Central Educational Center:
Reinventing Education
through
Business-Education Partnerships
and
Instructional Design
Russ Moore, CEO
Central Educational Center (CEC)
Newnan, Georgia
www.gacec.com
What Is CEC?
• Joint Venture Partnership
– Business and Industry
– Coweta County Schools
– West Central Technical College
• Charter School
• Not-for-Profit Corporation
• Center for Lifelong Learning
• 2004 National Model High School
What Does CEC Do?
• Academics and Career/Technical
• Dual-enrollment
• Articulation
• GED/Adult Literacy
• Evening High School
• Technical College
• Custom Corporate Training
• Community Events
Why CEC?
• U.S. Senate Committee:
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
• U.S. House Committee:
Education and the Workforce
• Why CEC?
Workforce Development
CEC History
• Triggered by business community
• Supported by education community
• Steering Committee
- Business
- Education (connect)
- Government
- Community at large
Invest in Needs Assessment
Data drives whether/what needed
Required Education Levels
College
1968 Degree(s)
Training Beyond 15% 20%
High School
High School 65%
Diploma or Less
Required Education Levels
College
2002 Degree(s)
Training Beyond 20%
High School
High School
10% Diploma or Less
70%
Required Education Levels
College
2010 Degree(s)
Training Beyond 20%
High School
80%
History
• Needs Assessment Findings
– Necessary for economic development
– Focus on “soft skills" (work ethic)
– Train for key occupations (“healthcare”)
– Different type of organization (charter)
– Use seamless approaches
– Make instruction RELEVANT
– Ensure post-instruction success
Instructional Design
Instructional Design
Design Principles
• PERFORMANCE-BASED content
(not subject-based only)
Design Principles
Instructional
CONTENT
Post-secondary
PERFORMANCE
Job & Organization
ECONOMIC SUCCESS
Design Principles
• Performance-based content
• HIGH EXPECTATIONS &
ACCOUNTABILITY
– All students can learn
– MOST to a high level
– We tend to obtain what we measure
We should EXPECT…
THIS?
F D C B A
OR THIS?
F D C B A
Design Principles
• Performance-based content
• High Expectations & Accountability
• PRECISION DESIGN
Design Principles
• Performance-based content
• High Expectations & Accountability
• Precision Design
• HIGH LEVEL SIMULATION =
TRANSFER
Major lesson learned…
• Educational success is a
function of the investment we
are willing to make in
PLANNING, ANALYSIS, and
DESIGN.
Why a Charter School?
• Proven Success
– 3,000 schools in 40 states serving
750,000 students
• Funding
• Flexibility
Secretary Paige’s Remarks
Seamless Education
• Academics CTE
• High School College
• Education
Business
Work Ethic Grade
• Attendance
• Character
• Teamwork
• Appearance
• Attitude
• Productivity
• Organizational skills
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Respect
Dual-Enrollment Programs
• Basic and Advanced Dental Assisting
• CAD – Mechanical and Architectural
• Certified Manufacturing Specialist
• Certified Customer Service Specialist
• Child Development Associate
• Computer Repair Technician
• Website Fundamentals
• Patient Care Assistant and Technician
• Gas Metal Arc Welding
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
• Machine Operator and Machining
• Lathe Operator and Mill Operator
• Basic and Advanced Culinary Services
Business Interaction
• Business Model
– CEO and Board of Directors
– 6 of 17 directors from business
• Curriculum design
– 11 advisory boards
• Work-Based Learning
– 185 business partners
– 470 work-based team members
– “connected electives”
(no early release)
Economic Development
• One company
– $75 million local impact
– Facility expansion
– 300 new jobs
– Caused $50,000 in private support
for school
Workforce Development
• Dual-Enrollment
– 559 high school students
– Earned 657 college certificates
BEFORE getting HS diploma
– 98% graduation rate
– 100% placement rate
• Post-secondary
• Job for which they are trained
Workforce Development
• Dual-Enrollment in 2004
– Best year yet
174 students
219 certificates earned
44 students earned two
or more certificates
“Traditional” Measures
• HS Graduation Test
– “1st time pass rate” improvement for
“economically disadvantaged”
Writing +4%
Language +7%
Math +15%
Social Studies +18%
Science +19%
• SAT scores
– County average up 33 points
“Traditional” Measures
• Dropout Rate - 42% improvement
– 8.6% in 2000
– 5.0% in 2003
• Enrollment doubled
– 650 in 2000
– 1450 in 2003
• Majority of county seniors enrolled
voluntarily
“Traditional” Measures
• Student Satisfaction (Scale of 1-5)
CEC 4.19
Other HS 3.36
• Conclusion:
Curriculum is RELEVANT
Source: National Study of School Evaluation, 2004
Could YOU?
• Appoint community steering committee
• Superintendent/BOE step back
• Survey businesses
• Apply for charter for partnership
• Hire CEO (not a certified educator)
• “Raid” schools for best teachers
• BOE donate building
• Involve business in curriculum design
• Concede governance to private board
YOU Could!
• Reduce drop-out rate
• Raise test scores
• Graduate more students
• Place more graduates
• Lower unemployment
• Improve workforce
• Attract higher education
• Attract more/better industry
YOU Could!
CEC Faculty
Questions?
Russ Moore
Central Educational Center
(678) 423-2009
[email protected]
www.gacec.com
