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SAN DIEGO — After speaking to educators and business partners attending the California Department of Education’s 19th annual conference on California Partnership Academies, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today held a news conference to release two studies that show how quality career technical education programs are working to increase graduation rates and help students succeed academically.

"In the demanding 21st century, California can’t afford to leave any students unprepared. Career technical education is helping us motivate students who may be disengaged and better prepare students for both college and careers," O’Connell said. "I’m proud of the progress we are making in California to reform our high schools so that career technical education and college preparatory education are no longer separate entities. Students are no longer tracked into one pathway or another, but have options for a rich and rigorous curriculum combining both."

The first study, A Profile of the California Partnership Academies, which was conducted by ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career, shows that the more than 33,000 students participating in Career Partnership Academies are outperforming students statewide when it comes to passing the California High School Exit Exam, completing college preparatory courses, and graduating from high school. The study also indicates that Partnership Academies can help close the achievement gap because minority students participating in these rigorous, career-focused smaller learning communities do better academically when compared to students of the same ethnicity within the general student population.

"California Partnership Academies are in the forefront of initiatives aimed at preparing high school students for both college and career, not just one or the other," said Gary Hoachlander, president of ConnectEd. "The evidence suggests that they are succeeding on several important fronts. Students in Partnership Academies are passing the high school exit exam at higher rates, more are completing the "a to g" requirements of UC and CSU, and higher proportions of seniors are earning a high school diploma on time."

The second study, California Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCP) 2006 Longitudinal Study Technical Report, was commissioned by the California Department of Education and conducted by the School Improvement Research Group at the University of California, Riverside. Findings from this report show that students who participate in Regional Occupational Centers and Programs also show markedly improved achievement in school and greater success in both college and careers once they graduate.

O’Connell also announced that he is sponsoring to expand Partnership Academies in the state.

"I’m a strong supporter of California Partnership Academies because they are delivering the new three R’s that students need to succeed in today’s global economy: academic rigor, relevant real world experience, and relationships with caring adult role models in school and in the community," O’Connell said.

O’Connell is sponsoring SB 830, authored by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), which will expand the number of California Partnership Academies from 290 to 500 and will expand the program to include the ninth grade, making it a four-year program. The bill also will increase the per-pupil funding from $900 to $1,000 up to a maximum of 120 students per academy.

Senator Kehoe said, "For students who aren't motivated by the typical school curriculum, Partnership Academies can offer an invigorating learning environment and a connection between work experience and school.The academies offer at-risk teenagers a chance to develop a passion for learning while they prepare for college or a productive career after high school. My legislation would expand these great opportunities, and foster hope for thousands of California students who may have otherwise 'written off' school and a promising future."

Expanding the number of California Partnership Academies is a key strategy in O’Connell’s high school reform initiative that is focused on smaller learning communities and designed to engage students by bringing relevance to instruction and promoting strong relationships between students and teachers. Partnership Academies combine rigorous academics with a career focus. They bring schools, districts, and local partners from business, industry and labor to work with students in small learning communities. They also link academic learning with real-world career experience. Students learn from mentors who actually work in the industry sector they are studying.

Expanding California Partnership Academies was a strong recommendation of the statewide P-16 Council, a council of leaders in education, business, and community organizations appointed by O’Connell in 2005 to identify ways to improve education. For more information on California Partnership Academies, please visit California Partnership Academy Bill - Year 2007.

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Studies

A Profile of the California Partnership Academies [http://www.connectedcalifornia.org/publications/CA_Partnerships.pdf] (Outside Source; PDF; 760KB; 40pp.)

California Regional Occupational Centers and Programs 2006 Longitudinal Study Technical Report [http://www.carocp.org/2006LongitudinalStudy.pdf] (Outside Source; PDF; 985KB; 77pp.).