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College and Career Advantage highlights CTE growth, industry certifications and youth apprenticeships
Summary
CCA presented data showing higher attendance and graduation rates among CTE participants, growth to 25 pathways and 463 sections, more than 2,000 industry certifications, and plans for youth apprenticeships with the Simon Builders Foundation and grant-funded trade expansion.
At the Sept. 17 Capistrano Unified School District meeting, Chris Carter, executive director of College and Career Advantage (CCA), delivered a data-heavy information item outlining the regional CTE (career technical education) program's growth, student outcomes and planned apprenticeship partnerships.
"If a student took one CTE class, their average attendance jumps from 86% to 90%, and pathway completers average 95%," Carter said, summarizing statewide CTIG-region findings and saying CTE participation correlates with higher attendance and graduation rates. He told trustees the program offers 25 distinct pathways and 179 courses across the district, with 463 total sections and "over 2,000" industry certifications awarded.
Carter described pathway offerings in patient care, robotics engineering and a construction pathway at San Juan Hills that will expand regionally. He explained a new partnership with the Simon Builders Foundation to develop a tiny-house capstone and youth-apprenticeship placements that would allow seniors to work paid hours on construction sites connected to the program.
CCA ambassadors from several high schools spoke about hands-on internships and classroom-to-workplace experiences. "We're currently in the patient care pathway ... our junior year we took medical assisting, and we're currently in the health intern class," one student said, describing clinical exposure and off-campus placements.
Trustees asked detailed questions about which certifications are offered during the school day versus after school (in-bell versus after-bell), the employability of SolidWorks and other certifications, capacity constraints (CCA has a stated adult-program capacity of 221 seats this year), and grants to expand trades. Carter and CCA staff said CCA is grant-funded, recently received a Catalyst grant via JobsFirst California to grow trades (possible welding, electrical or HVAC), and that youth apprenticeships will be pursued in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education and regional employers.
The item was informational only; no board action was required.
