The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Progress Report on ICCR Task Force Report Recommendations
I am pleased to report we have been making steady progress in implementing the recommendations in the Task Force Report for the Integration of College and Career Readiness (ICCR). The Task Force was chaired by Gerald Chertavian of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. At the October 2012 Board meeting, we presented the organizational structure as well as high level goals and strategies for realizing the recommendations as a first step. Since that time, we have accomplished the following milestones:
- Developed an ICCR Delivery Plan that identifies targets, trajectories and timelines for realizing the Task Force recommendations to guide our work over the long term.
- Established a 13-member Advisory Group that will advise on the ongoing execution of the cross-sector recommendations to strengthen the statewide collaborative effort.
- Developed and disseminated to all high schools a Career Development Activities Survey to establish a more informed baseline of current career development activities across the Commonwealth.
- Convened 165 stakeholders at a statewide Connecting Activities Conference in November 2012 to outline the strategic recommendations in the ICCR Task Force Report.
- Identified a mechanism to receive funds awarded or contributed to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that will support planning and implementation grants allowing districts/schools to pilot a comprehensive approach to career development education for grades 7-12.
- Increased our internal capacity to support the Commonwealth's career development agenda by hiring a Connecting Activities Coordinator for the College and Career Readiness Unit.
- Partnered with the MA School Counselors Association to sponsor a conference in February 2013 to support the 40 Race to the Top districts that are implementing the MA Model for Comprehensive School Counseling.
While these represent some of the major milestones over the last several months, much work is being done to continue the progress we have made to prepare all students for successful futures.
At our meeting on March 26, 2013, Senior Associate Commissioner Bob Bickerton, Associate Commissioner Pati Gregson, and Keith Westrich, Director of College and Career Readiness, will join us to discuss our progress and anticipated next steps with the Board.
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