Colorado

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• Colorados
• High-Risk / Special Populations
• Career and Technical Education Division
• ACE
• Alternative Cooperative Education

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High-Risk / Special Populations CTE
Division Mission Statement
ACE provides high-risk students with a lifelong
pathway for graduation, employment, and career
development.
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What is ACE?

• ACE is the only Career and Technical Education
  program designed specifically for high-risk and
  special populations students, which addresses
  individualized and transition needs.
• ACE works to transition these students from high
  school to post-secondary education and training
  or into the workforce.
• The ACE framework is the multi-occupational
  program spanning multiple career pathways for
  students.

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Students at high-risk of dropping out or not
graduating from high school Indicators may
include but are not limited to
Who are Special Populations?

• educational barriers
• special education qualified
• limited English proficiency
• economically disadvantaged
• head-of-household students

• pregnant and parenting teens
• non-traditional career goals
• credit deficient
• involvement with the criminal justice system

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Current facts on Colorado Youth

• 2006-07 Colorado Youth Population
• Based on 525,713 youths ages 10-17
• 44,985 Juvenile Arrests
• 6,829 Live Births by mothers ages 10-19
• 23,600 Dropouts
• 44 of students with an IEP drop out of high
  school

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What is the cost of 23,000 dropouts per year?

• What is the cost to Colorados school districts?
• 23,000 x 6,0001 138,000,000 revenue lost
• What is the cost to Colorados communities?
• 23,000 x 250,0002 5,750,000,000 will be spent
  supporting this years dropouts!
• What is the cost to you, your family, your
  community?
• By supporting ACE Programs we
• pay a little now as opposed to a LOT later.

1 state average per pupil allocation 2 average
cost to community over the lifetime of a dropout
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Colorado Vocational Act 2006ACE
Programs2005-2006

• enrollment in ACE programs 6,192
• number of ACE programs 111
• data shows 92.5 of ACE students are employed or
  continuing their education
• ACE students are successful!

1 Colorado Vocational Act required, annual
data report (VE-135)
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Response to Interventionis built into every ACE
program

• Response to Intervention is federally mandated by
  NCLB and IDEA
• The ACE program meets a tier 2, targeted-level
  intervention, by meeting the needs of students
  identified as high-risk or those who require
  specific supports to make adequate progress in
  general education, through a nationally
  identified and funded Career and Technical
  Education program.

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ACE Curriculum is

• designed for students who are high-risk or have
  special needs.
• a comprehensive curriculum providing a continuum
  of pre-employment, employment, 21st Century
  Skills, independent living skills, financial
  literacy, etc.
• standards-based.
• aligned with Colorado State academic content
  standards.
• an enhancement to the application of academics
  providing contextual learning opportunities and
  relevance.
• academic assistance for struggling and/or credit
  deficient students
• also taught under other program names (e.g.
  Achieve, JET, GAIN, Options, ICE, ACE/WES, etc.)
• ACE is the only Career and Technical Education
  program designed specifically for high-risk and
  special populations students, which addresses
  individualized and transition needs.

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ACE supports other CTE programs by
Career and Technical Education incorporates over
80 different career pathway opportunities in
specific career fields.

• providing work-related opportunities for
  practical, hands-on experiences for all pathways
  including those which may not offer work-related
  components.
• building a foundation for students to explore
  multiple career pathways.
• coordinating a variety of multi-occupational
  employment opportunities.

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Context and Relevance

• Work-based
• Internship
• Work evaluations
• Job coaching
• Job shadows
• Job fairs
• Providing opportunities to build strong community
  relations and group dynamics business community
  relationships
• Soft skills
• Earn credit towards graduation for work
  experiences

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ACE is a Solution

• ACE provides students who are high-risk or have
  special needs with fundamental Career and
  Technical Education Skills
• ACE enhances the application of academics by
  providing contextual learning opportunities and
  relevance
• ACE provides assistance with academics in and out
  of class.