RIDE

Proposed Procedures and Criteria for Applying to
Career and Technical Education Preparation Programs

General Program Admission
These procedures and criteria apply to admissions to all 9th and 10th grade general career and technical education programs.

During November through January of each year, all students in grades 6-10 in each district will have the opportunity to meet with staff from the high school(s) during the Career Orientation Sessions. Access to appropriate grade level students must be given to the high school(s) staff. All students are encouraged to attend these information sessions.

During December and January an Open House for students and their parents is held at the high school. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and applications will be available. Applications will also be available from the guidance staff at the student’s school. To ensure information reaches all eligible students, applications are available in English and Spanish. Requests for applications in other primary languages may be made at this time. Staff will be available to conduct tours. Translators and signers will be available for parents/students with limited English proficiency and for parent/students with any special needs requiring accommodation. Please notify the high school(s) at least 48 hours in advance of any accommodations you may require.

All students interested in participating in a CTE preparation program in the 10th grade who did not meet or exceed the standard on the 8th grade Rhode Island State Assessment Tests must be diagnostically assessed to determine their grade level proficiency in reading and mathematics. The diagnostic assessments that districts administer—commencing in the fall 2004, as per the Regents’ “High School Regulations”—to ascertain students’ reading proficiency will suffice for this assessment. Districts may self-select a second diagnostic assessment to determine students’ mathematics (Applied Problems/Computation) grade-level ability. These reading and mathematics assessments must be administered by the end of January. Failure to take these exams will result in no consideration for admission to any of the CTE preparation programs at the high school(s). This assessment requirement does not apply to students enrolled in a CTE program in the 9th grade who are interested in continuing a sequence of CTE courses in their home school.

Students must return their completed applications to their school guidance counselor by February 1 so that area schools may submit the application to the high school(s) by February 15.

Students will be notified by March 15 of the acceptance/non-acceptance.

All students, in order to be considered for general admission to any CTE preparation program, must meet the established criteria in Reading and Mathematics, as follows:

Reading Comprehension- Grade Level 6
Mathematics (Applied Problems/Computation)- Grade Level 5

In cases where the number of qualified students exceeds the space available, a lottery shall be used to select from among those qualified students. These criteria may be relaxed if there are unfilled seats in the program and the high school provides appropriate support in literacy and mathematics consistent with the student’s personalized literacy plan. In cases where the number of students whose scores are below the general admission criteria exceeds the space available, a lottery shall be used to select from among those interested students who have completed the application process as outlined above.

For students where English is a second language (ESL), reading ability will be determined using the LAS Reading/Writing Scale or the MAC II. Established criteria using the LAS instrument are a score of 2, and for the MAC II a student must score “high intermediate.” Portfolio materials in the area of Language Arts may also be submitted to further inform a determination of the student’s English language and reading competency. In addition, a portfolio of work in the area of Mathematics must be submitted as part of the application to add to the evidence available in order to assess the readiness of students. The Portfolio must contain four (4) examples of Mathematics work in the areas of computation, applied problems and calculation. (A student at level 1 or beginner level of English proficiency may be considered on the basis of a portfolio that demonstrates high academic achievement in the student’s native language, including a transcript analysis from the native country and native language proficiency scores.)

For students with disabilities either under the IDEA or Section 504, a portfolio of work in Mathematics and/or Language Arts may be submitted. For students who do not meet the established criteria under the general admissions process, an additional review will be undertaken of the portfolio materials and additional testing. The Admissions Team at the high school(s) will request a copy of the Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement – Revised (or an equivalent), which has been administered within one year, for review in these circumstances.

Specific Career and Technical Education Preparation Program Admission

In addition to the general admissions criteria noted above (item #6), students interested in pursuing programs of study in the career clusters listed below must meet the specific program admissions criteria where indicated.

In cases where the number of qualified students exceeds the space available, a lottery shall be used to select from among those qualified students. These specific criteria may be relaxed if there are unfilled seats in the program and the high school provides appropriate support in literacy and mathematics consistent with the student’s personalized literacy plan. In cases where the number of students whose scores are below the general admission criteria exceeds the space available, a lottery shall be used to select from among those interested students who have completed the application process as outlined above.

Guidance for Specific Career and Technical Education Preparation Program
Admissions by Cluster Beginning FY 20051

Career Cluster	Reading Comprehension	Mathematics
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction2		8th grade standard
Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
Business, Management and Administration
Education and Training
Finance2	8th grade standard	8th grade standard
Government and Public Administration
Health Science2	8th grade standard
Hospitality and Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology2	8th grade standard	8th grade standard
Law, Public Safety, and Security
Manufacturing
Marketing, Sales and Service2	8th grade standard
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics2	8th grade standard	8th grade standard
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

* These criteria are subject to review and update.
* Must meet or exceed state standard on the RI State Assessment Tests.

"Every student who chooses vocational- technical education and who is qualified for admission shall have access to such programs and shall be provided free attendance by their local school committee, i.e., tuition and transportation."

"If a student is not accepted for placement [as not meeting miniumum placement criteria,] the placement committee she convene a meeting involvign the student, the student's prarents, and a representative of the partcipating school. The purpose of the meeting shall be to discuss a more appropriate placement for the student. The placement committee shall provide the reason for not accepting the student, procedures for reapplication, steps the student can take to increase the likelihood of later acceptance, and availability of appeal procedures."

"Any student denied placement is any program at any area vocational- technical center shall have the right to appeal that decision directly to the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner's hearing should be conducted and decision rendered within 15 days of receipt of the appeal. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to deny students with disabilities or their parents from availing themseleves of Due Process rights under state special education regulations."