Career TEchnical AND Adult Education News

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recently interviewed Miami Valley Career Tech Student Bethany Weldy to promote the head start students can get through career-technical education.  His opinion-editorial also appeared in the Columbus Dispatch, encouraging students to take advantage of options to help them in their chosen career path.

➡️ Meet Bethany Weldy.

She’s a pre-nursing student at @MVCTC who was accepted into college at 13 and has completed her associate’s degree at @SinclairCC while still in high school using Ohio’s College Credit Plus program. pic.twitter.com/G0zTOXWL4X

— Lt. Governor Jon Husted (@LtGovHusted) March 17, 2021

By Lt. Governor Jon Husted

Americans owe an estimated $1.57 trillion in student loan debt. Some want the debt “forgiven,” and some want college to be “free.” Like most important topics in today’s society, it can quickly turn into a polarizing discussion.

Politics aside, there are affordable solutions out there for students and families if you know how to navigate the system. It’s my goal to help you figure out how to reach your destination.

If you take advantage of the opportunities available right now in Ohio, you can receive a college degree, an industry-recognized credential and a pathway to a rewarding career, all debt-free, no matter your age or background.

Earn college credit while in high school

Ohio’s College Credit Plus helps high school students earn college and high school credits at the same time. Students can complete college courses through Ohio colleges and universities for free. As of the 2019-20 academic year, College Credit Plus students have earned 969 certificates and 2,666 associate’s degrees. Learn more on the College Credit Plus webpage. 

Career-ready before graduating high school

Ohio has been and will continue to be a champion in career and technical education and training. Our administration’s proposed budget supports the opportunity for students to earn 70,000 industry-recognized credentials each year. Students can start early on their career pathway by earning these credentials for free before even graduating high school. These in-demand credentials can help students qualify for graduation and earn more in their future careers. Every school district in Ohio is part of a career-technical planning district and can offer courses for credentials.

Students can also transfer many career-tech and credential courses into college credit at Ohio’s public colleges and universities — allowing them to start with credits already under their belts.

Easily turn a two-year degree into a bachelor's degree

You can also begin a low or no-cost path to a bachelor’s degree by starting at a community college. During the 2020-21 school year, tuition at an Ohio community college was around $5,000, which is below the maximum Federal Pell Grant. This means that learners who complete the FAFSA could qualify for a full Pell Grant and attend a public community college for free. 

Ohio is one of the best states in the nation for helping you turn your previously earned credits and job experience into a degree. If you’ve completed coursework at another school or gained experience another way, chances are an Ohio college or university will recognize that in the form of transfer credits. Learn more about the Ohio Guaranteed Transfer Pathway at OhioHigherEd.org/OGTP. 

Turn your experience into a degree

Ohio has several programs to help you turn your previous experience into a degree. Through Ohio’s “One-Year Option,” students who’ve earned an industry-recognized credential through an Ohio Technical Center can receive up to 30 technical credit hours toward an associate’s degree.

The Prior Learning Assessment program awards college credit for experiences gained outside the classroom.

Veterans are able to transfer their military experience into college credit.

Ohio’s Apprenticeship Pathways initiative turns apprenticeship experience into academic credit. This creates a pathway to an associate’s degree through one of Ohio’s community colleges at minimal cost — and you can even earn while you learn. 

Earn credentials or a degree while you work

More than half of employers offer tuition assistance for employees pursuing degrees, but fewer than 10% of the employees actually use the benefit annually. Tuition reimbursement and pre-imbursement help Ohioans earn a degree at no cost. Check with your human resources department to learn whether your employer offers tuition assistance.

And if you’re looking to upskill, TechCred and the Individual Microcredential Assistance Programs help Ohioans earn industry-recognized credentials at no cost to them.

Today in Ohio, there are pathways to receive a degree or a credential at little or no cost. The pathways are also flexible so you can work, earn, and learn at the same time by taking classes on campus, online, or often at your work site. These programs were created to serve you and to help you get the education you need to start a career without the financial burden of college debt. Over the next few weeks, check out my social media pages to see some real-life examples of how students have made it work for them. I hope you will, too. 

Registration is now open for the 2021 Ohio ACTE Annual Conference, which has been renamed the "Innovation and Impact Conference."  The conference will be held July 26-28 at the Hilton Easton - Columbus and safety measures will be in place.

The Ohio ACTE Annual Conference Committee is working hard to provide a safe, informative professional development experience in 2021. 

The Committee has renamed the  annual event the Innovation and Impact Conference/Ohio Career Technical Education to emphasize the innovative and impactful aspects of career-technical and adult education and how practices and programs can be shared to enhance career-tech offerings across the state.

Hilton Easton Hotel Reservation Link is available by clicking here.

The Ohio  Department of Education added the BASF Plant Science Certification and the Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Management Certification to the list of available credentials for the 2021-2022 school year. Four of the industry certifications hosted on the iCEV Certification Testing Platform are included on the agriculture and environmental systems pathway’s approved credential list.

Issued by a global leader in agricultural input production, the BASF Plant Science Certification validates individuals have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in a variety of plant, natural and environmental science-related fields. Recognized as the world’s leader in habitat conservation, Ducks Unlimited created the Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Management Certification to verify individuals have obtained exceptional knowledge and skills in the areas of ecological principles and wildlife management, as well as habitat, forest, grasslands, wetlands and waterfowl conservation and management.

ODE Office of CTE maintains a list of relevant industry credentials related to each CTE pathway to ensure students are prepared for academic and career pursuits outside the high school setting. Four of the industry certifications hosted on the iCEV Certification Testing Platform are included on the agriculture and environmental systems pathway’s approved credential list.

Offered by one of the premier animal health companies, the Elanco Fundamentals of Animal Science Certification verifies individuals have acquired the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue a career within the animal science industry. The Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification proves the competencies needed to achieve employability within the veterinary science field and is transferable to health and animal science fields. These credentials are already approved for use in the 2020-2021 school year.

Visit www.icevonline.com/oh-certifications to learn more about these industry credentials and others hosted on the iCEV Certification testing platform.

This article provided by Ohio ACTE business partner iCEV.  Their ongoing support helps make Ohio ACTE projects and programs possible.

About iCEV

With 36 years of experience, iCEV specializes in providing quality Career & Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and education resources for several major subject areas: Agricultural Science and Technology, Family & Consumer Sciences, Business Education, Marketing Education, Trade and Industrial Education, Health Science, Law Enforcement and Career Exploration. Through iCEV, individuals can earn industry certifications across multiple CTE areas to prepare them for educational and career success. iCEV is the most comprehensive online resource for CTE educators and students, offering learning-on-demand features, video clips streaming and testing and grading capabilities to any device with Internet capabilities. For more information, visit www.icevonline.com.

The Shoemaker Leadership Institute is open to educators who want to improve their leadership skills and learn more about career-technical and adult education.  The program provides an opportunity for participants to increase leadership qualities, develop leadership characteristics, expand their network of colleagues in CTE, and gain a holistic view of career-technical and adult education in Ohio.

The Institute is a year-long program, beginning in July at the Ohio ACTE Annual Conference, including in-person and virtual meetings.  Participants will develop an expanded commitment to the development and improvement of career-technical and adult education and gain knowledge on career-technical education in Ohio, its benefits, challenges and resources.  The program is designed to be both inspirational and transformational.  Individuals will grow both personally and professionally and develop ways to positively influence students, colleagues, their communities, and CTE stakeholders. 

Nancy Luce, PhD, will facilitate the program.  She is a long time career-tech educator, leader and career center superintendent (retired).

Click here for more information on the Institute and apply here.  Application deadline is April 15.

Each year, Ohio ACTE awards up to two Darrell Parks Student Scholarships, which provide $1,000 toward the continuing education of career-technical graduates.

Click here for the application. The deadline for submission is April 15.

The Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, February 23, 10 – 11 a.m.featuring a career center/manufacturing partnership.  Ohio ACTE and OMA have been working together to strengthen the relationships between education and industry.

Click here for details and registration:

Details and registration information

 Auburn Career Center in Lake County has worked with its local industry sector partnership, Alliance for Working Together Foundation (AWT), to build a program for two local school districts to offer the Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential through the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC).

Participants in this webinar will learn how Auburn and its partners, including OMA member Mar-Bal, Inc., raised funds for equipment and curriculum, trained instructors, and leveraged the Career Based Intervention program for local schools to introduce students to manufacturing careers.

Nominations are accepted through April 15, 2021 for the position of Ohio ACTE President Elect (three year term) and Secretary (two year term) to begin Sept. 1, 2021.  Elections are held in conjunctions with the Ohio ACTE Annual Conference.

Contact Christine Gardner, christine@ohioacte.org for more information.