NEDP News Winter 2007
Welcome
Welcome to the third issue of NEDP News, an informational newsletter for NEDP directors, coordinators, assessors, and advisors.
For a printable version, click here.
In this issue
- Holiday Greetings from the CASAS Staff
- Revalidating the NEDP Competencies
- New Order Form
- Pilot Study to Replace the NEDP Occupational Profile
- Success Stories
- NEDP Renewed in New York Until 2011
- Training
- 2008 CASAS National Summer Institute
- 2008 NEDPC Conference
- Contact Us
Holiday Greetings from the CASAS Staff
As 2007 draws to a close, we would like to thank all of the NEDP professionals for your enthusiasm and support. Since we have not had an opportunity to meet most of you in person, we wanted to introduce our NEDP team and help you put a face with a name! All of us here at CASAS wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season. We look forward to working with you in 2008!
Revalidating the NEDP Competencies
The goal of the revalidation is to up-date the current NEDP competencies, making them relevant to the 21st century and the more rigorous high school completion requirements in all states. The revalidation process will also reflect the need to have competency statements that are measurable. In addition to feedback from NEDP sites, CASAS conducted research from a variety of sources including: 21st Century Skills (Scientific Literacy), National Council on Teachers of Math, National Council of Teachers of English, CASAS Content Standards, US Department of Treasury(financial literacy), and specialists from Public Broadcasting and the workplace.
In October 2007, CASAS provided an on-line survey consisting of draft competencies that were the result of area meetings, input from NEDP sites and the research. The survey requested a response from each current NEDP site as to whether a competency was “important” or “not important”. Fifty-four sites responded to the survey, the results of which were quite positive for recommending as “important” most of the competencies. There were also thoughtful comments which accompanied each section of the survey.
On November 7, 2007, the NEDP Competency Revalidation/Task Development Ad Hoc Committee met in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss results of the survey and to make recommendations for some additional revisions. The committee also participated in a discussion of task development related to the existing and new competency statements. Representatives from Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, California and the District of Columbia attended this all day meeting.
Following the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee, the NEDP Competencies are undergoing additional editing and revision. This list of the competencies will be sent to the committee for approval or further suggestions. A follow-up on-line conference was held with the committee on December 12, 2007.
For questions regarding the revalidation process, please contact Ardis Breslauer abreslauer@casas.org
New Order Form
Please download the latest NEDP order form. You may now order training materials, a new site materials package and the Assessor Kit. To respond to requests from the field, CASAS has included small and large packets of TOPSpro forms that can be ordered separately.
As shown on the order form, a new shipping fee schedule is now in effect for NEDP orders. A minimum charge was added and a sliding scale is included based on the amount of the total order.
The only price change is for the Test Administration Manual for NEDP Diagnostics. This manual was designed so that CASAS can continue to send updates as needed. CASAS has raised the cost of this document to align it more closely with other NEDP manuals and to help cover the support costs associated with maintaining this dynamic document.
Pilot Study to Replace the NEDP Occupational Profile
Beginning January 2008, CASAS will conduct a pilot study to explore the replacement of the NEDP Occupational Profile with select O*NET Career Exploration Tools.
Developed for the U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET is the nation's primary source of occupation related information. The O*NET Web site provides access to hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors, and is available to the public at no cost. Complementing the O*NET database are self-directed career exploration tools that make a connection between occupations and an individual’s work interests. These tools are also available as a download, at no cost.
O*NET Career Exploration Tools offer distinct improvements as compared to the Occupational Profile. Unlike printed resources, the occupation database, O*NET OnLine, is continually updated to ensure that job information stays current and reflects employment trends. Each occupation description provides detailed information about tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, preparation, as well as work activities, context, styles, values, and interests. Both O*NET tools selected for this pilot provide the added benefit of connecting individual feedback to specific occupation descriptions.
Agencies interested in participating in the O*Net pilot must meet three basic requirements:
- A computer available for student use, with each career exploration tool pre-installed. Please contact CASAS if you have additional questions about hardware and software requirements. Microsoft Windows operating systems are necessary, minimally Windows 98.
- Sufficient on-site student access to the computer is required; each tool takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
- The availability of a printer is necessary so the participant can print results necessary for record keeping.
Students must complete both tools, and the agency must collect a small amount of information to document participation. Participating agencies and students will also complete short opinion surveys. To read a description of each tool, please visit http://www.onetcenter.org/tools.html. CASAS will provide training via the Genesys Meeting Center on accessing and implementing both career exploration tools. Agencies interested in participating in the study may do so by contacting Andrew Evans at aevans@casas.org, or (800) 255-1036 x 184.
Success Stories
NEDP is a program that opens new doors and empowers individuals to pursue their goals and dreams. Many of these students overcome many obstacles to complete their NEDP program. For all of them, receiving a diploma changes their lives.
This is true for Keyli who is a bank teller trainer for a branch of a large regional bank in the Washington, DC, area. She is the single mother of two daughters who are in elementary school. She was offered a promotion to a higher paying job with additional responsibilities by her employer, but she was not able to take advantage of the opportunity as she lacked a state high school credential. She enrolled in the NEDP program at Howard Community College to accomplish this goal. Keyli worked diligently on her assignments with her two daughters sharing the kitchen table for homework sessions. Her daughters helped with the dinner and clean up chores, so Keyli could complete her school work to be ready for her appointments. Keyli was able to continue her commitments with her job and her family and deal with a long arduous commute to the NEDP site while in the program. Congratulations to Keyli for graduating in Oct 2007! We look forward to hearing from Keyli when she receives her promotion!
Reco Williams is another October 2007 graduate of the Howard Community College NEDP program and was a speaker at the diploma recognition exercises. She is the mother of seven children, six daughters and one son. Although Reco was caring for her large family, she always came to the NEDP office calm and organized. During the time she worked on her high school diploma, Reco maintained a full-time job, planning menus and cooking meals as the kitchen manager of a child care center. Reco is a strong role model for her children. Her words and actions reflect what she believes in: having dreams and goals, achieving them through hard work, and assuming personal responsibility. She places a high value on education in her family. After completing this program Reco was able to enroll in Strayer College where she is now working toward a business management degree.
Thank you Roni Nudelman from Howard Community College in Maryland for sharing these success stories with us. We welcome more stories like these from sites around the country for future NEDP News issues!
NEDP Renewed in New York Until 2011
The New York Board of Regents met on December 13, 2007. One item on the agenda was the decision of whether to extend the NEDP program in New York and allow agencies to continue to issue this local diploma. Tom Orsini and Anne Frank attended the meeting as representatives of the New York State Education Department. Tom Orsini reported back to CASAS with great news.
“The Regents discussion on extending the NEDP for three more years went very smoothly. Regent Anthony Bottar of Syracuse led off the discussion with high praise for the program and none of the Regents voiced any objection to the motion to extend the NEDP program through June 30, 2011. The formal vote will be at the January meeting, but we can consider it approved and New York programs may now move forward with recruiting students.”
CASAS is celebrating this decision with all our New York agencies. We are looking forward to serving many continuing and new students from New York with renewed confidence in the NEDP program. What a great way to start the New Year!
Training
All agencies that use CASAS tests for reading and math diagnostics must attend New Diagnostics Procedures Training. CASAS will hold sessions throughout the year. These training sessions are delivered using the Genesys online meeting center. Participants use an audio and network connection to participate. For more information or a list of training sessions, please see the Web site or contact Mary Fox at mfox@casas.org. No new sessions will be held until March.
CASAS has revised all the training materials and is ready to support New Site Training and New Assessor/Advisor Training. A special thank you to Bonnie Gooley and Merle Gold, from Questar III in New York, for helping to update the materials. States with certified state level trainers may be able to host their own training; however these trainings must be coordinated through Mary Fox. CASAS is trying to decide what areas of the country to hold trainings this year. We need to hear from you so we can plan accordingly. Materials can be ordered through CASAS after a training session has been scheduled. See page 2 of the new order form. Please contact Mary for additional information.
Trainer Recertification – In October, at least seventeen trainers completed the requirements to be re-certified as an NEDP trainer. Each trainer purchased the newly revised training materials and attended an on-line refresher session. Additional trainer refresher sessions will be scheduled as needed.
In the coming year, CASAS will be updating the Evaluation Workshop and Train the Trainer Workshops.
CASAS National Summer Institute
Start your planning now and mark your calendar to attend the CASAS National Summer Institute next year, June 17-19, 2008. We’re planning an NEDP strand which will include one NEDP session for each time slot and a symposium on the first day of the institute. If you have ideas for NEDP sessions for the 2008 Institute, contact Mary Fox by January 15, 2008. Registration begins in January 2008.
2008 NEDPC Conference
Every two years the National External Diploma Program Council (NEDPC) hosts a conference for NEDP professionals. This year, the conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland Oct 23 - 24, 2008. The location is the Holiday Inn BWI Airport Conference Center located five minutes from Baltimore Washington International Airport. It has easy access to I-95, free parking and complimentary shuttle service from the airport, Amtrak and MARC trains, and Baltimore Light Rail. We're planning an opportunity for all NEDP practitioners to mingle and share while we connect with CASAS and the exciting changes it brings to the program.
We need your input for breakout sessions and presenters, too! To help with the conference or for further information, please contact Roni Nudelman via email at rnudelman@aacps.org.
Contact Us
We are ready to help answer your questions and to assist you with your program needs. Please do not hesitate to contact one of us.
Mary Fox (General Assistance)
mfox@casas.org
1-800-255-1036 x 136
Andrew Evans (Technical Assistance)
aevans@casas.org
1-800-255-1036 x 184
Jim Harrison (Policy or Assessment Assistance)
jharrison@casas.org
1-800-255-1036 x 191
CASAS
5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220
San Diego, CA 92123-4339
FAX 858-292-2910
Editor: Mary Fox Copy Editor: Nancy Taylor Web Delivery: Andrea Dolney
Contributors: CASAS — Ardis Breslauer, Andrew Evans, Mary Fox, Jim Harrison. Anne Arundel and Howard County External Diploma Program and NEDPC — Roni Nudelman.