COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 7

February 13, 2004

ADMINISTRATIVE

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	2004 Follow-Up of the 2003 Career and Technical Education Completers

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 requires each state receiving a federal grant to establish a performance accountability system to assess the effectiveness of career and technical education. This accountability system must include indicators of performance in the following: student attainment of challenging state-established academic standards and career and technical skill proficiencies; student attainment of a secondary school diploma or postsecondary degree or credential; placement in, retention in, and completion of postsecondary education or advanced training, placement in military service, or placement or retention in employment; and student participation in and completion of a career and technical education program that leads to nontraditional training and employment. In addition to these requirements, Virginias approved performance standards for secondary education include access and success for special populations, employee (student) satisfaction, and employer satisfaction.

The annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student Follow-Up is scheduled to begin March 8, 2004, and will conclude May 31, 2004. The 2004 Follow-Up survey instrument includes only the questions required for the federal transition performance standard, the state satisfaction performance standards, the Department of Educations industry and professional certification initiative, and local program improvement.

During the survey time period, school division personnel are to contact all completers from the 2002-2003 school year. For the 2004 follow-up, the minimum response rate suggested for Virginia by the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, is 75 percent. The majority of the school divisions meeting the 75 percent minimum response rate this past year contacted their completers by telephone. If you choose to conduct the survey by mail, you are encouraged to follow-up any non-response by telephone or e-mail.

As in previous years, the survey includes questions related to the respondents educational and career status, satisfaction with the preparation received in high school for postsecondary pursuits, certification or licenses, and relationship of postsecondary pursuits to high school career and technical education program(s). A sample survey and detailed instructions for completing the survey data entry process can be downloaded from the Department of Educations website. The complete address to access this information is: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/CTE/cters/.

For additional information, please contact H. Blair Seaford (hseaford@mail.vak12ed.edu), data management specialist, Office of Career and Technical Education Services, at 804/371-2924.

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