The state's most effective and fastest workforce development system.

• A State occupational education system for Mississippi students in more than 130 occupations.
• A sophisticated system reaching every secondary school district and public community/ junior college in Mississippi.
• A system which provides vocational and technical services to 184,277 students in Mississippi.
• Workforce development (Industrial Training ) programs provided services to an additional 82,915 persons.
• A system which utilizes an accountability plan to assess work readiness (academic) and occupational specific skills for all completers.

• Assure that every citizen who will commit to learning has the opportunity to receive the necessary skills to achieve greater economic independence.
• Work with systems at the national, state and local levels to make workforce learning the most important item on the agenda and invest in that effort accordingly.
• Adapt the workforce development system for greater service and productivity in response to the changing nature of work and the phenomenal development of technology.

Agriculture	Cooperative Education
Business	Career Discovery
Technology Discovery	Family & Consumer Sciences - Occupational
Trade and Industrial	Health
Work-Based Learning	Tech Ed/Industrial Arts
Science and Technology

The Mississippi Tech Prep Initiative helps prepare young people for tomorrow's highly technical careers. The Initiative is based on the principle of integrating academic and vocational education and proven applied teaching strategies. By combining innovative teaching methods and high-tech equipment, challenging, exciting classrooms have emerged. Coupled with six years of extensive career and educational planning, the Discovery Courses introduce all students to career opportunities and high-tech computers and technological skills. A brief description of courses, objectives, and the number of Discovery programs in operation during the 1996-97 school year follows.

Career Discovery at the seventh grade, introduces students to career opportunities and the skills needed for various career paths. An experiential hands-on approach is used to make learning fun for students. The course is designed to provide a variety of experiences and activities which promote self-awareness, career exploration, and educational planning related to students' future educational and occupational plans.

Course Goals

• To introduce basic concepts related to careers and career planning.
• To develop basic understanding of their own aptitudes, interests, and abilities.
• To develop basic career competencies related to the SCANS competencies and foundation skills.
• To explore careers in selected areas of the four career clusters associated with the Tech Prep program: Agriculture/Natural Resources Technology, Business/Marketing Technology, Engineering/Industrial Technology, and Health/Human Services Technology.
• To develop and implement a tentative career/educational plan relevant to their aptitudes, interests, and abilities.

Computer Discovery at the eighth grade, exposes students to a multimedia environment and fundamental computer skills. Using an innovative multimedia environment to make subject matter come alive, this course is designed to provide fundamental skills in operation of microcomputers, including an introduction to computers, keyboarding skills, operating systems using Windows, and file management skills. Real-world applications in word processing, graphics, databases, telecommunications, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing make the course exciting, relevant, and challenging.

Course Goals

• To develop competencies in the use of the alphabetic and numeric keyboard by touch.
• To develop a basic understanding of terminology and applications, components, and care associated with the use of microcomputers.
• To develop an understanding of information processing principles and associated logical concepts.
• To develop an understanding of how key computer applications (word processing, database, spreadsheet, graphing, telecommunications, and desktop publishing) are used in the work environment.
• To develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills needed to enable for students to function successfully on the job and in life experiences.
• To develop analytical math skills needed to solve problems using mathematical operations.
• To develop competencies in individual responsibility, leadership, self-management and integrity.
• To develop competencies associated with career planning.

Technology Discovery at the ninth grade, enables students to explore technology resources, processes, and systems that lead to enhanced career development and advanced education. The instruction consists of a well structured series of technology based, hands-on learning activities, featuring self-contained instructional modules with teams of learners participating in student-directed activities. Students learn through research, visualization, modeling, design, simulation, prototyping, journalizing, presentations, demonstrations, problem-solving techniques, role playing, and testing.

Course Goals

• To identify technological resources and apply them within the four career cluster areas of Agriculture/Natural Resources Technology, Business/Marketing Technology, Engineering/ Industrial Technology, and Health/Human Services Technology.
• To experience and use selected technological processes found within the four career cluster areas.
• To employ technological systems in the solution of problems.
• To apply and transfer knowledge and skills regarding diverse technological systems.

Acting as a cohesive agent in the Tech Prep Initiative is the counseling component. This component of Tech Prep is designed to organize and expand career development strategies, activities, and experiences that will assist ALL students in making realistic career plans. These plans are initiated in the seventh grade and updated annually through the twelfth grade.

Tech Prep in Mississippi is a carefully planned initiative which has grown to 160 sites throughout the state. Balancing rural and urban schools in all geographical areas of Mississippi, Tech Prep seeks to address vocational/technical and academic issues to enable all students committed to learning to gain the skills necessary for achieving increased economic independence.
 
 

In 1994, the Mississippi Department of Education, in cooperation with the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, and other industry representatives convened a group of key stakeholders. The purpose of the meeting was to address the relevance of vocational-technical education training programs in meeting the needs of business/industry. Findings and recommendations from this meeting led to the piloting of a program entitled Work-Based Learning. This program blends classroom instruction (occupational/academic) and structured learning experiences at the worksite. Work-Based Learning prepares students for current and future careers in a highly technical workplace by:

• bridging the gap between school and the workplace;
• combining theory and practice so that participants know not only what to do but why;
• turning learners into workers and workers into learners;
• providing structured entry for students through educationally sound, occupationally specific, and industry driven learning programs; and
• providing a vehicle for business/industry to become contributing partner in reshaping education within local communities.

The School to Careers System-Building Plan is an initiative to design a more effective educational system in Mississippi from kindergarten through college. The new thrust will support young people as they make the transition into the workplace, so that we can work together on behalf of youth and our economic future. School to Careers is a response to an increasingly competitive global marketplace and to the emergence of a technology-driven workplace.
 
The goal of the School to Careers system is to help prepare all students for both college and careers, and ensure they will be prepared to be productive citizens and lifelong learners. In the School to Careers system, all students will:

• Meet the enhanced academic requirements outlined by the Mississippi Board of Education for high school graduation in Mississippi.
• Design and update on a yearly basis an individualized career education plan to guide them in pursuing goals for work, education, and family.
• Participate in career exploration beginning in seventh grade so they will have real-world experiences in all four career clusters and at least one non-traditional occupation.
• Demonstrate competencies based on industry standards for employability including SCANS skills (i.e., problem-solving and allocation of resources) by successfully completing a real-world experience such as job shadowing, internships, work-based learning, community service, participation in interactive distance education projects with employees, and a combination of classes in an occupational cluster. The occupational cluster will be completed by a written and oral presentation of a research topic related to the student's work-based or community-based project.

The Mississippi Department of Education Office of Student Assessment, in cooperation with the Office of Vocational and Technical Education, is developing and implementing a customized vocational assessment program that will provide the basis for supporting Mississippi's progress in attaining its educational goals. The Mississippi Department of Education under the leadership of the Office of Student Assessment and Vocational and Technical Education, through a committee of practitioners, has selected American College Testing (ACT) to produce a customized assessment program for implementing a vocational (work readiness and occupation-specific) assessment component of the Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System (CPAS).

Over the next three years, 1997-2000, for the following assessments will be phased in to fully implement the vocational assessment (work readiness and occupation-specific) component of the CPAS in 2001:

• Three Work Keys components (Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information),
• Twenty-four occupational program area performance assessments, and
• Forty-three secondary and forty-three postsecondary occupation-specific assessments tailored to meet Mississippi's needs.

The Industrial Services Bureau of the Office of Vocational and Technical Education administers the State's Industrial Training program. Training is delivered through the fifteen community/junior colleges, each of which has an industrial coordinator. They function as liaisons between the community colleges vocational-technical departments, Mississippi Department of Education, and industry.

Mission

• Customized pre-employment training, which will assure a capable and well-trained workforce for new and expanding industries.
• Post-employment training for new and existing industries.
• Retraining or upgrading employees for existing industries.

• Training Dollars $4,297,526.00
• Average Training Cost Per Slot $51.83
• Number Trained 82,915
• Types of Projects
• New Industries (Pre-employment Training)
• Expansions Training
• Upgrade/Retraining
• Location of Training Projects
• In-plant
• School
• Mobile Unit
• Training Equipment

1. Purchased equipment for an Industrial Maintenance Training Lab at Northwest Mississippi Community College.

2. Upgraded the Video Production Facilities at the Research and Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University.

3. Completed the Industrial Training Mold Shop at the Hattiesburg Campus of Pearl River Community College.

4. New Computer Labs:

Coahoma Community College
Meridian Community College
MS Delta Community College (Mobile Lab)
MS Gulf Coast Community College
Jones Junior College (Peavey Training)
Northeast MS Community College
5. Purchased the following items for all Industrial Coordinators and Industrial Specialists:
Computer
Deskjet Printer
Data Projector
Laptop Printer
Laptop Computer

Enrichment Programs provide occupational exploratory experiences and information about technology and the world of work, consumerism, and the free enterprise system and include those programs which foster leadership skills, increase the maturity level of students, decrease dropouts, and promote effective human relations skills, good work habits, and other life-management skills.
 

Basic vocational programs include a common core of standardized basic skills for entrance into all vocational skill programs or entry into semi-skilled occupations.
 

Secondary occupational programs are designed and operated to provide for development of essential, program area specific, occupational and entrepreneurial skills. Enrollment consists of students in grades 10-12. Instruction in these programs is accomplished through structured learning activities that integrate vocational and academic objectives. Upon program completion individuals possess marketable job skills and may choose to enter the workforce or pursue postsecondary education, in directly or indirectly related occupational and technical areas with possibilities for advanced placement, or another postsecondary offering.
 

PROGRAM  CODES	SECONDARY PROGRAM NAME	NUMBER OF PROGRAMS	RANK
080705	General Retailing Operations	32	1
520408	General Office/Clerical and Typing Services	100	2
511699	Health Cluster (Nursing, Other)	74	3
200401	Institutional Food Workers and Administrators	39	4
200201	Child Care and Guidance Workers & Mgr.	41	5
470604	Automotive Mechanics	60	6
010201	Agricultural Mechanics, General	31	7

 

470699	Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanic	14	8
010601	Horticulture, General	18	9
470603	Auto/Automotive Body Repairer	18	10
200301	Clothing, Apparel, and Textiles Workers	36	11
480508	Welder/Welding Technologist	15	12
460201	Carpentry	13	13
460302	Electrician	8	14
460490	Building Trades, General	70	15
480101	Drafting, General	26	16
521201	Management Info. Systems & Bus. Data	1	17
470201	Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration	3	18
470605	Diesel Engine Mechanics	3	19
159991	Diversified Technology	53	20
520902	Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Mgmt	1	21
120403	Cosmetology	1	22
460101	Mason and Tile Setter	8	23
470606	Small Engine Mechanic and Repairer	5	24
470190	Electronics	12	25
200602	Elder Care Provider/Companion	1	26
460501	Plumber and Pipefitter	1	27
470692	Marine Engine Mechanics	1	28
010204	Agricultural Power Machinery Operator	1	29
010303	Aquaculture Operations & Production Management	1	30
480201	Graphic and Printing Equipment Operators	5	31
100191	Electronic Communication Production	1	32
010401	Agricultural and Food Products Processing	2	33
470103	Communications Installer	1	34
030401	Forest Harvesting and Production Technology	11	35
480790	Furniture Manufacturing and Upholstery	3	36
470390	Industrial Maintenance Trades	6	37
480503	Machine Shop Assistant	4	38
010101	Agriculture Business and Management, General	23	39
480590	Metal Trades	44	40
010301	Agricultural Production, General	48	41
200192	Family and Consumer Sciences	224	42
020101	Agriculture Science	53	43

*These rankings are based on Mississippi Employment Security Commission estimates of currently employed and projected to be employed data by CIP Code for the period 1990-2000, combined with Final Vocational Program Enrollment data for the 1996-1997 school year. Program rankings presented in this table do not reflect program quality. Care should be exercised in the use of these data for decision making purposes. If more information is needed, please contact the Office of Vocational and Technical Education.

Postsecondary occupational programs are designed and conducted to provide beginning, advanced, and technical, program area specific, occupational and entrepreneurial preparation for a skilled/technical occupations. These programs are developed to reflect current and emerging technologies in order to address the needs of industry and other employers. State-of-the-art technology used in industry and integrated academic components are incorporated in the curriculum. Upon completion of a postsecondary occupational program, individuals have made preparation to enter skilled/technical level occupations.
 

PROGRAM CODES	POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM NAME	NUMBER OF PROGRAMS	RANK*
511613	Practical Nurse (LPN Training)	28	1
520401	Administration Support Services	37	2
521201	Management Information Systems and Bus. Data	14	3
200201	Child Care and Guidance Workers and Managers	13	4
490205	Trucks/Bus/Other Commercial Vehicles	6	5
200401	Institutional Food Workers and Administrators	7	6
470604	Auto/Automotive Mechanic Technology	21	7
081203	Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations	2	8
150303	Electrical, Electronic and Communications Technology	19	9
010501	Agricultural Services and Supplies, General	1	10
480508	Welder/Welding Technologist	20	11
470201	Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration	13	12
460302	Electrician	12	13
120403	Cosmetology	15	14
080102	Fashion Merchandising	2	15
520902	Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Management	6	16
521401	Business Marketing and Marketing Management	14	17
510907	Medical Radiologic Technology	7	18
470603	Auto/Automotive Body Repairer	12	19
220103	Paralegal/Legal Assistant	5	20
511614	Nursing assistant/Aide	1	21
511004	Medical Laboratory Technology	7	22
510601	Dental Assistant	3	23
460201	Carpentry	9	24
131501	Teacher Assistant/Aide	1	25
010605	Landscaping	3	26
120402	Barber/Hairstylist	4	27
480101	Drafting, General	20	28
510908	Respiratory Therapy Technician	9	29
010601	Horticulture, General	3	30
510806	Physical Therapy Assistant	4	31
010201	Agricultural Mechanics, General	2	32
510904	Emergency Medical Technology	4	33
150404	Instrumentation Technology	3	34
470605	Diesel Engine Mechanics	5	35
490202	Construction Equipment Operator	2	36
470692	Marine Engine Mechanics	2	37
470302	Heavy Equipment Maintenance and Repairer	3	38
150405	Robotics	2	39

 

520404	Medical Administrative Assistant/Secretarial	1	40
510909	Surgical/Operating Room Technician	6	41
460501	Plumber and Pipefitter	4	42
520801	Finance, General	1	43
510801	Medical Assistant	2	44
480303	Upholsterer	1	45
510707	Medical Records Technology	2	46
510602	Dental Hygienist	2	47
470699	Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics	2	48
120301	Funeral Services and Mortuary Science	2	49
010607	Turf Management	1	50
150402	Computer Maintenance Technology	2	51
150403	Electromechanical Technology	1	52
460101	Mason and Tile Setter	4	53
470608	Aircraft Mechanic/Technician (Powerplant)	3	54
511801	Opticianry/Dispensing Optician	1	55
460390	Electricity/Electronics	1	56
010190	Agriculture Business and Management, General	1	57
150603	Industrial/Manufacturing Technology	4	58
510808	Veterinarian Assisting/Animal Health	1	59
150507	Environmental and Pollution Control	1	60
150607	Plastics Technology	2	61
480208	Printing Press Operator	2	62
510803	Occupational Therapy Assistant	1	63
470501	Stationary Energy Sources Installers	1	64
010303	Aquaculture Operations and Production Management	1	65
480201	Graphic and Printing Equipment Operators	1	66
500402	Graphic Design, Commercial Art	3	67
010402	Agricultural Product Processing (Meat, Technical)	1	68
100104	Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology	1	69
150290	Construction Materials Technology	1	70
100190	Telecommunication	1	71
010492	Food Products (Meats, Certificate)	1	72
150101	Architectural Design and Construction Trades	2	73
150201	Civil Engineering/Civil Technology	2	74
470399	Industrial Equipment Maintenance and Repairers	1	75
470391	Well Drilling	1	76
030401	Forest Harvesting and Production Technology	5	77
480507	Tool and Die Making	4	78
470408	Watch, Clock and Jewelry Repairer	1	79
520302	Accounting Technology	1	80
150690	Automated Furniture Manufacturing	1	81
150702	Quality Control Technology	1	82
470103	Communications System Installer	3	83
520803	Banking and Financial Support Services	1	84
480501	Machinist/Machine Technologist	1	85
010302	Agricultural Animal Husbandry/Production	1	86
010102	Agricultural Business and Management, General	1	87
460301	Electrical/Power Transmissions Installer	1	88
010301	Agricultural Production Workers and Managers	1	89
470390	Industrial Maintenance Trades	3	90
480506	Sheet Metal	2	91
470690	Auto Machinist	3	92
010104	Farm and Ranch Management	1	93
200301	Clothing, Apparel and Textiles Workers	2	94
480503	Machine Shop Assistant	14	95

*These rankings are based on Mississippi Employment Security Commission estimates of currently employed and projected to be employed data by CIP Code for the period 1990-2000, combined with Final Vocational Program Enrollment data for the 1996-1997 school year. Program rankings presented in this table do not reflect program quality. Care should be exercised in the use of these data for decision making purposes. If more information is needed, please contact the Office of Vocational and Technical Education.
 

The Developmental/Pilot Programs were created to meet the specific industry needs of today's changing technology. These innovative programs are designed to assist new and expanding industries by training students and current employees with industry specific skills and emerging technologies.