ALIGNING EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS

TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.

Learn more about how the industry-aligned pathway certifications came to be by navigating the information below.

storyofAgAlign

REALIZING A NEED

In the fall of 2017, educators from 36 high schools, 3 community colleges, and 3 universities came together with a common goal of strengthening agricultural education pathways in California. In addition to instructional program improvement and pathway alignment, one of the core priorities of the collective efforts was to identify existing certification opportunities.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS

In the spring of 2018, the consortium continued with their collaborative efforts, but this time they chose to meet as specific instructional pathway focus groups to better address the unique needs of each pathway. The task at the forefront of their efforts continued to be the identification of potential industry-aligned certifications. 

Extensive conversations revolved around the criteria necessary for certifications to be meaningful to students, employers, and educators. At the conclusion of those brainstorming sessions, a well-defined certification criterion arose. 

Unfortunately, after an extensive search of existing certifications, it was determined that the ideal model didn’t exist. At that time, educators made the commitment to work with industry leaders to develop a certification model that meets our students’ needs.

ENGAGING INDUSTRY

For certifications to be meaningful and relevant to all stakeholders, it became apparent that the ideal assessment model would have to combine the existing instructional framework standards used by educators and the employability skills sought by employers. The pathway focus groups worked with industry leaders to combine both and create a list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary for students to demonstrate work-readiness.

BUILDING ASSESSMENT BLUEPRINTS

Educators and industry leaders conducted an extensive review of the list of KSAs identified for each of the instructional pathways: Agriscience, Agricultural Mechanics, Floriculture, and Horticulture. 

Surveys were distributed to industry sector experts identified for each instructional pathway. High school teachers, community college faculty, university professors, and industry leaders all shared their unique perspectives through survey process. 

Once completed, the results from the surveys were then used to create prioritized lists of KSAs based on frequency and criticality in the workplace. These prioritized KSAs formed the blueprints for the assessments.

DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING THE CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENTS

A diverse team of instructional content experts – comprised of High School Teachers, Community College Instructors, and University Faculty – utilized the industry-aligned pathway assessment blueprints to develop written and practicum assessments that have been field-tested, piloted, and approved by a third-party psychometric consultant. As a result, the AgAlign assessments are valid, defensible, and psychometrically sound tests.

ENABLING STUDENTS

In the spring of 2019, AgAlign online certification program officially launched, and more than 5,000 students participated in the inaugural certification program. 

storyofAgAlign

REALIZING A NEED

In the fall of 2017, educators from 36 high schools, 3 community colleges, and 3 universities came together with a common goal of strengthening agricultural education pathways in California. In addition to instructional program improvement and pathway alignment, one of the core priorities of the collective efforts was to identify existing certification opportunities.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS

In the spring of 2018, the consortium continued with their collaborative efforts, but this time they chose to meet as specific instructional pathway focus groups to better address the unique needs of each pathway. The task at the forefront of their efforts continued to be the identification of potential industry-aligned certifications. 

Extensive conversations revolved around the criteria necessary for certifications to be meaningful to students, employers, and educators. At the conclusion of those brainstorming sessions, a well-defined certification criterion arose. 

Unfortunately, after an extensive search of existing certifications, it was determined that the ideal model didn’t exist. At that time, educators made the commitment to work with industry leaders to develop a certification model that meets our students’ needs.

ENGAGING INDUSTRY

For certifications to be meaningful and relevant to all stakeholders, it became apparent that the ideal assessment model would have to combine the existing instructional framework standards used by educators and the employability skills sought by employers. The pathway focus groups worked with industry leaders to combine both and create a list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary for students to demonstrate work-readiness.

BUILDING ASSESSMENT BLUEPRINTS

Educators and industry leaders conducted an extensive review of the list of KSAs identified for each of the instructional pathways: Agriscience, Agricultural Mechanics, Floriculture, and Horticulture. 

Surveys were distributed to industry sector experts identified for each instructional pathway. High school teachers, community college faculty, university professors, and industry leaders all shared their unique perspectives through survey process. 

Once completed, the results from the surveys were then used to create prioritized lists of KSAs based on frequency and criticality in the workplace. These prioritized KSAs formed the blueprints for the assessments.

DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING THE CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENTS

A diverse team of instructional content experts – comprised of High School Teachers, Community College Instructors, and University Faculty – utilized the industry-aligned pathway assessment blueprints to develop written and practicum assessments that have been field-tested, piloted, and approved by a third-party psychometric consultant. As a result, the AgAlign assessments are valid, defensible, and psychometrically sound tests.

ENABLING STUDENTS

In the spring of 2019, AgAlign online certification program officially launched, and more than 5,000 students participated in the inaugural certification program.