Initiatives, FY 2002 [2002]

Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education
From the Commissioner
With the beginning of Fiscal Year 2002, Georgia's technical education system entered a new era. Thanks to Governor Barnes' A + Education Reform Act of 2000 (House Bill 1187), our colleges are named to reflect their capabilities, and we have a funding formula that will help enable the system to meet increasing demand. As our system continues to grow, the basic structure that we have put in place must continue to be maintained and examined in the interests of continuous improvement. The means by which we implement statewide innovations-our yearly initiatives systemhas proven itself useful from the start. As innovations surface from throughout the system-from individual faculty members, administrators, departments-research is performed, focus groups developed, pilot projects engineered. Certain of these, it begins to become apparent, offer the possibility of significant impact for communities across the state. These innovations, tested in successful pilot projects, are then implemented throughout the technical college system. Results and progress are closely monitored; statewide reports are generated and shared with the commissioner and all the technical college presidents each quarter. Annually, each innovation, termed initiatives at this point, is considered and analyzed. Often, the decision is made to continue the monitoring phase for another year or more. It is important to keep the initiative in this phase until we are certain that all necessary improvements have been implemented. Once we are sure of the value of the initiative, in a most natural progression, it becomes a standard business practice. This system has proven most successful for our system. Several of the programs that began as initiatives have been adopted as models by other states. Our seven FY 2002 Initiatives include programs that reach out to all segments and levels of Georgia's workforce, addressing needs from literacy to high-level information technology, delivering support to business, industry, families, and communities. We look forward to continuing our history of service to Georgia as we use this process as one way we remain responsive to the demands of the workplace.

Dr. Kenneth Breeden
Commissioner, Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education
How DTAE Implements Statewide Innovations
1 Research & Development
Research. Focus Groups. Pilot Projects.
2 Statewide Initiatives
.
Each year, some successful pilot projects become statewide initiatives, implemented at every technical college. Progress is monitored, measured and reported to the commissioner each quarter.
3 Standard Business Practice
Annually, each initiative is analyzed. The best initiatives . become standard business practice.
Certified Training
Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) Certified Customer Service Specialist (CCSS) Certified Construction Worker (CCW) IT+
CMS, CCSS, CCW, and IT+ provide performance-based training in specific skills needed for manufacturing, customer service, construction, or information technology. Designed to the specifications of Georgia's business and industry, these programs are for pre-employment or new-employee training, or training for existing employees to reach higher performance levels.
Certified Warehouse & Distribution Specialist (CWDS) Warehouse and Distribution is a fast-growing employment sector in Georgia. The CWDS program was designed to create a pool from which new and existing companies can draw as they staff their centers. In addition, the program can serve those currently employed by preparing them for greater responsibility and growth in their careers.

< Human Resources Development Outsourcing
Georgia's technical colleges serve as customized training resources to business and industry statewide. With companies facing workforce challenges, remaining competitive requires constant worker training and retraining. All of a company's training needs-assessment to performance management, basic to high technology, productivity enhancement to employee involvement-can be met through its local technical college.
< Virtual Technical College
Georgia Virtual Technical College (GVTC) uses advanced technology to deliver postsecondary instruction via the Internet. Georgia's technical colleges are positioned to succeed in Internet instruction because of existing standardized course formats used by all 34 technical colleges. Hands-on segments are held in local and regional centers across Georgia.
< Youth Development Opportunities
Georgia's technical colleges are forging new and significant partnerships to increase awareness of and interest in technical education on the part of Georgia's young people who are involved in alternative education programs, educational facilities within the Department of Juvenile Justice, and youth organizations. This will help provide a vital link for some of Georgia's youth at a critical stage in their lives. The partnerships that are being established will be . monitored and evaluated in order to ensure the replication of best practices and documentation of the anticipated significant positive results for this vital population.
< High School/Technical College Collaboratives
Collaborative programs help high school students complete high school requirements, gain real-world work experience, and earn credits that can be applied to technical college programs. Many programs allow students to earn technical college credentials simultaneously with a high school diploma. Business partners offer work-based learning opportunities. Programs include health care, engineering and industrial technologies, public and personal services, and business technologies.
< Industry-Certified Information Technology
Technical colleges are meeting the needs of business and industry by building information technology certifications-such as Microsoft, Cisco and Novell-into Computer Information Systems and Business and Office Technology programs. Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) programs provide certifications that ladder into diploma and degree programs. High school students can access some TCCs through dual-enrollment programs or may get advanced placement at technical colleges by obtaining certifications from the high school or another source. Industry will have access to employees they need, and an effective, seamless-education plan in information technology will be available to high school students.
< Certified Literate Community Program
A broad variety of community resources and partnerships are mobilized to promote and support literacy by making it a community- wide commitment. The result is improved literacy levels of children, families and workers in entire . communities.
[more info on CLCP]

top The Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, religion, age or disability in admissions, in employment practices or in access to its educational programs and/or activities.
DTAE HOME | TECHNICAL EDUCATION | ADULT LITERACY | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT