyzed and will be published to the partnership and the community. This data will be used to develop and/or enhance appropriate curriculum offerings at FCSCCA.

Career Academies in general and the FCSCCA in particular recognize and embrace their primary mission as economic and workforce development. The Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy must produce workers who possess specific 21st Century skills, and can meet the needs of today’s employers.

Partnerships The original partnership of the Floyd County College and Career Academy consisted of Floyd County Schools, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and the greater Rome Chamber of Commerce representing the business community. The post-secondary partnership has grown to now include Georgia Highlands College and Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly the Medical College of Georgia).

The partnership with the business community has also grown with the College and Career Academy becoming a member of the Greater Rome Existing Industry Association (GREIA) and being included in their monthly meetings. The CCA is also represented on the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee and Education Committee.

Budget Funding for the College & Career Academy largely falls into two categories. The first portion is state FTE funds and monies allocated through the Perkins IV grant. This portion of the budget is managed by the Floyd County College & Career Academy CEO, Eric Waters. The second portion of the budget is money raised by the Floyd College & Career Academy Foundation. This money largely consists of grant awards and donations, and is managed by the CCA Board of Directors and CEO of the career academy.

Governance & Leadership The FCSCCA Board of Directors meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month with the May meeting being designated as the Annual Meeting. The new chairman of the Board of Directors, elected in May of 2012, is Dan Sweitzer, of Floyd Medical Center. The FCSCCA Board of Directors is the local school governing body and operates under the auspices of the Floyd County Board of Education. In May of 2010, Floyd County Schools became a charter system, thus the FCSCCA is a charter school within a charter system.

The Board of Directors takes an active role in the development and evaluation of the CCA curriculum. One specific example of this is the initiative to imbed Career Success skills into each Career Pathway. Each month, a new skill such as attendance, attitude, or teamwork will be emphasized. Career Success Skills will also represent 25% of a student’s final grade. FCSCCA is currently piloting the Georgia Department of Labor Georgia BEST.

Another key component of the Governance and Leadership dimension is the role played by our Program Advisory Boards. These Advisory Boards, comprised of business and industry leaders, help keep our instructors abreast of the latest trends in skills needed in today’s workforce. Semi-annual meetings include business and post-secondary partners, as well as secondary and middle school instructors.

Timelines FCSCCA is currently offering ten career pathways to students who attend. The opening of a new career pathway in Criminal Justice came to fruition in the fall of 2011. Mary Francis Wright, a local practicing Attorney at Law, is the instructor.

Dual and joint enrollment numbers continue to grow, with projections of approximately 120 students taking dual enrollment classes at Georgia Northwestern and Georgia Highlands.

Career & College Focus The FCSCCA currently offers the following programs of study / career pathways: Construction Technology, Criminal Justice, Graphic Arts, Metals Technology, Horticulture, Healthcare Science, CISCO Networking, Industry Academy / Pre-Engineering, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, and Teacher Academy. Additionally, the career academy offers Youth Apprenticeship and DCT. A Job Skills Program is also offered for students with special needs.

These course offering continue to be driven by the needs assessment conducted in 2008 for the purpose of economic and workforce development.

The Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Education have collaborated to identify courses where articulated credit might be offered to high school students based on courses taken during high school which might duplicate courses needed at the postsecondary level. Statewide articulation validation tests are currently being developed and will be made available to students who wish to take the test to receive articulated credit. These tests will be offered to the students at a nominal fee.

Grade Levels FCSCCA serves students primarily in grades 10, 11 and 12. Some ninth grade students are served in Special Needs programs.

Enrollment & Student Focus Enrollment numbers for the 2012-2013 year show 901 students being served in traditional Career Pathways programs and dual enrollment. When combined with the students served in Special Needs programs and Work-based learning, the College and Career Academy is currently serving over 1,000 students. Since becoming a Career Academy, enrollment has more that doubled.

A Student Advisory Board was formed last year. Students serving on this Board represent each Career Pathway. They meet monthly with their advisor and CCA administrators. The Student Advisory Board also meets twice annually with Superintendent Dr. Jeff McDaniel. Student Advisory Board members have input on decisions affecting students at the CCA, and serve as the liaison between their fellow students and the CCA administration.

Student Support A Career Transition Specialist, Lisa DiPrima, employed by GNTC, is located on the campus of FCSCCA to assist students with their career exploration and choices, dual enrollment options, admissions testing, articulation, and the general GNTC admissions process. The Career Transition Specialist also serves as the liaison between the CCA and counselors from each of the four feeder High Schools.

The High School Initiatives Coordinator, Carol Dugger, has also been of great assistance in the areas of Dual Enrollment, Articulation of Post-secondary credit, and helping to make the transition to post-secondary as seamless as possible for our students.

Standards & Curriculum Each program currently has an Advisory Committee that meets a minimum of twice annually. The Advisory Committee consists of business partners, secondary and postsecondary instructors, school administrators, and middle school instructors where appropriate. Curriculum is based on the Georgia Performance Standards and also incorporates Industry Standards. Beginning in 2010-2011, students were required to take an end-of- pathway assessment, which are similar to the traditional end-of-course tests in regular academic programs.

Faculty & Staff Common planning time is still at a minimum due to transportation issues with moving the students from four different home schools to FCSCCA. The goal of FCSCCA is to have all programs “Industry Certified”. Four of the programs on the FCSCCA campus currently have industry certification.

The FCSCCA will implement academic programs on the campus for the 2013-14 school year. Specifically, there will be math and science offerings in addition to special ed. support. The Floyd County School System is transitioning to a seven-period day. The CCA will remain on an A/B block schedule with two high schools sending students in the morning and two high schools sending students in the afternoon. This should facilitate the opportunities for all students to participate in the career academy offerings. As these plans develop, the details will be forthcoming.

Cycle of Improvement This section will be expanded during the next quarterly report as the system changes are implemented.

Charter School Law FCSCCA charter was approved January 29, 2008. Floyd County Schools was also granted Charter System status in May of 2010.