Future Force Nebraska

Partnerships For Innovation - PFI

Partnerships for Innovation - A New Consortium Structure
Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) is a new consortium structure aimed at building statewide systems to accomplish program improvement and increased student achievement while meeting the requirements of the 2006 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins IV). The Partnerships for Innovation provides an opportunity to reduce the burden on local institutions to each develop their own approaches to statewide agreements, technical skill assessments, data and accountability systems, and strategic professional development approaches in isolation.

The following briefly describes the elements that are to be included under the new Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) consortium structure.

PFI Areas of Focus

Secondary-Postsecondary Transition The development of a statewide system to ensure that NCE students make the transition to further education or employment at various self-determined stop-out points along a chosen career path. Examples of this work include:
	Developing statewide articulation agreements
	Expanding opportunities for dual credit
	Develop new partnerships between secondary and postsecondary education to expand the use of distance learning and on-line courses to increase availability of career education courses to secondary students, especially in rural areas, small schools.
	Curriculum alignment of secondary and postsecondary programs of study requirement in Perkins IV for all secondary and postsecondary programs of study using Perkins funds
	Examining outcomes of secondary courses to ensure students are prepared to enter postsecondary education both in career education and academic preparation
	Identifying policy issues that provide barriers for successful student transition and working to overcome those barriers.

Improved Data and Reporting Systems Continue the development and coordination of database and reporting systems to ease the burden and improve the quality of data required by Perkins IV and necessary for program improvement. Examples of this work include:
	Clarifying and improving data needed to respond to Perkins IV. Accountability and Performance Measures are especially important in light of the potential sanctions contained in Perkins IV for both state and locals that do not meet performance measure goals.
	Developing statewide systems for follow up data and management of that data
	Continued partnership with NSSRS, finding ways to eliminate duplication of data reported by eligible recipients.
	Explore ways to share data between secondary and postsecondary more effectively to reduce burden on locals.

Technical Skill Assessment
Perkins IV requires a new and greater emphasis on technical skill assessment. In the past, Nebraska has been allowed to use GPA as a measure of technical skill attainment. Under Perkins IV, we will be transitioning to a new system to document technical skill attainment. The work of PFI will be instrumental in developing this new statewide system of measuring and documenting technical skill attainment.

Statewide Partnerships PFI will provide the potential for securing statewide license agreements that are determined priority need areas. Examples of this include:
	National Student Clearinghouse follow up data system, CC Benefits, Technical Skill Assessment (IT certifications, etc), Software AutoDesk and other curricular tools.

Professional Development
Planning and coordination of professional development that may include skill training in emerging areas, technical skill development, and training in new instructional strategies and approaches for secondary and postsecondary instructors. Areas of teacher recruitment, certification, and other areas related to instruction are opportunities for planning, coordination, and exploration.

Curriculum in Emerging Areas
Development of secondary/postsecondary aligned curriculum in new and emerging, or targeted areas

The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) consortia is focused on building systems and capacity for Nebraska to meet the demands of the legislation, but more importantly to increase the flexibility in prioritizing decisions made locally by reducing the administrative on the local education agencies.

PFI Management
A Leadership Council of local Perkins recipients will manage PFI. The Leadership Council will consist of one representative from each of the six Nebraska Community Colleges and six representatives from secondary schools or consortia. This Leadership Council will set the annual budget, identify funding priorities, evaluation criteria, and track progress.

Specific Task Forces will be appointed to work on specific priorities of the PFI. These may include: Data and Accountability, Secondary/Postsecondary Transition, Professional Development, etc. Again, membership on these task forces will be provided for secondary and postsecondary eligible recipients and partners. Where possible, PFI will seek to leverage resources and effectiveness with FutureForce Nebraska, the P-16 Initiative, Nebraska Workforce Investment Board, workforce development and economic development initiatives.