Mississippi Department of Education     1999 Annual Report

Office of Vocational and Technical Education


Overview Comprehensive Career Planning/Counseling Program Basic Skills
Technical Preparation Work-Based Learning Program Enrollment Compared to Estimated and Projected State Employment Needs
Career Discovery Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System Overview Postsecondary Occupational Programs
Computer Discovery Workforce Development (Industrial Training) Developmental/Pilot Programs
Technology Discovery Enrichment

Overview

Vocational and Technical Education is committed to preparing all learners in the state for new jobs, roles, technologies and responsibilities. It is making every effort to meet the challenges of increasingly complex and diversified industries that by necessity exist and operate closer to the edge of excellence in order to thrive and prosper in a global economy. Indeed, the future of Mississippi depends on meeting the challenge of training its people for the workforce of the twenty-first century and equipping them with the foundation of skills, technical knowledge, personal qualities, and competencies necessary for successful participation in business and industry.

The Vocational and Technical Education System is prepared to meet the changing needs of business and industry and to develop a quality workforce for a profitable economy in Mississippi. Vocational and Technical Education provides Mississippi:

To meet the challenges of the workplace, Vocational and Technical Education in Mississippi is prepared to: Vocational and technical services are provided through secondary, postsecondary, short-term adult, industry training, JTPA, and business and industry partnership settings. These services are delivered through the following programs:
 
Agriculture Family & Consumer Sciences - Occupational
Marketing Education Trade and Industrial
Cooperative Education Health
Technical Family & Consumer Sciences - General
Business  Work-Based Learning
Career Discovery Technology Education - Technology Discovery, Science and Technology, Technology Applications
Computer Discovery

Technical Preparation
(TECH PREP)

The Mississippi Tech Prep Initiative helps prepare young people for tomorrow's highly technical careers. The initiative is based on 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 computer and technological skills. A brief description of the courses, objectives, and the number of Discovery programs in operation during the 1997-98 school year follows.


 
 

Career Discovery

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

Course Goals

Program Code Program Name Number of Programs Enrollment
000251 Career Discovery 132 22,609

Computer Discovery

Computer Discovery exposes eighth grade 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

Program Code Program Name Number of Programs Enrollment
000252 Computer Discovery 131 21,103

Technology Discovery

Technology Discovery enables ninth grade 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

Program Code Program Name Number of Programs Enrollment
000253 Technology Discovery 110 20,353

Comprehensive Career Planning/Counseling Program

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 that has grown to 217 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.

Projections

Displayed below are data showing the number of programs implemented (and projected for implementation) through the 1998-99 school year.
 
Program Code Program Name Number of Programs
1993-94 000251 Career Discovery 22
000252 Computer Discovery  22
000253 Technology Discovery 17
1994-95 000251 Career Discovery 61
000252 Computer Discovery 61
000253 Technology Discovery 51
1995-96 000251 Career Discovery 37
000252 Computer Discovery 37
000253 Technology Discovery 29
1996-97 000251 Career Discovery 15
000252 Computer Discovery 15
000253 Technology Discovery 13
1997-98 000251 Career Discovery 71
000252 Computer Discovery 71
000253 Technology Discovery 63
1998-99 000251 Career Discovery 80
000252 Computer Discovery 79
000253 Technology Discovery 76

Work-Based Learning

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:

Program Code Program Name Number of Programs Enrollment
000255 Work Based Learning 9 298

Mississippi Career Planning and
Assessment System Overview

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).

The following assessments has been initiated to fully implement the vocational assessment (work readiness and occupation-specific) component of the CPAS in 2001:


Workforce Development (Industrial Training)

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

Mission

Types of Projects

New Industries

Expansion Training

Upgrade/Retraining

Location of Training Projects

In-plant

School

Mobile Units

1997-98 Overview/Summary

Training Dollars $4,452,790.00
Average Training Cost Per Slot $45.85
Number Trained 97,111

Enrichment

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.
 
Program Code Program Name Number of Programs  Enrollment
01.0391 Agriculture Enrichment 19 900
20.0101 Comprehensive Consumer & Hmkg. 69 6,792
21.0101 Technology Education 42 3,973

Basic 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.
 
Program code Program name Number of programs Enrollment
00.0261 Basic Vocational Agriculture 21 796
00.0262 Basic Skills Vocational Industrial 16 1,083
00.0263 Basic Vocational Business Commerce 10 1,336
00.0264 Basic Personal Services 34 1,665
02.9990 Introduction to Agriculture Science 74 2,671
20.0192 Family & Consumer Sciences 218 28,609

Program Enrollment Compared to Estimated and Projected
State Employment Needs

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, either directly or indirectly in a related occupational and technical area with possibilities for advanced placement, or another postsecondary offering.
 
Program Code Program Name Number of Programs Rank*
080705 General Retailing Operations 33 1
520408 General Office/Clerical & Typing 99 2
511699 Health Cluster (Nursing, Other) 77 3
200401 Institutional Food Workers Admin. 37 4
200201 Child Care & Guidance Workers & Mgr. 37 5
470604 Automotive Mechanics  58 6
470699 Vehicle & Mobile Equipment Mechanic 16 7
010601 Horticulture, General 17 8
470603 Auto/Automotive Body Repairer 18 9
200301 Clothing, Apparel, and Textiles Workers 31 10
480508 Welder/Welding Technologist 15 11
010201 Agricultural Mechanics, General 4 12
460201 Carpentry 11 13
460302 Electrician 9 14
460490 Building Trades, General 72 15
521201 Management Info. Systems & Bus Data 1 16
480101  Drafting, General 24 17
470201 Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration  3 18
470605 Diesel Engine Mechanics 3 19
460101 Mason & Tile Setter 8 20
159991 Diversified Technology 47 21
470606 Small Engine Mechanic & Repairer 4 22
470190 Electronics 12 23
010204 Agricultural Power Machinery Operator 28 24
200602 Elder Care Provider/Companion 1 25
470692 Marine Engine Mechanics 1 26
010303 Aquaculture Operations/Production Mgmt 1 27
480201 Graphic & Printing Eqpt. Operators 5 28
010401 Agricultural & Food Products Processing 1 29
030401 Forest Harvesting & Production Tech. 11 30
480790 Furniture Manufacturing & Upholstery  3 31
470690 Industrial Maintenance Trade 6 32
480503 Machine Shop Assistant 4 33
010101 Agriculture Business & Mgmt., General 22 34
010301 Agricultural Production Workers & Mgrs. 43 35
480590 Metal Trades 46 36
020101 Agriculture Science 54 37

*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 1995-2000, combined with Final Vocational Program Enrollment data for the 1997-98 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

Postsecondary occupational programs are designed and conducted to provide beginning, advanced, and technical, program area specific, occupational and entrepreneurial preparation for 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 Code Program Name Number of Programs Rank*
521201 Management Info. Systems & Bus. Data 15 1
520401 Administration Support Services 37 2
511613 Practical Nurse (LPN Training) 29 3
200201 Child Care & Guidance Workers & Mgrs. 14 4
490205  Truck/Bus/Other Commercial Vehicles 6 5
460302  Electrician 13 6
470604  Auto/Automotive Mechanic Technology 20 7
200401  Institutional Food Workers & Administrators 6 8
081203 Vehicle Parts & Accessories Mktg. Operations 2 9
150303 Electrical, Electronic/Communications Tech. 19 10
480508 Welder/Welding Technologies 19 11
520902 Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Management 8 12
470201 Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration 13 13
010501 Agricultural Supplies Retail & Wholesale 1 14
120403 Cosmetology 15 15
080102 Fashion Merchandising 2 16
510907 Medical Radiologic Technology 7 17
521401 Business Marketing & Mktg. Management 14 18
220103 Paralegal/Legal Assistant 5 19
470603 Auto/Automotive Body Repairer 11 20
460201 Carpentry 10 21
511614 Nursing Assistant/Aide 1 22
511004 Medical Laboratory Technology 7 23
480101 Drafting, General 20 24
010601 Horticulture, General 3 25
131501 Teacher Assistant/Aide 1 26
010605 Landscaping Operation & Mgmt. 3 27
510908 Respiratory Therapy Technician 9 28
510806 Physical Therapy Assistant 4 29
510601 Dental Assistant 2 30
510904 Emergency Medical Technology 5 31
150404 Instrumentation Technology 3 32
120402 Barber/Hairstylist 4 33
460501 Plumber and Pipefitter 4 34
470605 Diesel Engine Mechanics 5 35
520404 Medical Administrative Assistant/Secretarial 1 36
150405 Robotics 2 37
480303 Upholsterer 1 38
470692 Marine Engine Mechanics 2 39
510909 Surgical/Operating Room Technician 5 40
520801 Finance, General 1 41
510707 Medical Records Technology 3 42
490202 Construction Equipment Operator 2 43
470302 Heavy Equipment Maintenance & Repairer 3 44
120301  Funeral Services & Mortuary Services 3 45
510602 Dental Hygienist 2 46
510801 Medical Assistant 2 47
010607 Turf Management 1 48
470699 Vehicle & Mobile Equipment Mechanics 2 49
150402 Computer Maintenance Technology 2 50
460101 Mason & Tile Setter 4 51
470608 Aircraft Mechanic/Technician (Powerplant) 3 52
511801 Opticianry/Dispensing Optician 1 53
510808 Veterinarian Assisting/Animal Health 1 54
150603 Industrial/Manufacturing Technology 4 55
010190 Agriculture Business & Mgmt., General 1 56
150507 Environmental & Pollution Control 1 57
510803 Occupational Therapy Assistant 1 58
480208 Printing Press Operator 1 59
010204 Agriculture Power & Machinery Operation 1 60
010303 Aquaculture Operations/Production Mgmt. 1 61
480201 Graphic/Printing Equipment Operators 1 62
010299 Agricultural Mechanization, Other 1 63
500402 Graphic Design, Commercial Art 3 64
100104 Radio/Television Broadcasting Technology 1 65
100190 Telecommunication 1 66
150290 Construction Materials Technology 1 67
010492 Food Products (Meats, Certificate) 2 68
150201 Civil Engineering/Civil Technology 2 69
470391 Well Drilling 1 70
030401 Forest Harvesting/Production Technology 5 71
150101 Architectural Design/Construction Trades 2 72
480507 Tool & Die Making 4 73
470408 Watch, Clock and Jewelry Repairer 1 74
150690 Automated Furniture Manufacturing 1 75
520302 Accounting Technology 1 76
470390 Industrial Maintenance Trades 3 77
470103 Communications System Installer 3 78
010302 Agricultural Animal Husbandry/Production 1 79
520803 Banking & Financial Support Serves 1 80
480501 Machinist/Machine Technologist 1 81
010102 Agricultural Business & Mgmt., General 1 82
480506 Sheet Metal 2 83
470690 Auto Machinist 3 84
010104 Farm & Ranch Management 1 85
200301 Clothing/Apparel/Textile Workers 2 86
480503 Machine Shop Assistant 13 87

*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 1995-2000, combined with Final Vocational Program Enrollment data for the 1997-98 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.
 
 

Developmental/Pilot Programs

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.
 
Program code Program name Number of Programs
Secondary
150992 Technology Applications 6
150607 Plastics Technology 2
Postsecondary
000254 Science & Technology 4
190705 Gerontology 1
510805 Pharmacy Technology/Assistant 1


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