Third Annual Super Summer Institute in Lafayette Provides Teachers Certifications in Career Fields
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Department of Education today kicked off the Jump Start 2016 Super Summer Institute in Lafayette, welcoming 500 educators to a week of professional development. The third annual event, held in collaboration with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and South Louisiana Community College, is a continuation of the collective work to provide students courses and credentials that will allow them to continue their education after high school or launch a career in Louisiana’s thriving workforce. The five-day event is an opportunity for secondary and post-secondary educators to take the necessary steps to revitalize our state’s career pathways by participating in certification trainings. During the first two years of the Jump Start Super Summer Institute, 510 teachers earned certifications.
Institute classes will be taught by industry-certified instructors from high schools, colleges, private companies, or the certifying agencies who oversee the certification. At the conclusion of each session, participants will be required to take and successfully pass a test. Those who pass the test will be certified in the career field they studied, allowing them to teach students courses that grant career certificates. Areas of focus include:
- Construction Crafts: Welding, Carpentry, and Electrical
- Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
- Business Management and Administration: Micro-Enterprise Credential
- Health Science: Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Patient Care Technician, and Emergency Medical Responder
- Hospitality and Tourism: ProStart and ServSafe
- Information Technology: Adobe Applications, AutoCAD, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Fundamentals, Microsoft Creative Coding through Games and Apps
- Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Louisiana educators are earning industry-based credentials in unprecedented numbers and high schools are expanding the number of Jump Start graduation pathways they will support,” said State Superintendent John White. “This momentum, and the efforts of educators to upgrade certifications, students will be able to complete a solid foundation of work skills and academic competencies. This foundation will enable thousands of Louisiana students to continue their education and training after high school, earning while learning in their early careers,” said State Superintendent John White.
Jump Start is the state’s new program for school districts, colleges, and businesses to collaborate in providing career courses and workplace experiences to high school students, certifying them for the career fields most likely to lead to high-wage jobs. Jump Start is for all students. College-bound students can also earn industry-valued credentials. To achieve the Jump Start credential, students complete graduation pathways of courses and workplace-based experiences developed by Jump Start regional teams made up of industry, colleges, and school districts. Thousands of students in Louisiana are currently pursuing a high school diploma through one of 47 approved graduation pathways. Jump Start Regional Teams are currently developing additional pathways to submit for approval.
All Things Jump Start Web Portal
This month, the Department unveiled a redesigned and updated All Things Jump Start web portal. Through this revamped web portal, resources and information can be more quickly and easily accessed. All Things Jump Start now links to a comprehensive library that provides an alphabetical listing of all Jump Start resources.
New resources include:
- New forms and procedures to qualify Workplace Internships for student course credit and funding adders through Career and Technical Education/Career Development Funds;
- Resources for Virtual Workplace Experience, a new credit-bearing opportunity for students that do not have access to Workplace Internships;
- Resources for Micro-Enterprise Credential; and
- Resources for Students with Disabilities.
In the coming months, educators and students will have access to a number of innovative new Jump Start Initiatives, including the Jump Start Video Network and the Jump Start Automated Text Response System.
Funding for the Jump Start 2016 Super Summer Institute is provided through federal Carl D. Perkins grant funds.
For more information on the 2016 Super Summer Institute, you can download the program or visit the Jump Start Library on the Department’s website, under the “Learn About Jump Start” heading.
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