Purpose
The "a-g" Cadre of Experts is a partner project to the "a-g" Interactive Guide project. The "a-g" Interactive Guide Project encourages county offices, districts, schools and program consortia to develop quality assurance prototypes and models for Career Technical Education (CTE) courses to be approved as "a-g" courses. In addition, an efficient mechanism is provided to the field to obtain University of California (UC) approval of "a-g" courses, including CTE courses. The "a-g" Cadre of Experts is comprised of members of California Department of Education (CDE) staff and educators in the field, each with a specific area of focus and expertise. Representatives from the field may contact the "a-g" Cadre of Experts for technical assistance and additional support.
The CDE contracts with the University of California, Office of the President, to administer the "a-g" Interactive Guide Project, which provides an easy-access Web site and accompanying professional development for secondary school educators to improve the level of understanding about strategies and methodologies for building courses that meet the University of California’s "a-g" subject area requirements for eligibility. The current contract supports and builds the capacity of school faculty to design additional college preparatory/CTE, integrated courses in a variety of academic areas.
Program/Services
The "a-g" Interactive Guide and the "a-g" Cadre of Experts are partner projects that work in tandem to facilitate the development of rigorous curriculum that meets the "a-g" criteria, provide quality technical assistance to the field, and ultimately strengthen the academic programs for secondary students in California.
The "a-g" Interactive Guide Project was designed to accomplish three goals, all of which stimulate and facilitate school improvement:
- To provide to high school educators quality information regarding the UC "a-g" subject area requirements and the course approval process;
- To offer a broad range of tools, resources, and professional development to assist schools in designing courses that meet the rigor of "a-g" criteria; and
- To clarify UC policy and streamline UC procedures for approving courses that meets the requirements.
The "a-g" Cadre of Experts are specifically trained to provide technical assistance and support to representatives from the field. Training of the Cadre of Experts builds capacity both internally at CDE and externally with subject matter representatives from county offices of education, local educational agencies (LEAs) and other institutions. Specific core curriculum and additional curriculum areas are organized topically for ease of access. In addition, the names, contact numbers and areas of expertise are listed on the Web site for use by the field. For more information, please visit the UC "a-g" Guide Web site [http://www.ucop.edu/a-gGuide/ag/welcome.html] (Outside Source).
Outcomes
All students in California are entitled to access to rigorous curriculum that meets the University of California "a-g" subject area requirements. Simultaneously, California’s student population continues to grow in diversity with multiple learning styles and educational needs and expectations. Concurrently, the state’s economic industry sectors require a highly skilled workforce. In order to meet multiple needs and demands, many secondary schools have created innovative courses that include both the rigor and complexity necessary for meeting UC "a-g" requirements as well as the career-related content necessary to prepare students for future career options. The Interactive Guide project helps to clarify the course approval process and offers an easy-access guide for course submission. The partner project, the "a-g" Cadre of Experts assists in facilitating and providing technical assistance to the schools in the development of the rigor and comprehensive curriculum. The funds for the Interactive Guide will enhance the work of the project by maintaining and improving the current Web site, supporting and building capacity of schools to design courses in the changing areas of visual and performing arts, and serving educators who teach in the state’s high priority schools.
Funding
The "a-g" Cadre of Experts project is supported by funds from the "a-g" Interactive Guide Project. The 2011–12 contract of $600,000 for the Interactive Guide Project is state funded through Senate Bill 70 funds related to the Governor's CTE Statewide Initiative.
Student Served
The "a-g" Cadre of Experts project strengthens and supports the development of rigorous curriculum in California high schools. Hence, greater access is made available for those students who have an interest in attending the California State University (CSU) and UC systems.
Results
- Each CTE Unit in the Secondary, Career, and Adult Leadership Division (SCALD) will develop individual work plans to strengthen the "a-g" Cadre of Experts
- Assists high school educators in meeting the multiple needs of their students in the development of rigorous curriculum
- Results in high school students becoming more competitively eligible for UC/CSU admissions
- Streamlines outreach efforts that prepare underrepresented minority students for college
- Provides high quality technical assistance to the field for rigor in curriculum development
- Facilitates the UC/CSU course approval process for all California high schools
- Facilitates articulation between UC, CSU, high schools, regional occupational programs (ROPs), charter schools, and others
- Aligns the four educational systems in California (K–12, Community Colleges, UC, CSU)
