Los Angeles Unified School District

District Sponsored Academies


	CTE Unit Career Academies District Academies Cal. Partnership Acad SLCs QZABs Career Tech. Education CTE Advisory Board CTE Pathways/Perkins Perkins Resources CTE Curriculum Student Employment Gov. Employment Off-Track Opp. Work Permits Student Internships Related Websites Work Experience Ed District W.E.E. Plan W.E.E. Curriculum W.E. School Contacts W.E. Calendar Related Websities First Break - Web Business Partners Business Partnerships Employer Partnerships School-to-Career UNITE-LA Work-Based Learning FAQs

Contact:
Office:	333 S Beaudry Ave LA, CA 90017
Phone:
FAX:

Overview

The Career Academy model is effective because it:
Ø allows for a smaller learning environment with fewer teachers involved and fewer students involved.
Ø provides for a clear focus on a central instructional theme (e.g. graphics communications, transportation, law and justice, health careers, etc.)
Ø allows for better monitoring of student progress due primarily to the closer involvement of students and teachers.
Ø does not allow for student anonymity.
Ø fosters higher expectations within a caring environment.
Øpromotes good student attendance and increased motivation for learning.

Academies create an atmosphere of high expectations for student achievement by requiring:

Ø a specially designed curriculum developed in cooperation between the school district and a sponsoring industry or agency

Ø an organized sequence of classes that integrates academic and career preparation instruction leading to further study at the post-secondary level of employment in the field.

Ø access to instruction that lead to an understanding of industry-standard technology currently used in the particular career area.

The following is a list of components that define a Career Academy :

School within-a-school (most classes restricted to Academy students)
Student selection process nondiscriminatory, voluntary, and at least partially focuses on "at risk" students; teacher selection voluntary
Minimum three-year program (grades 10-12)
Curriculum focused on a career theme and coordinated with related academic classes
Typically offers 3 academic and 1 technical (career) class in 10 & 11th, plus 1 technical (career) & 1 additional career specific in 12^th
Dedicated counselor to recruit, place and monitor enrollment
Business partnership with advisory council that assures development of instructional program reflective of industry focus
Job -mentoring during or after 11th grade
Assistance with college or job placement plans
Parents and guardians involved in student's decision to be in the academy
Teachers plan as a team; ideally provided with common planning periods
Exploratory work-based learning with guidance and instruction from a trained industry-based mentor provided in second part of 11th or in 12th grade
High expectations for student achievement through (1) specially designed curriculum (2) organized sequence of classes (3) understanding of industry-standard technology currently used in career areas