Iowa ACTE: Transforming Opportunities in CTE

Dr. Craig Leager and Becky Zesiger
Indian Hills Community College
This session delves into a successful case study of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) collaboration between a community college and regional high schools. Participants will explore the strategies, challenges, and outcomes of this partnership, focusing on how it effectively bridged the gap between secondary and post-secondary education.

The presentation will highlight the partnership's development, including the alignment of curriculum, shared resources, and work-based learning opportunities. Attendees will gain insights into how this collaboration enhanced student engagement, improved student success, and prepared students for both college and careers. Practical takeaways will include models for implementation, best practices for overcoming obstacles, and methods for measuring the impact of similar partnerships. This session is ideal for educators and administrators seeking to create or strengthen CTE pathways in their communities. Explore collaboration strategies, overcoming challenges, resource alignment, and measuring successes .This session would also include the Director of High School Programs and a superintendent from Indian Hills Community College's region.

Heather Meissen, Iowa Department of Education
Kristy Black, Kirkwood Community College


Legislation (Senate File 2411) has recently redefined what counts as work-based learning (WBL). Additionally, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Postsecondary Readiness Index now includes the percentage of high school students participating in a qualifying work-based learning experience and attaining industry-recognized credentials (IRCs). During this session, staff from the Iowa Department of Education will summarize these changes and guide school districts and community colleges on how to implement WBL and IRCs into CTE programming through the career and academic planning process. Additionally, the presentation will illustrate how Kirkwood Community College has successfully navigated these changes to provide concurrent enrollment and career academy students in their region with WBL experiences and IRC attainment.After this session, attendees will be able to: 1) Summarize the differences between the different types of WBL established by Senate File 2411; 2) Describe the accountability measures in place in relation to WBL and IRCs; 3) Describe how to incorporate WBL and IRCs into students' career and academic plans and CTE programs; and 4) Develop strategies to communicate WBL and IRC information between community colleges and school districts.

Heather GaumerSallie Mae
Let’s talk about the challenges of how to pay for and complete career and technical training. We'll discuss the funding sources students and families rely on, evaluate trends that impact families’ strategies, and expose misconceptions that prevent some from making college and training more affordable. Through the results of Sallie Mae’s two research studies, we’ll uncover what separates students who are on track from those who are at risk and discuss what opportunities exist to help more students start and complete their training. Uncover data and evolving trends in how students pay for training
Discover free resources that can be implemented in student communication and persistence plans
Learn how to communicate the value over the price of training.