Continuing Education
 |
| As part of CEC's work-based
learning approach, a video team member covers the Fayetteville
ballet recital. - Photo by Russ
Moore |
What Does
The Central Educational Center Do That Makes It Unique in
Georgia & Beyond?
by Russ Moore
One major plus is CEC's focus on an increasingly
large target workers who need more than a high school
diploma but not necessarily a traditional four-year college
degree.
Thirty years ago, only 15% of the population
needed technical training. Today, 70% of the workforce needs
additional skills and knowledge far beyond that gained in
the typical high school program of study, and that number
will grow to 80% by 2010.
Last year The Techforce Initiative, a
national organization, awarded CEC a grant to host a southeastern
symposium on how to improve the information technology workforce.
CEC named the event "We've Done IT" - incorporating the abbreviation
for information technology (IT) into a new slogan about the
school's uniqueness in today's educational world. It was attended
by 100 educators and community leaders from seven states.
Attendees heard presentations from local
business, government and education leaders who explained how
to duplicate the "CEC Model" for seamless integration of high
school and college curricula under one roof, combined with
lifelong learning for adults who want additional training.
They heard national experts from a Washington, D.C. think
tank, Florida State University, and the president of the Association
for Career and Technical Education. They heard from statewide
economic developers and toured one of CEC's many impressive
business partners, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation
of America.
They learned how Coweta County
through CEC and its partners is leading the way in
Georgia and the nation in workforce development and effective
education. The key is not just to graduate students with basic
knowledge, but to train students for specific jobs they can
fill and with specific skills they will need. This is a philosophy
that not only makes sense for the students and the community;
it makes "cents" too.
Toby Hughes, a recent Newnan High School
and CEC graduate, received his high school diploma with high
honors and simultaneously earned West Central Technical College
credits toward an Associate Degree as well as completed requirements
that allowed him to gain internationally recognized industry
certifications such as A Plus, Net Plus, and CCNA. His first
summer after graduation, Hughes was earning more than three
times the average salary of a typical high school graduate.
Perhaps more impressive than the money
a student can earn is the impact CEC is having on the county's
high school completion rate. Coweta's 1997-2001 four-year
completion rate was 67%, four points below the state average.
Though data will not be final for another three years, preliminary
results projected forward indicate that last year's freshman
class could have an 88% completion rate an improvement
it seems that will largely be due to the impact of CEC.
Mark Whitlock, CEO of Central Educational
Center, boils it down to one essential truth: "The economy
says we're producing enough college graduates," he said. "That
figure has hovered around 20% for more than 30 years. But
the new global economy is requiring us to produce many times
more technically trained workers... individuals with advanced
skills far beyond those owned by the typical high school graduate.
CEC can infuse the economy with people who are ready to work
now, with the skills they need now, to the benefit of everyone
workers, companies, community and state.
And that's what we're doing."
