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WA Skills Centers

"What Puget Sound Skills Center is doing to prepare students for college and career"

In order to meet our School Improvement goals, increase academic rigor and meet the objectives of the Successful Practices Network, Puget Sound Skills Center is doing the following to prepare ALL students for college and career:

School-wide efforts:

1. ALL students take the COMPASS test through South Seattle Community College Assessment department. The COMPASS test gives students immediate feedback on their level of knowledge in reading, writing and math. Most community colleges and apprenticeships require the COMPASS as an entry level test. Student will have the opportunity to take the test at no charge twice during the school year.
2. Math Consultant Raz Mason in conducting two tacher tutorials increasing teacher knowledge and math strategies. She tutors students in math per their WASL scores. She has attended a National Advanced Placement workshop and is currently exploring how we might integrate Statistic into the PSSC curriculum. This includes discussions with Highline Community College's Dean of Intruction Jeff Wegnitz. Through Raz's efforts were now have PLATO, an on-line tutorials for all students available.
3. A Career Fair is held annually providing PSSC students one-to-one time with college, career and military recruiters. This year different agencies were represented on March 6, 2002.
4. With the state testing requirement becoming effective for the Class of 2008, PSSC is concerned about the impact of students being unable to come here their juninor or senior year because they did not pass the WASL. With this rationale for involvement, PSSC has participated in two alternative asessment pilot programs sponsored by OSPI. The results of these pilots will be available statewide this summer.
5. Internships are available for advanced students in most PSSC programs featuring real world experiences. These practical experiences involve students in projects most schools contract to professionals.
6. Most programs participate in field experiences that include conferences, student organizations and trips to appropriate sites. Speakers at these sites emphasize the importance of obtaining a degree.
7. Exposure to a business model classroom with requirements of responsibility, scheduling and accountability aid in student transition to college.
8. Each program features introductions and relationships with professional prganizations and mentors.
9. An emphasis on reading, writing and math and attaiment of "soft skills" is provided in each program. Soft skills include problem solving, professionalism, being on time, attendance and attitude.
10. Each program provides multiple pathways to success.
11. Each program features "College 101" presentations from college and career professionals, exposing students to college admissions procedures and financial aid.

College credits available to OC students:

1. We belong to two different Tech Prep Consortiums and working on a relationship with a third one. PSSC would like to have articulation agreements in all PSSC programs and community colleges. Attached is our present progress with South Seattle Community College, Green River Community College and Renton Technical College. The Northeast Seattle Consortium includes Bellevue Comminity College, Cascadia Community College, Lake Washington Technical College and Shoreline Community College.
2. Fashion Design and Marketing has an art agreements and waiver from Washington State University.
3. Serveral PSSC instructors teach nights at local community colleges enhancing our college relationships.

Career efforts:

1. With the help of Advisory committies, each program keeps curriculum current and relevant, often ahead of our college partners.
2. Each program is striving for some type of national certification available to their students. These national standards are essential for employment and advancement in various fields.

Summary:

PSSC staff is committed to holding students to high expectations preparing them for a rigorous college and/or career environment.