MCCTC receives award

Staff report

canfield

The Mahoning County Career and Technical Center has been awarded the High Schools That Work Gold Improvement Award based on the progress of the school leaders and teachers in improving school practices and raising student achievement.

The award was presented by Dave Spence, president of the Southern Regional Education Board, at the annual High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference last month in New Orleans.

MCCTC is one of only eight schools throughout the country to receive this national award. To earn this recognition, schools had to increase their mean scores on the HSTW Assessment reading, mathematics and science tests by at least 10 points from 2010 to 2012.

These schools also met the Adequate Yearly Progress criteria of the federal No Child Left Behind Act or had a graduation rate of at least 85 percent.

“This award is a reflection of our persistence, vision and decision to lead rather than to follow,” said Jane Hogan, MCCTC Director of Academics.

Gene Bottoms, vice president of SREB and founder of High Schools That Work, agreed.

“This school has shown what can be accomplished to raise student achievement by deeply implementing the High Schools That Work model for strengthening curriculum and instruction,” he said. “MCCTC illustrates the spirit of change and the gains in performance that High Schools That Work advocates and supports through assessment, staff development and technical assistance.”

MCCTC has implemented several initiatives aimed at increasing student’s college and career readiness.

“We’ve increased the rigor of applied academics and career and technical related courses aligned to the common core,” Hogan said. “As a school, we’ve made many more opportunities for cross-curricular learning available — which allow in-depth, real-world understandings to take place.”

In addition, MCCTC has been working with ACT through a HSTW development grant to pilot ACT pre-testing and post-testing for all students.

The largest SREB program, HSTW is a national, comprehensive school improvement design based on the premise that most students can master rigorous academic and career/technical studies if school leaders and teachers create a school environment that motivates all students to make the effort to succeed.