| Tactics: |
East Ridge High School and AGC created the East Ridge Construction Career
Academy (ERCCA), a professional learning community. Staff training, monetary
support and materials were provided by AGC and the U.S. Department of
Education.
AGC executives and members, along with East Ridge High School faculty,
came together to create a basic curriculum for the academic courses that
allowed for hands-on experiences. Academy teachers attended AGC board
meetings, toured apprenticeship schools, and actual work sites. All academy
teachers completed OSHA10 training; the career/tech teachers completed
the OSHA30 course. Training has also been provided in scaffold building,
cutting and burning, forklift operation, boom signaling and hydraulic
lift operation.
The program focuses on integrating core curriculum with industry classes,
preparing students for the workforce and providing educational experiences
with industry personnel through job shadowing, service-learning, field
trips and guest speakers.
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| Results: |
After year two of the program, overall G.P.A. of academy students increased
6.5 percent.
Absenteeism from the academy's inception to the end of year two dropped
50 percent, tardy rates have fallen by 33 percent and student suspensions
have dropped by 90 percent.
ERCCA's enrollment has increased from 28 to 80 students, with 100 percent
of seniors graduating.
As a result of the ERCCA program, all schools in Hamilton County have
been mandated by the superintendent to establish small learning communities
within their schools.
Access to post-secondary training and earning potential at entry level
jobs has increased.
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