The Arkansas Career Coach Program

March 2017

Agenda

• Welcome and introduction by Hans Meeder

• Understanding the Arkansas Career Coaching Program

• Discussion

Today’s Presenters

➢Associate Director for Career and Technical Education –

Special Projects at Arkansas Department of Career

Education

➢Founding director of the Arkansas Career Coach

Program

➢Extensive experience at university level – U. of Central

Arkansas, Simpson College, University of Arkansas

➢B.A. in Psychology and MA in Higher Education

Administration, U. of Arkansas Fayetteville, also MS in

Rehabilitation Counseling, Drake University

Hans Meeder

➢President of the National Center for College and

Career Transitions (NC3T)

➢Former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S.

Department of Education

➢Respected national leader conducting research

and providing technical assistance on high school

redesign, career and technical education, and

workforce development

➢ Author of the Power and Promise of Pathways,

The STEM Leader Guide and co-author of Building

Advisory Boards That Matter

Sonja Wright-McMurray

Arkansas Career Coach Program: An Effective College and Career Planning Model

Arkansas Career Coach Program

• Began in January 2010 as a 3-year pilot initiative 100% Funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

• Established to address the lack of skilled workforce

• Administered by the Arkansas Department of Career Education in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges

• Four component system – College and Career Coaches, ACT Academies, Career Cluster Camps and Arkansas College Application Campaign

College and Career Coaches

• Piloted in January 2010

• Must hold a bachelor’s degree and have Career Development Facilitator’s (CDF) certification

• Work in partnership with Career Orientation teachers and School Counselors

• Serve all students, but target “middle majority” students

• Employees of Two-Year Colleges and Education Cooperatives housed in local high schools

• Serve as career pathway specialists in the high schools

• Act 1285 of the 2013 General Legislative Session allowed for expansion of services beyond pilot phase

Career Coach at ASU – Mid-South assisting students learn about careers in Manufacturing

ACT Academy

• Began in June 2010

• Designed to increase ACT Scores and Reduce Remediation Rates

• Students may qualify, if they score less than a 19 on the English, Math and/or Reading sections of the ACT exam

• Priority is given to Seniors with remaining slots offered to Juniors and Sophomores

• Instruction based on Sylvan Learning ACT Instructional Model

• Reinforces Soft Skills

AY 2013 ACT Academy (Little Rock Program) – Bobby Portis and Tyler Scaife

Career Cluster Camps

• Began in 2013

• Offered to Middle and High School students

• Based on most popular Career Clusters, as determined by career assessments

• Provides hands-on, interactive career exploration activities

• Fosters mentoring opportunities

Students from Cotter and Flippin High Schools learn more about careers in Health

Arkansas College Application Campaign

• Piloted in 2014

• Nation-wide Initiative from the American Council on Education

• 41High Schools Participated

• 2,424 Seniors

• Over 3,000 College Applications Submitted

Bearden High School

students apply to colleges

and universities

13%

13%

37%

37%

Career Coach Program Funding

(ACE) PSF

(ADHE)Perkins

SchoolDistrict

(ACE) OSD

Funding Streams

The Career Coach Program is funded by four sources:

• Arkansas Department of Career Education – Public School Funds (PSF)

• Arkansas Department of Career Education – Office of Skills Development

• Arkansas Department of Higher Education – Perkins

• School Districts (Perkins and NSLA)

Performance Measures: Prior to the Career Coach Program to (2015)

College Going Rate: (Goal to Date: 10%) • Increased by 22.16% (33.10% to 55.26%)• State Rate Increased by 4.02% (46.9 to 50.92)

ACT Score: (Goal to Date: .5 points) • Increased by 1.58 points (19.53 to 21.11)• State Score Increased by .79 points (21.31 to 22.1)

Remediation Rate: (Goal to Date: -10%) • Decreased by -15.7% (63.58% to 47.88%)• State Rate Decreased by 3.94% (46.4 to 42.46)

Applications for Financial Aid: (Goal to Date: 10%) • Increased by 32.3% (40.2% to 72.5%) • State Rate Increased by 16.8% (50.6% to 66.2%)

Students from Mountain View HS visit ASU – Heber Springs’ welding

program

Lessons Learned and Challenges

• Involve the school district in every step of the development, planning, and implementation process

• Clearly define and enforce program’s dos and don’ts early!

• Identify sustainable funding streams

Discussion. Questions.

NC3T publ icat ionswww.nc3t.com/store

NEW BLOG SITE

www.Pathwayssherpa.com

Hans Meeder

President

hans@nc3t.com

Phone and Website

410.740.2006

www.nc3t.com

To find out more about Arkansas College and Career Coach Program, please feel free to contact:

Sonja Wright-McMurray, Associate Director for CTE Special

ProjectsArkansas Department of Career

Educationsonja.mcmurray@arkansas.gov501-683-4432www.arcareered.org