PA Council of Basic Education

==Insights==
The PA Council of Basic Education heard testimony in November 2010 and approved a report on the work of the State Assessment Validation Advisory Committee, which was charged with investigating the use of occupational skills test, such as the NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) exams as an alternative pathway to a high school diploma. The Committee unanimously recommended that to be eligible for this alternative pathway to state high school graduation requirements a Career Technical Education (CTE) student must meet all other requirements for graduating (course completion and grades; completion of a culminating project; and demonstration of proficiency as determine by the local education agency (LEA) in each of the state academic standards). The CTE student must take the Keystone Exams or locally developed assessments and complete a PA State Skill Assessment (such as NOCTI, NIMS, or other PA approved exam). A CTE student must demonstrate proficiency in Algebra I, biology, and literature. This proposal ensures that all students have access to a rigorous curriculum aligned with state standards and provides flexibility that assigns value to a rigorous occupational skills test once a student has demonstrated proficiency in the three subjects required for federal accountability purposes. The full Board voted unanimously to approve this alternative pathway.
Category:Education
Category:Government