ACE : Special Populations

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14 Brief Series: Maximizing Access and Success for Special Populations in CTE

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Working Definition for ACE CTE

Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE) Career & Technical Education (CTE) is a multi-occupational pathway that facilitates individualized, developmentally appropriate programming necessary to support CTE students thrive in our economy and be successful in various postsecondary pathways.  This makes ACE CTE a unique, to Colorado only, CTE program that serves each student inclusive of students identified as Special Populations¹.

ACE CTE Programming is developed through collaboration with educators, business representatives and community stakeholders. The collaboration creates locally responsive, relevant work-based & school-based learning experiences. ACE CTE students will demonstrate competency in Postsecondary Workforce Readiness (PWR)² that lead to technical skill attainment³ in any chosen occupation with a focus on high wage⁴ occupations or high skill in high demand industries that promote self-sufficiency..

FOOTNOTES

1. Special Populations (per Perkins Authorization): Is defined as individuals with a disability, from economically disadvantages families, preparing for non-traditional fields, single parents, including single pregnant women, out-of-workforce individuals, English learners, homeless individuals, you who are in, or have aged out of the foster care system, and youth with a parent who is either a member of the armed forces or is on active duty.
2. Postsecondary Workforce Readiness (PWR) competencies include:
   • Entrepreneurial: Critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, inquiry and analysis, informed risk taking
   • Personal: Initiative and self-direction, personal responsibility and self-management, adaptability and flexibility, self-awareness of learning preferences, strengths, and areas for growth
   • Civic: core academic foundation, collaboration and teamwork, communication, global and cultural awareness
   • Professional: time and work management, career literacy, grit and resilience, work ethic; dependable and reliable
   • Academic: discernment, apply skills and knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving, inquiry, analysis and evaluation.
3. Technical Skill Attainment is defined as: the knowledge and skills determined by Career & Technical Standards and competency measures that are mastered by the student in a CTE program. This verification can be completed by delivering educator/employer formal assessment & evaluation; performance based assessment or from artifacts reflecting work experience accumulated in a portfolio, among other verification models; including, but not limited to: developmentally appropriate completion of a CTE course sequence and skills outlined in individual training plans for work based learning.
4. High Wage: As determined by the 2006 Perkins Authorization = wages greater or equal to the current state set minimum wage