CCEA Plus 2025 Surf's Up! Riding the Waves of Opportunity

Discover how dual enrollment opportunities and articulated credit courses can enhance Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, giving students a head start on college and career success. This session will explore strategies for aligning CTE coursework with early college opportunities, ensuring students earn both industry-recognized credentials and transferable college credit while still in high school.cAttendees will learn from the first-year success of Sierra High School, a continuation high school in SBCUSD, Southern California, which implemented a fully functional Family and Human Services Pathway alongside a dual enrollment partnership with San Bernardino Valley College. Year-end projections show SHS students will earn approximately 140 college articulated units and 144 college units through dual enrollment. The session will include practical insights, engaging discussions, and a hands-on resource toolkit featuring implementation strategies, curriculum alignment guides, and student recruitment techniques. Walk away with actionable steps to enhance your CTE program, ensuring students graduate high school with both career-ready skills and college credit—setting them up for lifelong success!

In this session, we will explore how Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) can effectively support students' academic, behavioral, and social-emotional growth, while reinforcing their college and career readiness. By examining the three tiers of MTSS, participants will learn how universal, targeted, and intensive supports can connect classroom learning to real-world career opportunities and post-secondary aspirations.Through practical strategies and examples, this session will show how MTSS creates personalized pathways for students, ensuring all have the opportunity to thrive academically, explore career paths, and prepare for future success. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to integrate MTSS within their schools, build stronger community and family partnerships, and promote a culture of equity that supports every student in achieving their college and career goals.

In this dynamic session, discover how Sierra High School's CTE program ignites student success through internships, industry certifications, and impactful Work-Based Learning (WBL) experiences. Learn how our innovative approach empowers students to take on leadership roles, earn valuable certifications, and engage in hands-on learning with community partners. We'll explore how internships are vital in building career readiness, supporting students’ professional development, and shaping their future career pathways. Attendees will leave with relevant strategies for developing internship programs that align with industry demands and equip students with the essential skills needed for success in both higher education and the workforce.

At Sierra High School, we have redefined CTE and core academic integration to ensure students receive holistic, career-focused education that meets both A-G and CTE standards. Our approach is designed to create seamless pathways that prepare students for college, careers, and real-world success. This session will showcase the success of our Family & Human Services (FHS) Pathway, which blends academic coursework with industry certifications, work-based learning (WBL), and real-world internships. Participants will explore how integrated courses like Psychology for FHS, Mental Health & Wellness, and ProActive PE 2 provide multi-use credits while equipping students with communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, we will demonstrate how AI-powered tools can assist in curriculum development, allowing educators to efficiently align CTE and academic standards while designing engaging, career-focused coursework. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for implementing cross-disciplinary curriculum mapping, AI-driven course creation, industry partnerships, and work-based learning opportunities to enhance student career readiness and workforce preparation.

Apprenticeships are critical talent pipelines in key industries and occupations – from clean energy and infrastructure to public health and technology – and are affordable post-secondary education programs in which students receive a paycheck while learning specialized skills on a job site in preparation for a high-wage, high-growth career. At the same time, registered pre-apprenticeship programs prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship program. In this session, we will discuss the benefits of both apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. We will also look at the process of registering a pre-apprenticeship program through the state Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) and share best practices.

The Forestry & Community presentation connects students to ecology, community and career opportunities.  We will discuss: *the state-wide competition, Forestry Challenge, which occurs four times during the fall and is free to all California high school students.  We partner with this agency and they provide curriculum and a mentor. This includes ecological, community, climate awareness, and the work of the forestry service and private sector. *career opportunities and the ecological significance of your local Mosquito Delta District. *sensors and bots provided by the nonprofit-SEEN program, that students build and use to test air, water, and soil quality in their community.  Data is collected and can be shared internationally.  All is free/open-sourced.

Discover how educational leaders across California use creative approaches including AI, AR, and VR to engage and inspire students.  This session will demonstrate how students research, learn, and experience a variety of concepts and the associated career pathways in STEM, Health Science, Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Science, Transportation and more.  Based on this exploration, students are able to develop plans for post-secondary study and/or earn valuable certifications. Learning Objectives: - Understand the AI/AR/VR landscape and its role in supporting STEM curriculum and CTE certifications - Discover clinical evidence supporting learning gains with AR/VR - Consider funding sources for the integration of new technology

Discover how Sierra High School prepares students for college and career success through strategic partnerships and hands-on learning experiences. Collaborations with the Department of Rehabilitation, Teamsters, a local realtor group, and Community Health Systems provide students with real-world exposure to career pathways in their local community. Additionally, students engage in workforce readiness activities such as biweekly produce distribution, gaining valuable skills while contributing to their community. Sierra High School also offers College and Career A & B courses, equipping students with essential knowledge for post-secondary success. Join us to explore how these initiatives are bridging the gap between education and the workforce, ensuring students are prepared for a seamless transition into their future careers and higher education.