Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-46.6 - Career and technical education program approval and review
(1)
Secondary program approval. All career and technical education
programs offered by a district are to be approved by the department. As a
condition for approval, a district will comply with the following paragraphs:
a.
Data collection and
analysis. A district, for each program, will conduct an analysis of
appropriate data and information related to the program and occupational fields
applicable to the program. For purposes of this subrule, data includes, at a
minimum, program enrollment numbers and trends by high school, course
completion rates and trends, data needed under federal statutes governing
career and technical education, and labor market information and socioeconomic
and demographic data elements as provided by the partnership.
b.
Program report and
self-study. A district will create a program report and self-study for
each offered program. The program report and self-study includes the following
minimum criteria:
(1) Program overview. This
section includes an overview of the program's purpose, a summary of data and
information as described under paragraph 46.6(1)"a" and any
conclusions drawn from this data and information, and an analysis of future
trends in occupations associated with the program.
(2) Statement of program goals, objectives,
and outcomes. This section includes clear statements of the program's goals,
objectives, and outcomes, including a justification of the program's goal(s),
objective(s), and outcome(s) based on the review conducted under subparagraph
46.6(1)"b"(1), and describes methods that will be used to
measure the program's stated outcomes.
(3) Competencies. This section describes the
established program competencies aligned with state standards pursuant to rule
281-46.5 (256) and the program's
goals, objectives, and outcomes; includes evidence of advisory committee
approval of competencies, technical skill assessment tool(s), and proficiency
benchmarks; includes evidence of postsecondary approval of competencies and
technical skill assessment tool(s); outlines and describe the coherent sequence
of coursework that constitutes the program, including any related foundational
and concurrent enrollment coursework, depicted in a plan of study template;
describes processes utilized to employ contextualized and effective work-based,
project-based, and problem-based learning approaches; describes efforts to
integrate career and technical education student organization(s) into the
program, if applicable; and describes processes utilized to review and update
the curriculum, ensuring continued relevancy to the occupational
field.
(4) Student assessment. This
section describes how the program will assess student outcomes established
under subparagraph 46.6(1)"b"(2) and program competencies
established under subparagraph 46.6(1)"b"(3) and the
established technical skill assessment tool(s) to measure competencies,
utilizing industry-approved technical skill assessments, where available and
appropriate.
(5) Educational
resources. This section describes key equipment and materials currently used in
instruction; processes to determine whether the equipment is relevant and up to
date; processes to maintain the equipment; and new equipment needs, with a
description of how the proposed new equipment would improve the
program.
(6) Advisory council. This
section describes how the program engages with the business community to
recruit members for the advisory council pursuant to rule
281-46.8 (258) and includes a
current member list with titles and company; describes advisory committee
meeting logistics including, but not limited to, meeting frequency, agendas,
and minutes; details and describes the advice the advisory council has
suggested for the program and any actions or results taken by the program that
stem from this advice as well as any advice not acted upon by the program; and
includes, as an appendix to the narrative, advisory council minutes from the
prior year.
(7) Partnerships. This
section describes how the program's curriculum is integrated with other
curricular offerings required of all students; describes the articulation,
contractual agreements for shared courses with community colleges, and other
agreements with community colleges and other postsecondary institutions; and
describes how the program partners with counselors at various levels to assist
all students and stakeholders in the exploration of pathway opportunities
within the service area.
(8)
Removing barriers. This section describes how the program removes barriers for
all students to access education opportunities both while in and beyond high
school.
c.
Feedback. The district will submit the program report and
self-study completed under paragraph 46.6(1)"b" to the
partnership for peer review and feedback. The partnership is to complete a
review of the program report and self-study and provide the district with
recommendations and feedback based on that review. The partnership's
recommendations will be documented and submitted to the department and the
district. The partnership will include in the recommendations a determination
of whether the program should or should not receive department approval. A
program must be recommended for approval by the partnership for the program to
receive approval by the department. The district will modify the program report
and self-study based on the partnership's recommendations. The partnership's
recommendations will be included as an appendix to the program report and
self-study submitted to the department. The final program report and self-study
will be submitted by the district to the department.
d.
Department approval.
Final approval of programs is reserved to the department. Approval will be
awarded to a program if clear evidence of compliance with the criteria
established in this rule is provided in the program report and self-study under
paragraph 46.6(1)"b." A program that fails to be approved by
the department will have one year to address identified deficiencies and
resubmit for approval of the program. The department will provide a summary of
the deficiencies in need of addressing.
(2)
Postsecondary program
approval. All community college career and technical education
programs will be approved through the process established in 281-Chapter
21.
(3)
Secondary program
review. The program review process will ensure that 20 percent of
secondary career and technical education programs are reviewed on an annual
basis and that career and technical education programs meet standards adopted
by the board. The review will include an assessment of the extent to which the
competencies in the program are being mastered by the students enrolled, the
costs are proportionate to educational benefits received, the career and
technical education curriculum is articulated and integrated with other
curricular offerings required of all students, the programs would permit
students with career and technical education backgrounds to pursue other
educational interests in a postsecondary institutional setting, and the
programs remove barriers for all students to access educational and employment
opportunities.
a.
Secondary program
review. As a condition of continuing approval, districts will comply
with the following provisions for career and technical education program
review. Units of instruction necessary under rule
281-46.4 (258) are to have
students from each participating high school enrolled. Each district that sends
students to a shared program with another district that is used by the sending
district to fulfill rule
281-46.4 (258) is to have
students from the sending district enrolled in the shared program.
(1) Conclusions drawn from annual program
measurement. A district will, for each program, annually review and evaluate
program outcomes and student assessment data. The district will document any
conclusions drawn from the review and evaluation of program outcomes and
student assessment data, and how those conclusions impact the future direction
of the program. In addition to and as a result of this review, the district
will identify program strengths, in order of importance, and describe how these
strengths will be maintained; perceived barriers to accomplishing the program's
goal(s) and objective(s); and primary opportunities for improvement, in order
of importance, and how these opportunities for improvement will be addressed.
The district will also review program enrollment and participation data by high
school to determine if students from each participating high school have access
to the program. The district will describe how the district is ensuring access
to the program for all students from each participating high school.
(2) Revision of program goals, objectives,
and outcomes. The district is to update and make appropriate revisions to the
program, including goals, objectives, and outcomes, as outlined in the program
report and self-study based on the results of the activities prescribed under
subparagraph 46.6(3)"a"(1).
b.
Feedback. The district
will submit the program report and self-study completed under subparagraph
46.6(3)"a"(2) to the partnership for peer review and feedback.
The partnership will complete a review of the program report and self-study and
provide the district with recommendations and feedback based on the review. The
partnership's recommendations are to be documented and submitted to the
department and the district. The partnership will include in the
recommendations a determination of whether the program should or should not
receive department approval. A program is to be recommended for approval by the
partnership for the program to receive approval by the department. The district
will modify the program report and self-study based on the partnership's
recommendations. The partnership's recommendations will be included as an
appendix to the program report and self-study submitted to the department. The
final program report and self-study will be submitted by the district to the
department.
c.
Department
approval. Final approval of programs will be reserved for the
department. Approval will be awarded to a program if clear evidence of
compliance with the criteria established in this rule is provided in the
program report and self-study under this rule. A program that fails to be
approved by the department will have one year to address identified
deficiencies and resubmit for approval of the program. The department will
provide a summary of the deficiencies in need of addressing.
(4)
Postsecondary program
review.
a.
General.
The postsecondary program review process is to ensure career and technical
education programs meet standards adopted by the board. The program review will
include an assessment of the extent to which:
(1) Students are proficient in the knowledge
and skills aligned with industry expectations;
(2) The program yields a positive return on
investment for students;
(3) The
general education curriculum in the program is aligned with the program
outcomes;
(4) The program provides
opportunities for students to pursue other educational opportunities, other
co-curricular opportunities, or both at the community college;
(5) The program removes barriers for all
students, including special populations defined by the Carl D. Perkins Career
and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006,
20 U.S.C. §
2301 et seq., to access educational and
employment opportunities;
(6) The
curriculum is current and relevant;
(7) There is continued professional
development of instructors;
(8) The
equipment and facilities are adequate;
(9) Student outcomes, including, at a
minimum, program enrollment rates, retention rates, completion rates, and
employment rates and wages, are disaggregated, at a minimum, by gender, race
and ethnicity, and other special populations defined by the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006,
20 U.S.C. §
2301 et seq., and addressed by the
program;
(10) The program aligns to
additional education and training opportunities; and
(11) The program has implemented prior cycle
goals and has developed additional plans for improvement.
b.
Process. Each community
college will establish a process that ensures at least 20 percent of career and
technical education programs are reviewed on an annual basis. The department
will ensure compliance with this paragraph through the community college
accreditation process established in 281-Chapter 21.
c.
Additional components.
The following minimum components will also be addressed through the program
review process outlined in paragraph 46.6(4)"a."
(1) Industry or professional standards.
Community colleges will utilize program standards established and recognized by
industry or professional organizations when available and appropriate. In lieu
of these standards, community colleges will develop program standards through a
structured group interview process, which involves committees of incumbent
workers within an occupational cluster analyzing standards that include new and
emerging technologies, and job-seeking, leadership, entrepreneurial, and
occupational competencies. This analysis includes identifying standards that
ensure program participants have access to instruction that leads to employment
and further training. All standards will be analyzed for the reinforcement of
academic skills.
(2) Advisory
council. The community college will document how the program engages with the
business community to recruit members for the advisory council under rule
281-46.8 (258). Program review
documentation will include a current member list with titles and employer;
advisory committee meeting logistics, including but not limited to meeting
frequency, agendas, and minutes; advice the advisory council has suggested for
the program; and any actions or results taken by the program that stem from
this advice.
(3) Pathways with
secondary institutions. Teachers and administrators from both secondary and
postsecondary instructional levels (when applicable) meet to identify
competencies required at each level and to jointly develop pathways between
secondary and postsecondary levels for specific occupational areas. Such
collaborative efforts will facilitate the secondary-postsecondary transition
and help reduce duplication between the two levels.
(5)
Program
modification. Any modifications to a program are to be approved by the
department. Modification includes a change to the courses in the program, a
change to the description of a program, discontinuing a program or option, a
change to instructional or occupational classification, or changes in program
entrance requirements.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
(1) Secondary program approval. All career and technical education programs offered by a district are to be approved by the department. As a condition for approval, a district will comply with the following paragraphs:
a. Data collection and analysis. A district, for each program, will conduct an analysis of appropriate data and information related to the program and occupational fields applicable to the program. For purposes of this subrule, data includes, at a minimum, program enrollment numbers and trends by high school, course completion rates and trends, data needed under federal statutes governing career and technical education, and labor market information and socioeconomic and demographic data elements as provided by the partnership.
b. Program report and self-study. A district will create a program report and self-study for each offered program. The program report and self-study includes the following minimum criteria:
(1) Program overview. This section includes an overview of the program's purpose, a summary of data and information as described under paragraph 46.6(1)"a" and any conclusions drawn from this data and information, and an analysis of future trends in occupations associated with the program.
(2) Statement of program goals, objectives, and outcomes. This section includes clear statements of the program's goals, objectives, and outcomes, including a justification of the program's goal(s), objective(s), and outcome(s) based on the review conducted under subparagraph 46.6(1)"b"(1), and describes methods that will be used to measure the program's stated outcomes.
(3) Competencies. This section describes the established program competencies aligned with state standards pursuant to rule 281-46.5 (256) and the program's goals, objectives, and outcomes; includes evidence of advisory committee approval of competencies, technical skill assessment tool(s), and proficiency benchmarks; includes evidence of postsecondary approval of competencies and technical skill assessment tool(s); outlines and describe the coherent sequence of coursework that constitutes the program, including any related foundational and concurrent enrollment coursework, depicted in a plan of study template; describes processes utilized to employ contextualized and effective work-based, project-based, and problem-based learning approaches; describes efforts to integrate career and technical education student organization(s) into the program, if applicable; and describes processes utilized to review and update the curriculum, ensuring continued relevancy to the occupational field.
(4) Student assessment. This section describes how the program will assess student outcomes established under subparagraph 46.6(1)"b"(2) and program competencies established under subparagraph 46.6(1)"b"(3) and the established technical skill assessment tool(s) to measure competencies, utilizing industry-approved technical skill assessments, where available and appropriate.
(5) Educational resources. This section describes key equipment and materials currently used in instruction; processes to determine whether the equipment is relevant and up to date; processes to maintain the equipment; and new equipment needs, with a description of how the proposed new equipment would improve the program.
(6) Advisory council. This section describes how the program engages with the business community to recruit members for the advisory council pursuant to rule 281-46.8 (258) and includes a current member list with titles and company; describes advisory committee meeting logistics including, but not limited to, meeting frequency, agendas, and minutes; details and describes the advice the advisory council has suggested for the program and any actions or results taken by the program that stem from this advice as well as any advice not acted upon by the program; and includes, as an appendix to the narrative, advisory council minutes from the prior year.
(7) Partnerships. This section describes how the program's curriculum is integrated with other curricular offerings required of all students; describes the articulation, contractual agreements for shared courses with community colleges, and other agreements with community colleges and other postsecondary institutions; and describes how the program partners with counselors at various levels to assist all students and stakeholders in the exploration of pathway opportunities within the service area.
(8) Removing barriers. This section describes how the program removes barriers for all students to access education opportunities both while in and beyond high school.
c. Feedback. The district will submit the program report and self-study completed under paragraph 46.6(1)"b" to the partnership for peer review and feedback. The partnership is to complete a review of the program report and self-study and provide the district with recommendations and feedback based on that review. The partnership's recommendations will be documented and submitted to the department and the district. The partnership will include in the recommendations a determination of whether the program should or should not receive department approval. A program must be recommended for approval by the partnership for the program to receive approval by the department. The district will modify the program report and self-study based on the partnership's recommendations. The partnership's recommendations will be included as an appendix to the program report and self-study submitted to the department. The final program report and self-study will be submitted by the district to the department.
d. Department approval. Final approval of programs is reserved to the department. Approval will be awarded to a program if clear evidence of compliance with the criteria established in this rule is provided in the program report and self-study under paragraph 46.6(1)"b." A program that fails to be approved by the department will have one year to address identified deficiencies and resubmit for approval of the program. The department will provide a summary of the deficiencies in need of addressing.
(2) Postsecondary program approval. All community college career and technical education programs will be approved through the process established in 281-Chapter 21.
(3) Secondary program review. The program review process will ensure that 20 percent of secondary career and technical education programs are reviewed on an annual basis and that career and technical education programs meet standards adopted by the board. The review will include an assessment of the extent to which the competencies in the program are being mastered by the students enrolled, the costs are proportionate to educational benefits received, the career and technical education curriculum is articulated and integrated with other curricular offerings required of all students, the programs would permit students with career and technical education backgrounds to pursue other educational interests in a postsecondary institutional setting, and the programs remove barriers for all students to access educational and employment opportunities.
a. Secondary program review. As a condition of continuing approval, districts will comply with the following provisions for career and technical education program review. Units of instruction necessary under rule 281-46.4 (258) are to have students from each participating high school enrolled. Each district that sends students to a shared program with another district that is used by the sending district to fulfill rule 281-46.4 (258) is to have students from the sending district enrolled in the shared program .
(1) Conclusions drawn from annual program measurement. A district will, for each program, annually review and evaluate program outcomes and student assessment data. The district will document any conclusions drawn from the review and evaluation of program outcomes and student assessment data, and how those conclusions impact the future direction of the program. In addition to and as a result of this review, the district will identify program strengths, in order of importance, and describe how these strengths will be maintained; perceived barriers to accomplishing the program's goal(s) and objective(s); and primary opportunities for improvement, in order of importance, and how these opportunities for improvement will be addressed. The district will also review program enrollment and participation data by high school to determine if students from each participating high school have access to the program. The district will describe how the district is ensuring access to the program for all students from each participating high school.
(2) Revision of program goals, objectives, and outcomes. The district is to update and make appropriate revisions to the program, including goals, objectives, and outcomes, as outlined in the program report and self-study based on the results of the activities prescribed under subparagraph 46.6(3)"a"(1).
b. Feedback. The district will submit the program report and self-study completed under subparagraph 46.6(3)"a"(2) to the partnership for peer review and feedback. The partnership will complete a review of the program report and self-study and provide the district with recommendations and feedback based on the review. The partnership's recommendations are to be documented and submitted to the department and the district. The partnership will include in the recommendations a determination of whether the program should or should not receive department approval. A program is to be recommended for approval by the partnership for the program to receive approval by the department. The district will modify the program report and self-study based on the partnership's recommendations. The partnership's recommendations will be included as an appendix to the program report and self-study submitted to the department. The final program report and self-study will be submitted by the district to the department.
c. Department approval. Final approval of programs will be reserved for the department. Approval will be awarded to a program if clear evidence of compliance with the criteria established in this rule is provided in the program report and self-study under this rule. A program that fails to be approved by the department will have one year to address identified deficiencies and resubmit for approval of the program. The department will provide a summary of the deficiencies in need of addressing.
(4) Postsecondary program review. The postsecondary program review process is to ensure career and technical education programs meet standards adopted by the board. The review will include an assessment of the extent to which the competencies in the program are being mastered by the students enrolled, the program costs are proportionate to educational benefits received, the curriculum is articulated and integrated with other curricular offerings required of all students, the program provides opportunities for students to pursue other educational interests in a postsecondary institutional setting, and the program removes barriers for all students to access educational and employment opportunities.
a. Process. Each community college will establish a process that ensures at least 20 percent of career and technical education programs are reviewed on an annual basis. The department will ensure compliance with this paragraph through the community college accreditation process established in 281-Chapter 21.
b. Components. The following minimum components will be addressed through the process outlined in paragraph 46.6(4)"a."
(1) Industry or professional standards. Community colleges will utilize standards established and recognized by industry or professional organizations when available and appropriate. In lieu of these standards, community colleges will develop program standards through a structured group interview process, which involves committees of incumbent workers within an occupational cluster analyzing standards that include new and emerging technologies, job seeking, leadership, entrepreneurial, and occupational competencies. This analysis includes identifying standards that ensure program participants have access to instruction that leads to employment and further training. All standards will be analyzed for the reinforcement of academic skills.
(2) Program standards. Additional standards to be addressed during the program review include currency of curriculum; faculty qualifications; professional development; adequacy of equipment and facilities; student outcomes, in terms of student demographics to include gender, race and ethnicity, national origin, and disability; enrollment retention, completion, and replacement rates; articulation; and employment rates and wages.
(3) Advisory council. The community college will document how the program engages with the business community to recruit members for the advisory council under rule 281-46.8 (258). Program review documentation will include a current member list with titles and employer; advisory committee meeting logistics including, but not limited to, meeting frequency, agendas, and minutes; advice the advisory council has suggested for the program; and any actions or results taken by the program that stem from this advice.
(4) Articulation. Teachers and administrators from both secondary and postsecondary instructional levels (when applicable) meet to identify competencies required at each level and to jointly prepare agreements of articulation between secondary and postsecondary levels for specific occupational areas. Such joint articulation efforts will facilitate the secondary-postsecondary transition and help reduce duplication between the two levels.
(5) Program modification. Any modifications to a program are to be approved by the department. Modification includes a change to the courses in the program, a change to the description of a program, discontinuing a program or option, a change to instructional or occupational classification, or changes in program entrance requirements.