STRATEGIC ASSETS AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOAL ONE: DETERMINE WORKFORCE NEEDS AND WHAT SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT THEIR NEW EMPLOYEES TO HAVE AND THEN DEVELOP COMMON MEASURES OF WORKPLACE READINESS AND OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT. Measures of Success: A follow-up survey of major industrial and service sector employers will be conducted to determine if improvements in workforce readiness have occurred. Some workforce readiness and occupational assessment measurements will be implemented in all schools and colleges in the region. A follow-up survey will demonstrate that data collected from workforce readiness and occupation assessment measurements are being used to improve the performance of career and technical education completers. 2001 Initiative: Determine workforce needs and what skills employers want their new employees to have. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. The Newaygo County School-to-Work/Career Preparation Action Team met for the last year determining employability skill needs of area students and published "Employer Finding." Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins and local funds.* 2. Work Keys (Newaygo County Intermediate School District/West Shore Community College). The Work Keys Job Profile Process is a proven method for determining the tasks of a job as identified by employees working in the job, the workplace skills needed, and the levels of those skills needed for entry into the job. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins and local funds. 3. Advisory Committees - - All three area Career Centers, West Shore Community College (WSCC), Baker College of Fremont, and Ferris State University (FSU). All of these committees are in place and can be key contributors when determining workforce needs and what employers expect from new hires. As one example, the advisory committee members of the Mecosta-Osceola Career Center were recently surveyed to determine how important teamwork, problem solving, conflict resolution, goal setting, attendance, attitude, initiative and communication skills were in hiring decisions. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins and local funds. 4. The Pathway to Prosperity: Training Skilled Workers for the Jobs of the 21st Century, which was prepared for Ferris State University by Public Sector Consultants, Inc. in 1999. 5. FSU Office of Career Services is positioned to work with employers to determine workforce needs. *For purposes of this plan, local funds may include resources from K-12 and intermediate schools, West Shore Community College, Ferris State University and foundations. 2002 Initiative: Develop an instructional strategy that prepares students with the skills that employers want their new employees to have. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. We anticipate the opportunity to use and enhance various Strategic Assets after the skill needs are identified Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, Partnership for Adult Learning (PAL) and local funds. 2002 Initiative: Develop common measures of workplace readiness and occupational assessment. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Employability Skills, Newaygo County Intermediate School District (NCISD). Using Michigan Career and Employability Skills Content Standards and Benchmarks, knowledge, skills and behaviors that help all students move successfully into the world of work or continuing education to pursue their career goals is being implemented in Newaygo county. . All K-12 districts also have programs to develop Employability Skills. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL and local funds 2. National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) in all three intermediate school districts and WSCC. Both written and performance occupational competency assessments are completed with Newaygo County Career-Tech Center two-year graduates. WSCC in partnership with Mason-Lake ISD Tech Prep Partnership has a truly unique Student Outcomes Assessment Plan that is based on Total Quality Management principles and it has led to documented improvement in student outcomes. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL and local funds 3. Transcripts/Student Profiles. Mason-Lake, Mecosta-Osceola, and Newaygo County ISD students are encouraged to prepare employment credentials or profiles upon graduation. Typically, student transcripts, profiles and other certifying instruments are part of the student's portfolio. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL and local funds 2003 Initiative: Measure the attainment of desired skills as demonstrated in the workplace and make improvements in the instructional strategy as needed. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. One and Five-Year Follow-up Surveys. These are commonly used throughout our Career Development System. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, and Carl Perkins funds GOAL TWO: IMPROVE THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. Measures of Success: The ratio of personal computers to students in all 17 public schools will improve. In the process of collecting baseline data, we have received information from twelve K-12 districts. Public access to personal computers through libraries and Michigan Works! will increase. We have collected baseline data from Michigan Works! and 22 public libraries in our five county region and have determined that they collectively provide 162 personal computers with 138 internet connections. The number of e-mail accounts will increase. The number of active customer accounts held by Internet Service Providers in our five county region would appear to be a useful indicator of the proliferation of Internet connectivity in the homes of our citizens. While some data was collected, the overall effort to develop a comprehensive picture was deemed unsatisfactory for several reasons: 1) Local ISPs are not the only providers in any particular geographical area; 2) The ISPs contacted were not equally precise in reporting their number of active customer accounts; 3) Some ISPs had a policy against disclosing the number of accounts because of the competitive field they are in. Although initially stymied, we are going to try again to collect the data through a renewed sales pitch that represents a win-win result and a guarantee of confidentiality. 2001 Initiative: Determine base line data relative to access, use, quality, proficiency of staff and plans for future development. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1.   Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds. 2002 Initiative: Improve access to technology throughout the region. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Universal Service Fund, Durant II Funds, and Bill Gates Foundation. These represent significant and already used assets that allow schools to build technology capacity. Almost all technology grants require a local match. 2. Distance Learning. Ferris State University, West Shore Community College, Baker College and intermediate school districts are all using technology to deliver instruction to various locations. As an example, WSCC is currently leading a project that will place distance-learning classrooms in six area schools. As part of Project LEARN: Linking Education and Rural Needs, these schools will be able to share classes amongst themselves or bring in classes from other K-12 school districts. WSCC will be able to offer dual enrollment courses to the students of Mason-Lake ISD. In addition, community groups (Girl/Boy Scouts, Emergency Response personnel, Community Mental Health) can also use the equipment to connect to their counterparts throughout the state. Almost all technology grants require a local match. 3. Newaygo County model. As related in the Environmental Scan, Newaygo county has developed exceptional technology capacity. All of the public schools, county government, public libraries, mental health, and hospital are linked by fiber infrastructure. Their ability to bring the stakeholders together and pool resources is a worthy model for the entire region. Almost all technology grants require a local match. 2003 Initiative: Improve the proficiency of staff, the quality of technology and establish a plan to maintain access and the currency of technology. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Newaygo County Model. Grants and local funds. GOAL THREE: IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE INCUMBENT WORKFORCE. Measures of Success: A follow-up survey of major industrial and commercial employers in our region will demonstrate improved performance of entry level employees All intermediate schools and colleges in the region will implement Work Keys or another similar method of measuring skill level proficiency in their training programs if they are engaged in providing this service. 2001 Initiative: Determine how the effectiveness of the incumbent workforce can be improved and what skills assessment measures are being used. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Skills assessment measures, especially Work Keys and NOCTI. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. 2002 Initiative: Develop and implement a plan to improve workforce effectiveness Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Skills assessment measures, i.e. Work Keys and NOCTI. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL, Economic Development Grants, and local funds. 2. Adult Education, particularly encouraging high school completion and General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Lake County Rural Challenge Initiative is a good model. PAL funds. 3. Customized training. FSU, WSCC. NCISD and Baker College all have extensive customized training programs. The Wisconsin Instructional Development System (WIDS) is a potential model. Economic Development Job Training (EDJT) grants and local funds. 4. Apprenticeships 5. English as a Second Language (ESL) - Grant and Hesperia Community Education programs. 2003 Initiative: Measure incumbent workforce effectiveness and make improvements in the training and education delivery system. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Skills assessment measures, i.e. Work Keys and NOCTI. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL, and local funds. GOAL FOUR: IMPROVE CAREER EXPLORATION AND DECISION MAKING THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP OF STUDENTS PARENTS TEACHERS BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES. Measures of Success: There will be an increase in the number and breadth of career exploration programs among all schools and colleges in the region. There will also be evidence of strong partnerships in each program. The stakeholders, students, parents, teachers, businesses and industries will be surveyed to determine their level of satisfaction with the career exploration/decision making process. 2001 Initiative: Complete a regional GAP analysis. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. GAP analysis process. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds. 2. Partnership for Career Decision-Making for Technologies and Health Sciences, co-sponsored by Ferris State University and Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus. 2001 Initiative: Expand Educator Academies Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. All intermediate school districts sponsor Educator Academies. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation and local funds. 2. FSU's Career Exploration programming and outreach initiatives with area secondary schools. 2002 Initiative: Develop a plan that addresses the opportunities to improve career exploration and decision making as identified in the GAP analysis. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Career exploration programs provided by schools throughout the region. A few examples are very illustrative. Both Newaygo County and Mason-Lake ISD eighth and tenth grade students tour and have hands-on experiences at the district's Career-Tech Centers. Career exploration is provided for eighth, ninth, and tenth grade students at the Mecosta-Osceola ISD. Big Rapids Public School's new Measure and Perform (MAP) initiative requires that 95% of all students receive at least one experience of career awareness each year in grades fifth through twelfth. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins and local funds 2. Career Scope or some other instrument that measures student interest and aptitude, is being used by all ISDs in the region. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. 3. Educational Development Plans (EDP) are completed by 88% of all Career Technical students in the region. In addition, the Mason-Lake ISD and WSCC through the Tech Prep Partnership, has implemented a district wide electronic EDP program that involves secondary, post secondary, and the Michigan Department of Career Development. The Mecosta-Osceola ISD is also utilizing electronic educational development plans throughout the district. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. 4. Although used primarily to enrich high school curriculum and get a "jump start" on post-secondary education, dual enrollment also affords an opportunity to explore a variety of careers. Local funds. 5. Youth Groups/Career Clubs. All three ISDs sponsor a number of these youth activity clubs: Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Skills USA, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). Other high schools in the region sponsor FFA chapters. These organizations provide skills competitions, develop leadership skills, supplement classroom instruction, increase awareness of careers and help confirm to students that they have made a good choice. Local funds. 6. Vocational Rehabilitation has a unique support role for people with disabilities. Given a tight labor market, more and more employers are looking to hiring handicapped persons. A model transition program has been designed and implemented in the Mason-Lake ISD. All tenth grade Special Education students are involved in a pre-vocational initiative which includes academic learning skills, aptitude testing, career assessment, and job shadowing opportunities. Mecosta-Osceola ISD has a model Transition Center in downtown Big Rapids to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities to work. MDCD-Rehabilitation Services (RS) 7. Co-op/Internships/Mentoring. These are all work-based learning activities, which give students exposure to what people do on the job. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. 8. The North Central Michigan Technical Preparation Partnership, which services all three ISDs in the region, FSU and WSCC, has identified the need to develop a comprehensive guidance plan for grade K-14. On March 15, 2001, the partnership will hold the third major regional conference to introduce new participants to the partnership and to continue the implementation of the Michigan Comprehensive Model for Guidance and Counseling. The partnership has seen positive results pertaining to the comprehensive guidance initiative. 9. Career Preparation/Alignment Plan. Although it may seem self-evident, our entire system needs to be integrated in order to achieve this goal. Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL, and local funds. 2003 Initiative: Measure our success in increasing the breadth and depth of career exploration programs in the region and the level of satisfaction of all stakeholders. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. GOAL FIVE: DEVELOP COMMON DEFINITIONS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND ADULT EDUCATION COMPLETERS GRADUATES WITH ADEQUATE ACADEMIC/CONTINUING EDUCATION SKILLS AND DEMONSTRATED IMPROVEMENT IN LITERACY SKILL LEVEL AMONG ADULT EDUCATION COMPLETERS. Measures of Success: There will be a marked improvement in the collection of adult education data. Common definitions of Career and Technical Education and Adult Education completers and graduates with adequate academic/continuing education skills will be adopted throughout the region. Common measures that demonstrate improvement in literacy skills level among Adult Education completers will be adopted throughout the region. 2001 Initiative: Develop a common definition of CTE completers among our three ISDs and the measures of adequate academic/continuing education skills and literacy skill level. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. We must use the Michigan Department of Career Development definitions in developing and adopting our regional definitions. That reality also includes recognizing that eligibility of Carl Perkins funds requires that the performance of CTE students will be measured in part by MEAP scores. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. 2. We must use the Michigan Adult Education Reporting System and therefore consider the attainment of a goal, e.g. high school diploma, passing all GED tests, etc., as our definition of a completer. Michigan Works! West Central Strategic Planning funds, and PAL. 2002 Initiative: Begin using these new definitions and measures as new motivation to improve our instructional effectiveness. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Michigan Works! Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, PAL, and local funds. 2003 Initiative: Determine that these definitions and measures have been universally adopted and are being used and assess the results and outcomes. Strategic Assets Redeployed Resources 1. Michigan Works! Strategic Planning funds, Career Preparation, Technical Preparation, Carl Perkins, and local funds. Other opportunities to implement or strengthen programs that will move our career development program toward our stated goals (with reference to the "Bonus Criteria"). Goal 1 Credentialing graduates with portfolios, transcripts, certification and registration with the Michigan Talent Bank, etc., represents an opportunity to strengthen existing programs. The Mecosta-Osceola ISD has in place an employability skills program that includes an emphasis on work ethic, which the Mason-Lake ISD is desirous of replicating. The Newaygo ISD has developed an effective model and has been completing five-year follow-up surveys for a number of years. Both the Mason-Lake and Mecosta-Osceola ISDs are interested in developing a similar program and beginning to build a database of longitudinal information to track and measure graduate/completer success. Goal 3 Although we have developed a school-to-registered partnership apprenticeship program in our region and have access to programs in Muskegon and Grand Rapids, we need information about completers, placement and job performance. Goal 5 We currently have three different definitions of a technical education completer with the ISDs in our region. A common definition will offer a new opportunity to benchmark and measure levels of success and improvement. There is a readiness on the part of all ISDs to determine common definitions. Special Note: Once the Strategic Assets and Comprehensive Plan is approved, the Operational Plan will include action steps to achieve initiatives considering the region's Strategic Assets, redeploying resources, and the use of other methodologies. Michigan Works! West Central