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Welcome from the Bureau Chief of Career & Technical Education
Welcome to the inaugural quarterly newsletter published by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education. The quarterly newsletter is designed to provide you with important updates and information regarding all facets of career and technical education, including work-based learning and career and academic planning. Staff in the Bureau of Career and Technical Education are always available to assist you.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time. Thank you for all you do to provide high quality career and technical education programs for Iowa’s students.
Sincerely,
Dennis D. Harden, Ed.D.
Bureau Chief, Career and Technical Education
Secondary CTE Reporting Application Webinars
Jeff Fletcher of the Iowa Department of Education will host two Secondary CTE Reporting Application (SCTERA) webinars on Wednesday, December 14 and Wednesday, January 4. Both webinars will be from 9-10 a.m. You may sign up for one or both webinars by registering at the link below. An invitation will be sent to you with Zoom details.
For more information, contact Jeff Fletcher, Education Program Consultant (jeffrey.fletcher@iowa.gov or 515-321-7309).
It’s Official: A New IowaGrants Platform is Coming - Go Live Monday, December 12!
The time is rapidly approaching for the transition to the new IowaGrants.gov platform. The official scheduled go-live date is December 12, 2022.
There will be a period of time when the system is down (“offline”) and inaccessible while data is being transferred from the old system to the new system. This downtime will be from December 2nd at 5:00 p.m. through December 12th at 8:00 a.m.; during this time, internal or external users will not have access to either system (old or new). Please mark your calendars and plan all procurement (RFP, RFA, etc.) timelines (including reviews), grant management and contract processes accordingly.
Notable improvements include:
- A modern, fresh new look to the platform that powers WebGrants.
- An updated main menu with content that is now dynamic and continuously available, with a side menu appended to the left of your screen.
- Enhanced search navigation options.
The new IowaGrants system will have many of the same features and capabilities as the current system but a different look and feel. In the video at the link below, new key features are highlighted. Note: If the video is fuzzy, click the Gear Icon for Settings to change the Quality to 720p.
Be on the lookout for future additional communications about this transition.
For more information, contact Jeff Fletcher, Education Program Consultant (jeffrey.fletcher@iowa.gov or 515-321-7309).
Work-Based Learning Course Naming and Coding Guide
In an effort to generate consistency and recognition for work-based learning credit programs across the state, a new resource has just been launched to support districts. The Work-Based Learning Course Naming and Coding Guide has been published to support districts wishing to be recognized for the work-based learning credit opportunities available in their school districts.
Included in the guide are new SCED codes for school-based enterprises and workplace project-based learning (authentic projects). This resource also provides suggested middle school CTE programming codes for districts to consider using.
For more information, contact Kristy Volesky, Education Program Consultant (kristy.volesky@iowa.gov or 515-971-0669).
CTSO Guidance, Toolkits, Resources, and More are a Single Click Away
All things career and technical student organizations can be found in one place on the Iowa Department of Education's website. Here you will find numerous resources to help answer your questions as well as contact information for CTSO leaders who can provide additional support.
For more information, contact Chris Dzurick, Education Program Consultant (chris.dzurick@iowa.gov or 515-419-4792).
Perkins Claim Webinars
Amy Vybiral of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education will host Perkins Claim Webinars on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
November 9th 10:00 a.m. - Perkins Inventory Requirements
December 14th 10:00 a.m. - Perkins Frequently Asked Questions
Agendas will be emailed to secondary and postsecondary Perkins contacts two days prior to each webinar.
Perkins V webinar resources may be accessed through the Learn More link below.
For more information and direct Zoom links, contact Amy Vybiral, Education Program Consultant (amy.vybiral@iowa.gov or 515-339-4520).
Stay tuned here for professional development opportunities and upcoming learning events. The Bureau of Career and Technical Education will be adding more details here as opportunities are scheduled.
National FFA Convention
The 95th National FFA Convention & Expo celebrated its annual in-person convention beginning October 26th and concluding on October 29th. More than 69,000 FFA members and guests from throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands attended this year's event. The National Convention & Expo was held in Indianapolis this year as part of the organization’s long-term hosting partnership with Indianapolis that will run through 2033. Seven general sessions were held at Lucas Oil Stadium. On the morning of Saturday, October 29th, a special ceremony was held where American FFA Degrees, the highest degree for an FFA member, was bestowed upon more than 4,000 members. The Iowa FFA Association had representation from more than 3,000 attendees involved in all facets of the event.
For more information, contact Matthew Eddy, Education Program Consultant (matthew.eddy@iowa.gov or 515-720-8863).
Career Pathways Resources Available
The Iowa Department of Education has developed career pathways resources to provide students, parents and educators a better understanding of the wide range of jobs available in the state’s in-demand industries, including: advanced manufacturing, building trades, business and finance, health science, information technology, energy, transportation and hospitality.
These resources highlight the many benefits of working in these industries, while dispelling long-held misconceptions about the work. The resources also match personality traits, interest types and dynamic skill sets with different high-demand jobs in critical industries to illustrate career opportunities that exist across the state. Visit CareerPathways.EducateIowa.gov to learn more and download these valuable resources.
For more information, contact Erica Woods-Schmitz, Education Program Consultant (erica.woods-schmitz@iowa.gov or 515-330-0185).
Meaningful Career Conversations Support Students' Career and Academic Planning
Over 250 of Iowa’s educators participated in the Meaningful Career Conversations (MCC) training last spring with additional opportunities this school year. The MCC training is available to all school counselors, intermediaries, community college advisors, work-based learning coordinators, CTSO advisors, mentors, CTE teachers and club sponsors, teachers, administrators, after-school providers, librarians, school board members, STEM advisory boards, and anyone who might have a career conversation with a student in the PK-20 system in Iowa.
The training provides a framework including hands-on resources surrounding the steps and considerations for having an in-depth, student-centered conversation that supports students in their postsecondary planning process. Meaningful Career Conversations targets three areas: Engage, Explore and Empower and is tied to the individual career and academic Plan (ICAP) requirements for all Iowa students.
School districts, CTSOs, community colleges or any interested organization can request training from an Iowa trainer by clicking the learn more button below. Districts can also connect with one of Iowa's MCC Trainers directly to set up a training session.
For more information, contact Erica Woods-Schmitz, Education Program Consultant (erica.woods-schmitz@iowa.gov or 515-330-0185).
Share the Bureau of Career and Technical Education Quarterly News and Updates and sign up to receive it in you mailbox.
CTE Team
Iowa Department of Education
Bureau of Career and Technical Education
cte@iowa.gov
515-242-5034
cte.educateiowa.gov
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