##### ![](media/image1.wmf)ACRN -- News Flash!

**April 2005 Issue**

**April 6, 2005**

In this edition of *America's Career Resource Network* News Flash!

-   New Study Provides Policy Recommendations to Improve Latino
    Educational Opportunity

-   OVAE Review-March 31,2005 Highlights

-   NCWE and JFF Report on "Breaking Through: Helping Low-Skilled Adults
    Enter and Succeed in College and Careers"

-   SCOIS Leads the Way in South Carolina!

-   Northeast CRNs announce Spring Meeting in May

-   Upcoming NCCTE Webcasts

# New Study Provides Policy Recommendations to Improve Latino Educational Opportunity

The Educational Policy Institute (EPI) has released a new series of
reports that documents the progress of Latino students from eighth grade
to the workforce. Supported by a grant from the Lumina Foundation for
Education, EPI analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education's
National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS). The NELS surveyed
eighth-grade students in 1988, following up in 1990, 1992, 1994, and
2000 (eight years after high school graduation).

Part I of the study looks at the 1988 8th-grade class and what happened
to them by 2000. Part II compares B.A. recipients with high school
graduates. And Part III focuses on a multiple regression analysis of the
major factors that prevent Latino students from earning a bachelor's
degree. In sum, the study finds that although Latino students face
significant and real barriers to postsecondary success, there are areas
where public policy can make a difference in the lives of Latino youth.

"When Latino students exhibited aspirations toward a bachelor's degree,
they had a 53 percent higher probability of reaching that goal," said
EPI President and co-author of the report, Dr. Watson Scott Swail.
"Throughout our analysis, we found that simple, doable things like
planning for college on the part of the student and the parents tend to
matter a lot. This is significant because we know what to do about these
things."

The report also concludes that academic preparation and taking the right
steps in college matter for Latino persistence. Dr. Alberto Cabrera,
senior scholar at EPI, co-author of the report, and University of
Wisconsin professor, addressed the issue of academic preparation. "The
reality is that high school matters to Latino students and time spent
preparing themselves for life after high school is a huge factor in what
will happen to them following high school graduation." The report states
that Latino students who held a 3.20 GPA in high school were 62 percent
more likely than other students to earn a B.A. within 8 years of high
school graduation.

The report makes recommendations for middle schools, high schools, and
postsecondary institutions to create greater opportunity for Latino
youth. The recommendations include improving communication to students
and families about postsecondary options, making better use of middle
and high school guidance counselors, and encouraging and supporting
advanced mathematics education (such as taking Algebra II by the 9th
grade).

"These data tell us an important story," says Swail. "While those in the
education arena may see these findings as redundant, the difference is
that these findings are solid and real. This isn't your typical
anecdotal information. These data come from a thorough, empirical source
which not only tells us what is going on with these students, but more
importantly, how we can facilitate improvement in educational
opportunity for Latino and all students."

All three reports are available for free download on the EPI website at:
[www.educationalpolicy.org](http://www.educationalpolicy.org/)

##### OVAE Review-March 31, 2005 Highlights

OVAE has released the March 31^st^ edition of the *OVAE Review*, with
many interesting articles for CTE professionals. You can find the full
review on OVAE's website, at
[**http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaereview/orev033005.html**](http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaereview/orev033005.html)

Items in the OVAE Review include:

***"Policy Makers and CTSO Student Views" NDCCTE Web cast***\
OVAE Assistant Secretary Dr. Susan Sclafani moderated a panel
discussion, "Contributions of CTSOs (Career and Technical Student
Organization): Policy Makers and CTSO Student Views," earlier this month
from Washington, DC, as part of the National Dissemination Center for
Career and Technical Education's 2005 Web Events Programs.

Webcast participants included: SkillsUSA President Carolyn Kimbrel,
Health Occupations Students of America President-Elect Reginald Coleman,
Future Business Leaders of America President Hilary Niedermeyer, Family,
Career and Community Leaders of America National Vice President John
Soltesz, Technology Student Association Immediate Past National
Secretary Georgia Varlan, National FFA National Officer Candidate
Lindsey Calhoun, DECA National President Bob Redd, and Business
Professionals of America Post-secondary Division President Barend
Oosthuysen.

To learn what these promising young adults have to say about their
educational experiences and their views on the benefits of belonging to
a CTSO, view the webcast at
[\<]{.underline}[http://www.nccte.org](http://www.nccte.org/)[\>]{.underline}.

***Assistant Secretary Susan Sclafani Participates in TV Show on Arts
Education***

On March 15, the Department's television series, Education News Parents
Can Use, focused on the role of arts education in improving students'
academic performance. Initial studies indicate that when students study
the arts, academic performance improves in subjects such as mathematics,
reading, and writing.  This is particularly true for students who are
most at-risk of struggling with their schoolwork or dropping out,
including students with physical or learning disabilities and those with
English as their second language.  Incorporating dance, music, theater,
and the visual arts into the curriculum can help young people develop
critical thinking skills and foster a deeper understanding about the
world around them.

The March 15 program featured Assistant Secretary Susan Sclafani;
Governor Huckabee of Arkansas; actress Debbie Allen; educators and
community leaders from Tucson, Arizona, Washington, D.C., and Columbia,
South Carolina; and others who recognize the importance of integrating
the arts into the school day and who have worked to establish effective
arts education programs in local school districts. The program is
available for viewing at
[\<]{.underline}<http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/>[\>]{.underline}.

***State Partners Test Process to Improve Adult Education Outcomes***

States are responding to the Administration's focus on improving the
quality of adult education programs as they contemplate new plans for
delivering adult education services. Six states participating in an
OVAE-funded partnership met in March to test planning processes designed
to expand or improve delivery of adult education. Diverse project
partners in the Adult Education Coordination and Planning Project
(AECAP) include Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, and
Washington.** **

***OVAE Sponsored Virtual Summit on the Community College***

On Monday, April 4, 2005, OVAE hosted a national Virtual Summit on the
Community College to highlight the role of these institutions and to
focus on findings from OVAE research projects in the fields of labor
market responsiveness and transitions from secondary to postsecondary
education. Recognizing the important role of community colleges, the
summit will bring together college, business, school, foundation, and
government leaders to explore promising practices in workforce
development and student transitions.  Leaders from OVAE and the
Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor
will engage in panel discussions, along with college presidents and
foundation representatives.

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**NCWE and JFF Report on "Breaking Through: Helping Low-Skilled Adults
Enter and Succeed in College and Careers"**

The National Council on Workforce Education (NCWE) and Jobs for the
Future (JFF) are working together on a project to identify key practices
and strategies to increase the number of low-skill, low-income adults
who advance from adult basic education and developmental education to
earning a postsecondary occupational degree.

They recently released a report that looks at the role community
colleges have in assisting low-skilled adults to gain skills, education,
credentials, and training that will help them succeed in postsecondary
education and in the workforce. The report looks at promising and
innovative strategies from across the nation that community colleges are
using to help these adults. There are four main categories of strategies
that the report focuses on, including:

1\) Integrated Institutional Structures and Services;

2\) Accelerated Learning;

3\) Labor Market Payoffs; and

4\) Integrated Institutional Structures and Services

To access the full report and to find more information about the
NCWE/JFF collaboration, please visit:
<http://www.ncwe.org/jffProject/index.aspx>

**SCOIS Leads the Way in South Carolina!**

For the past 27 years the South Carolina Occupational Information System
(SCOIS) has served as the State's career information delivery system,
under the direction of Carol Kososki. Throughout these years, the South
Carolina Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (SCOICC) has
provided oversight for the system. The SCOICC is a consortium of 10
state agencies that work together to deliver SCOIS and other relevant
career and job assistance products, training and services.

From its humble beginnings with 49 sites using microfiche and
tele-printers with dial-up modems, SCOIS has grown into a computer
network of 551 sites throughout the State. Approximately ¾ of SCOIS
sites choose to use the Internet version of SCOIS. The remaining sites
access SCOIS through CD-Rom technology.

The majority of middle schools and high schools in the state are SCOIS
users. Additionally, technical colleges and area career centers, as well
as 4-year colleges and universities, use SCOIS in their career
development programs. One-Stop Centers, Vocational Rehabilitation
Centers, public libraries, community-based organizations and others also
use the SCOIS.

The past six months have been exciting for SCOIS. It has seen
significant increases in the use of its' web-based career guidance
programs, SCOIS.NET and SCOIS.NET2 (library version). They are pleased
to report the addition of new features to these products, including the
ability to import student passwords into SCOIS.NET, a Career Cluster
Assessment, and the availability of occupational videos in more
accessible media formats (Windows Media Player).

Here are some statistical snapshots of SCOIS usage over the past six
months (September 2004 -- February 2005).

**Where Was SCOIS Used?**

The SCOIS Career Guidance System (CD-ROM), SCOIS.NET (Internet),

and SCOIS.NET2 (Internet) were used primarily in public middle and high

schools, public libraries, technical and community colleges, and area
career

centers during the first half of the 2004-2005 school year. Schools in
96%

of South Carolina counties use at least one SCOIS product. As of March
1,

2005, 312 middle or high schools had accessed a SCOIS Internet program.

Furthermore, there were 73 technical colleges and area career centers

accessing SCOIS Internet systems. 166 schools are currently using the
SCOIS

CD-ROM.

**Who Used SCOIS?**

Students, teachers, counselors, transition coordinators, administrators,
parents, and many others used the SCOIS Career Guidance System,
SCOIS.NET, and/or SCOIS.NET2 during the 2004-2005 academic year.

As of March 1, 2005, 140,574 South Carolina students were registered to
use SCOIS.NET. The number of students using a SCOIS product would be
even higher if the number of times users accessed the 128 SCOIS CD's in
circulation could be measured, or the number of students using the 173
SCOIS.NET2 were taken into consideration. (NOTE: SCOIS.NET2 sites have a
shared login; therefore, it is not possible to track individual usage.)

**How Frequently Are the Internet Products Accessed?**

Between September 1, 2004 and March 1, 2005, South Carolina

Internet users registered a total of 116,313 logins to either SCOIS.NET

or SCOIS.NET2. This number is projected to reach about one-quarter

of a million for the entire academic year.

**For What Purposes Are the SCOIS Internet Products Used?**

Completing an interest assessment and exploring colleges and occupations

are the primary reasons that users access SCOIS Internet products. In
the

past six months, 128,776 college searches were conducted and 216,501

occupation searches were performed. Students can also complete an

electronic portfolio online. In six months, 16,319 users have completed

some portion of the portfolio and 15,662 users have taken one of the two

interest assessments. Additionally, 9,774 students have logged into the

Activity Center and completed at least one of the weekly quizzes
featuring

sample proficiency test, ACT/SAT, and GED questions.

*Cool Jobs are out-of-the ordinary, up-and-coming*, *newly*

*created, or highly technical occupations.*

SCOIS adheres to the basic principles of career development. It
incorporates opportunities of Self-Knowledge; Educational and
Occupational Exploration; and Career Planning.

For more information about SCOIS, contact:

South Carolina Occupational Information System

PO Box 995

Columbia, SC 29202

\(800\) 264-9038 or (803) 737-2733

[www.scois.org](http://www.scois.org/)

### Northeast CRNs announce Spring Meeting in May

CRNs from Regions I & II are invited to meet in Portland, Maine from May
4, -- May 6, 2005. The session will focus on methods to increase
parental involvement in education. Topics will include:

-   What information do parents need?

-   What is the best way to distribute information to parents?

-   How do we get parents involved in their kid\'s career exploration?

For more information, or if you are a CRN and wish to register, please
contact:

Laurence H Seidel, Staff Director

Center for Occupational Employment Information

P.O. Box 057

Trenton, NJ 08625-0057

Email: <laurence.seidel@dol.state.nj.us>

**Upcoming Web casts from the National Dissemination Center for Research
on Career and Vocational Education**

**May 5, 2005**

**3:00 P.M. EDT**

"Role of Workforce Education in Economic Development "

Richard Katt, Nebraska Department of Education and others to be
announced

###### **May 17, 2005**

###### **3:00 P.M. EDT** 

"Business/Education Partnerships Through Career and Technical Education
"

Speaker(s) to be determined.

###### **May 25, 2005**

###### **3:00 P.M. EDT** 

"Leadership Development for Career and Technical Education and Workforce
Education "

Presenters:

-   David Dean, Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education

-   Jim McKenney, American Association of Community Colleges

-   Rebecca A. Parker, The Ohio State University

To access the webcasts, please refer to the Center's website at:

<http://www.nccte.org/webcasts/index.asp>

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We encourage you to send informational items for our monthly News Flash.
As you come across something simply drop an email marked "For ACRN News
Flash" to Robert White (<rwhite@dtihq.com>) with the information you
would like to share via this e-newsletter.