Birmingham City Schools Career Academies

1. Birmingham City SchoolsCareer Academies Education that works. DR. Craig Witherspoon Superintendent Birmingham City Schools

2. Words from our studentsClick the image below to watch a short video.

3. What Has To Happen ToImprove Student Learning?

4. National Academy foundation Stats* • As of the 2011-2012 school year, NAF academies operate in 162 school districts in 39 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NAF supports a national network of 60,000 students in 469 academies: • 63% of total student population are eligible for free and reduced price lunch • 67% are Hispanic/Latino or Black/African American • Research and evaluation confirm the effectiveness of NAF academies and the career-academy model:  • In 2011, 97% of NAF seniors graduated from high school—compared to 50% graduation rate in the cities where most NAF academies are located. • 4 out of 5 NAF students go on to college or other post-secondary education. • Of those who go on to post-secondary education, more than 50% are the first in their families to go to college. Additionally, 52% of NAF graduates earn bachelor’s degrees in four years—compared with 32% nationally. • 90% of students report that the academies helped them to develop career plans. • 85% of 5 and 10 year alumni are working in a professional field. • Career-academy graduates sustained $16,704 more in total earnings over the 8 years following high school than non-academy group members who were also studied—11% more per year. • Young men from career-academies experienced increased earnings over 8 years totaling $30,000 – 17% more per year than non-academy group members studied – thanks to a combination of increased wages, hours worked, and employment stability. • An increased percentage of career-academy graduates live independently with children and a spouse or partner eight years following high school—young men, specifically, reported positive effects on marriage and parenting. • References: • Margaret Terry Orr, Thomas Bailey,  Katherine L. Hughes, Melinda Mechur Karp, and Gregory S. Kienzl. 2004. The National Academy Foundation’s Career Academies: Shaping Postsecondary Transitions. Institute on Education and the Economy, Teachers College, Columbia University. • *All information copied from “NAF Academies: Statistics and Research.” NAF.org. National Academy Foundation, 2012. Web. 5 Dec 2012.

5. NAF model and fundamentals • Main characteristics of NAF-certified Academies: • Academies follow a “school-within-a-school” model. • Academy curriculum revolves around a designated theme; themes supported by NAF include Finance, Engineering, Health Sciences, Information Technology and Hospitality and Tourism. • Academy students are cohorted in their CTE and core curriculum courses. This enables the Academy teachers to deliver core content material in a way that is relevant to each particular Academy theme. • Academy students experience a rigorous three- or four-year curriculum path that includes an extensive work-based learning plan and college- and career-readiness programming. • Academies are supported by an Advisory Board that is made up of local industry and post secondary education partners who help the Academy develop curriculum, work-based learning plans and provide both human and financial resources to the Academy.

6. Birmingham City AcademiesBirmingham City Schools currently operates seven academies in six of our high schools, district-wide. That means we are serving a total of about 240 student in the 2012-2013 cohort and about 250 students in the new 2013-2014 cohort. We hope to engage about a 1000 students per year when all seven of our current Academies are fully populated, grades 9-12. This number will naturally increase as additional Academies as added. • GW Carver High School • Health Sciences • Engineering • Huffman High School • Architecture and Construction Design † • PD Jackson-Olin High School • Health Sciences • Business and Financeǂ • AH Parker High School • Urban Education † • Health Sciencesǂ • Wenonah High School • Hospitality and Tourism • Woodlawn High School • Business and Finance †The Urban Educators and Architecture and Construction Design programs are considered “theme neutral” as they do not have a NAF-designed curriculum model. These Academies are, however, certified under the NAF model. ǂ denotes upcoming Academies that will be in the Year of Planning during SY 2013-2014.

7. Ways you can be involved • INTERVIEWS • Students will contact individuals within a designated time frame to ask questions about your industry, career, education or other related topics. • GUEST SPEAKERS • Academy coordinators may request you visit the school to give an engaging presentation to students on a variety of topics pertaining to your profession, your industry, or topics related to the Academy theme. • SITE-VISITS • As part of the work based learning plan, Academy coordinators will set up a schedule of events in which students leave campus for extended classroom experiences. These experience may include but are not limited to: tours, lectures, professional luncheons, soft-skills training, or demonstrations. These extended classroom experiences will need to accommodate a large group of students (usually 20-30) • SHADOWING • During their junior year, students are required to complete a shadowing experience. Students will contact interested local professionals and will be accommodated on an individual basis; typical shadowing arrangements vary from four hours to one full day.

8. Ways you can be involved • INTERNSHIPS • Starting with the summer after their junior year or during their senior year, students are required to complete a compensated internships in an area connected to their career theme. EXTERNSHIPS • All Academy teachers – core curriculum and CTE – are encouraged to engage in summer externship programs to help them engage more fully with the content they are teaching and to ensure that they have first-hand knowledge and understanding of their field. • ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERSHIP • The advisory board is made up of about 12-15 local industry professionals who are committed to helping steer the Academy in terms of work-based learning, curriculum, marketing and fundraising. Advisory board members will be able to make local connections to help fulfill the needs of the Academy and ensure that the Academy curriculum is up-to-date and relevant. MISCELLANEOUS • We will also gladly welcome partners who would like to participate in the enrichment of the Academy through ways not listed here. We welcome discussion on the other ways in which you and fellow industry partners would like to be involved.

9. Current partnerships • BRIDGING THE GAP • Sponsored by the University of Alabama Health Systems Foundation and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System • During the 2013-2014 school year, students in the Academies of Health Sciences at PD Jackson-Olin and Carver High Schools will have the opportunity to participate in the Bridging The Gap program, a series of monthly site-visits to UAB Health Systems facilities. Each month, students will be exposed to a different set of careers that support the function of UAB Health Systems, through lectures, demonstrations and walking tours. • Sample calendar • October. Nursing and Care Management, including social workers, case management and nursing specialty departments • November. Information Technology and Facilities, including coding, hospital billing and patient access/registration • January. Lab Services and Respiratory Therapy, including chemistry, immunology, cytology, pathology and blood bank • February. Rehabilitation Services, including physical, occupational, speech therapies • April. Radiology and Biomed. Engineering, including Ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine • May. Support Services, including food and nutrition, patient advocates, chaplain services, language interpreters

10. Birmingham city schoolscareer academies