Oklahoma HSTW Updates

ASSESSMENT

2008 HSTW GRADUATE FOLLOW-UP SURVEY

The follow-up survey will be administered on-line and will take approximately five minutes for graduates to complete. All you will have to do is complete the postcards SREB sends (with students' names, address, your school's site code and students' assessment ID number) and mail them to graduates who participated in the 2008 HSTW Assessment. SREB will send a roster of students who participated in the assessment, including their assessment ID number, making it easier for schools to identify those graduates to contact.

Who: Schools that participated in the 2008 HSTW Assessment
What: Administration materials will be mailed in February. School reports will be mailed to schools in fall 2009 as PDF files on CD-ROMs
When: Complete between March 2 - May 29, 2009
Why: To validate SREB's predictive validity study of the new assessment as well as compare the HSTW assessment to the SAT, ACT and high school GPA to determine the relationship between the HSTW assessment and post-high school pursuits.

Additional information is forthcoming.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

COUNSELOR CONFERENCE
March 3rd – Moore-Norman Technology Center - South Penn Campus
Registration is online at: http://sde.state.ok.us/Services/Conference/default.html


THE 2009 OKLAHOMA KEYTRAIN USERS MEETING!
February 25th – Tulsa Technology Center - Riverside Campus, Jenks
February 26th – Metro Tech - South Bryant Campus (Automotive Center Auditorium), OKC
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Lunch provided)
(Optional KeyTrain 101 training update session: 3:05pm-3:55pm)

What We Do – Sessions:
- What We Do In Oklahoma (panel) - KeyTrain use in various agencies
- What's 'Doing' at the KeyTrain National Office - update on what's new and what's coming from KeyTrain
- Meeting Employer Expectations - What role can KeyTrain play in better preparing future employees?
- What's Being Done About Soft Skills A how-to on the effective use of KeyTrain's Career Skills
- What we do in Oklahoma High Schools - High School representatives share their successful KeyTrain programs.
- Does What We Do Make a Difference? Identifying research models for WorkKeys and KeyTrain studies

Don't miss the opportunity to gain ideas and learn the many ways to implement and expand the KeyTrain program at your school. Register at: http://www.keytrainnews.com/Emails/OK/OK2009Announcement.html

Contact Jack Reese at 918-369-9710, mobile 847-507-1015 or e-mail reesej@keytrain.com with any questions.


GANG AWARENESS TRAINING
Oklahoma Gang Investigators Association hosts different trainings throughout the year. Go to http://ogia.us/ to find additional information.

February 5th – Gangs 101 Training, Tulsa
April 28th – May 1st State Conference, Tulsa

Why Students Struggle with Algebra and How Schools Are Helping
Free Live Webinar: Why Students Struggle with Algebra and How Schools Are Helping
When: Tuesday, February 10th at 1pm Eastern time.
Free registration is now open at: http://edweek.org/go/algebra

23RD ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WORK STAFF DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
This year's summer conference theme is Heads-On, Hands-On Learning: Key to Student Motivation and Achievement. The purpose of the conference is to inform state, district, school and teacher leaders about practices in the middle grades, high schools and technology centers that will increase student motivation and learning, students' readiness for high school studies, high school completion rates, and students' success in postsecondary studies and careers.

The online announcement brochure is available at http://www.sreb.org/SummerConference/index.asp

The Announcement Brochure describes the eight conference objectives, registration information, a proposal to present form and further conference information. Check out the pre-conferences to deeper implement the High Schools That Work framework. Submit proposals for presentations demonstrating how implementation of the HSTW, Making Middle Grades Work and Technology Centers That Work designs is improving student achievement at your school.

Please read over the brochure and make plans to join us in Atlanta this July!

GOVERNOR'S GLOBAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
J.C. Smith, Oklahoma State Department of Education, encourages Oklahoma high school counselors to attend the Governor's Global Education Conference at the University of Central Oklahoma on Feb. 13, 2009. This conference will provide invaluable exposure as to why and how young Oklahomans must become more internationally engaged and our campuses that consistently provide these opportunities. For more information contact Erin Taylor, PhD, Coordinator, Academic Affairs Projects with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Phone (405) 225-9163 if you have questions.

Registration is online at www.okglobaled.org.

THE SKILLS IMPERATIVE: SOLVE THE U.S. TALENT SHORTAGE
This interesting publication may prove useful to enhancing the quality of career and technical courses and building a partnership with your local chamber of commerce.
http://www.uschamber.com/NR/rdonlyres/eciaj45n6o5jxdngkikp6zgphwy4gqbkt3vyv7q4eu5xlcpms7escmdu5koxwfyvrgdpxukqamx35ljclqfydbuob2g/CTEPaperFINAL.pdf