Academies

Equipping Springfield’s future workforce

C O L L E G E A N D C A R E E R

2 Years of Development

Spring 2016

Imagine SPS process begins

Fall 2016-Spring 2017

College and Career Academy school visits

Metro Nashville Public Schools, Gwinnett Public Schools and Philadelphia Public Schools

June 2018

SPS presents to Chamber member potential businesses

Fall 2018

Freshman Academy begins at GHS and HHS

January 2019

Board of Education

Update

February 2019

Grand Prairie, TX

College & Career Academy visit

Fall 2019

Sophomores at GHS and HHS begin pathway courses

Fall 2017

District College and Career Project Team formed, including Chamber member

September 2018

SPS presents to Chamber P-20 Council

What are Academies?

• A college and career pathway experience for students at Glendale and Hillcrest high schools

​

• A preview of college and career options to help students plan their futures

The College and Career Academy model is defined as a small, safe and supportive learning environment that is contained within a larger high school setting.

The Academy model can trace its origin to 1969.

Interlocking Elements of Academies

Small Learning Community (SLC) composed of secondary students who take cohort classes for at least two of their four years. Students are taught by an instructional team of teachers from different disciplines. A student counselor is assigned to each SLC.

Interactive units �combine college and career preparatory concepts, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and industry-valued certifications, while meeting their graduation requirements.

2

Ongoing engagement�of external employer and community stakeholders who bring expertise and resources to the classroom and externally onsite at businesses.

Interlocking Elements of Academies

Chamber members, that’s you!

The goals for the Academies include enhancing soft skills and work-based experience.

Learn more at SPS.org/academy

Goals for all Academy students:

• Students will develop an understanding of college and career opportunities in the pathway, and will graduate high school knowing if they want to pursue a career in the pathway or investigate another path.

• Students will develop content knowledge and skills needed for a future career in the pathway through a hands-on approach to learning.

Goals for all Academy students:

• Students will participate in work-based experiences in an industry to receive a realistic view of that career path.

• Students will have an opportunity to take industry-aligned exams for credentials and/or certifications that are valued by industry professionals.

Goals for all Academy students:

• Students will have an opportunity to take early post-secondary courses that satisfy college requirements.

The program currently consists of a one-half credit seminar course for freshmen at Glendale and Hillcrest.

Learn more at SPS.org/academy

Currently, sophomores are taking a one-credit course that allows them to focus on one specialized pathway.

Learn more at SPS.org/academy

Pathways are like college majors; students choose

which to pursue.

Learn more at SPS.org/academy

Glendale pathways

• Architecture & Design
• Computer Science
• Distribution & Logistics
• Entrepreneurship
• Legal Studies

• Biomedical
• Construction Trades
• Engineering
• Health Sciences

Hillcrest pathways

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Engineering
• Teaching
• Health Sciences

• Business Management
• Cybersecurity
• Environmental & Natural Resource Management

Architecture & Design�

Construction Trades�

Computer Science

Engineering

�Biomedical�

Health Sciences

Legal Studies�

Distribution & Logistics�

Entrepreneurship

Environmental & Natural Resource Management�

Health Sciences�

Engineering�

Advanced Manufacturing

Teaching�

Business Management

​

Cybersecurity

Pathways

Engineering�

Biomedical�

Health Sciences

Pathways

Legal Studies�

Distribution & Logistics�

Entrepreneurship

Pathways

Architecture & Design�

Construction Trades�

Computer Science

Pathways

Teaching�

Business Management�

Cybersecurity

Pathways

Environmental & Natural Resource Management�

Health Sciences�

Engineering�

Advanced Manufacturing

Students are allowed the opportunity to explore a different pathway if they discover that their original choice is not the best fit.

Key facts to remember:

• The seminar course and college and career pathways complement core curriculum.
• Fine arts programs remain a valued asset, critical to student success.

• The seminar course and pathways do not negatively impact current course offerings, either elective or required.
• Other high schools will not be required to implement a similar model.

Academy students can earn:

• OSHA 10 & OSHA 30
• AutoCAD Certified User
• SketchUp Certified User
• Level 2 Conservation Stewardship Training
• CPR
• Autodesk AutoCAD Certified User
• Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice MOLESK

• Pesticide Technician
• Herbicide Technician
• Emergency Medical Responder
• EMR Cognitive
• EMR Psychomotor
• Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam
• NALS Accredited Legal Professional

Certifications

Credentials

Academy students can earn:

• Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel & Word
• Python, MOS Excel

• Certified Logistics Technician
• Management Quickbooks Certified User
• Oracle Certified Associate, Junior Java

Certifications

Credentials

What does success look like?

• Drop-out rates
• 90/90 Attendance
• Course Failure Rates
• 5-year Historical Freshman Data
• College and Career Metrics
• Reading Plus
• iReady (ELA and Math)

​

• Student Engagement
• Teacher-Student Relationships
• Community Partner Feedback
• Stakeholder Feedback
• Increased Teacher Collaboration

SPS Internal Measures

PERFORMANCE

Power BI Dashboard

FEEDBACK

Pre and post-surveys

What does success look like?

• 180 Follow-up
• Industry Certifications
• Course Failure and credit deficiencies decline
• Dropout rate decline
• Graduation rate increase
• Student and graduate placement in the workforce

Pathway Measures

LONG-TERM

How Academies benefit Springfield

• Creates a talent pipeline for the next generation of professionals and workers in Springfield.
• Supports long-term workforce and business development by preparing students earlier.

• Builds community awareness of industry specific needs and trends.
• Celebrates local businesses by showing the many paths to long-term success in Springfield.

Academies will support student learning best with the help of community businesses and leaders.

How you can support Academies:

• Serve as an intermediary between SPS and business partners.
• Match business partners to partner profiles developed by SPS.
• Conduct candidate meetings in conjunction with SPS.

• Review any College & Career Academy marketing/messaging materials to ensure clarity of message with business partners.
• Conduct once yearly business partner follow-up with �support of SPS.

Thank You

Learn more at SPS.org/academy