MEASURE STUDENT LEARNING, SHOWCASE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS,
PLAN PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.
For your students, certification is an opportunity to showcase their knowledge, skills, and abilities. For you as an educator, AgAlign certifications are a valuable tool used to assess student learning in a way that demonstrates the effectiveness of your instructional program to community members, employers, and school administrators. AgAlign certification results can be a valuable aid in long-range program improvement decisions for both curriculum enhancement and equipment modernization.
Navigate the content below to learn more about how the AgAlign certifications align with your current curriculum and gain access to the assessment blueprints.
ALIGNED WITH
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
The AgAlign Certification Program was developed in alignment with the following:
The Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards for Agriculture and Natural Resources adopted by the California Department of Education.
Agriscience aligned with University of California Curriculum Integration and Next Generation Science Standards.
California Post-Secondary curriculum and matriculation preparation requirements identified by Community College and University Faculty.
Career-readiness indicators identified by California Agriculture Industry Leaders and Technical Skill Advisors.
There are many certifications available to educators today. The trouble with most of them is that they don’t align well with classroom curriculum. Because AgAlign was developed by California Agriculture Educators and Industry Leaders, you will find these certifications align with what you are teaching in the classroom.
Here are some reasons AgAlign can meet your certification needs:
CERTIFICATIONS THAT ADD
VALUE TO YOUR CLASSROOM
CERTIFICATIONS THAT ADD
VALUE TO YOUR CLASSROOM
There are many certifications available to educators today. The trouble with most of them is that they don’t align well with what you are teaching. Because AgAlign was developed by California Ag Educators alongside Industry Leaders, you will find these certifications align with what you are teaching today.
Here are some reasons AgAlign can meet your certification needs:
HELP MAINTAIN A FOCUS ON THE EMPLOYMENT NEEDS OF INDUSTRY
- Stay aligned with the ever evolving industry standards
- Develop effective relationships with local employers
- Access real data about student performance and instructional effectiveness
- Identify if new instructional improvement strategies really have an impact on student learning
- Document program success and student impact
- Reveal gaps in instructional content areas and inform professional development investments
- Advocate for funding or support for our programs through leveraged data from the assessments
- Make data-informed decisions about program growth and ongoing improvements
MOTIVATE STUDENTS AND ADD RELEVANCY TO LEARNING
- Validate and instill confidence in students excelling in the career pathways
- Cultivate a sense of self-worth in students and enable them to realize their value with proof of their success
- Showcase how classroom learning connects to work-readiness
- Encourage students to set their sights on a career from which they will build upon
The value of certifications goes well beyond the primary goal of assessing student learning. Participating teachers have found that when students complete a certification, the achievement can promote learning progression along the pathway of study, encourage post-secondary matriculation, prepare students for work-based learning opportunities, and showcase their work-readiness.
If you would like to learn more about the value through the perspective of a student or employer, navigate to the appropriate page by selecting the title below.
TAKING THE
ASSESSMENTS
You may be wondering, “Which of my students should take these assessments?” The good news is you are the identifier! It varies by pathway sequence, student experience, and your class load. We encourage you to do the following:
- Evaluate what is taught in each of your classes.
- Look at the blueprint details of the certification you are interested in and compare them to your courses.
- Crosswalk the two to identify which of your students are ready and when. This may be after a two-course sequence to make sure the student was taught all of the concepts/details listed in the Blueprints.
- Cross walking your current plans with the assessment blueprints is the best way to gain a clear picture of how AgAlign certifications can realistically support your program and students. There are two tiers (Tier 1 and Tier 2) for assessments available.
TAKING THE
ASSESSMENTS
You may be wondering, “Which of my students should take these assessments?” The good news is you are the identifier! It varies by pathway sequence, student experience, and your class load. We encourage you to do the following:
- Evaluate what is taught in each of your classes.
- Look at the blueprint details of the certification you are interested in and compare them to your courses.
- Crosswalk the two to identify which of your students are ready and when. This may be after a two-course sequence to make sure the student was taught all of the concepts/details listed in the Blueprints.
- Cross walking your current plans with the assessment blueprints is the best way to gain a clear picture of how AgAlign certifications can realistically support your program and students. There are two tiers (Tier 1 and Tier 2) for assessments available.
TIER 1:
KNOWLEDGE-BASED ASSESSMENTS
These online assessments were designed to evaluate student knowledge and measure the ability to apply instructional concepts in real-world applications. Tier 1 Certifications are available in Ag Mechanics, Agriscience-Ag Biology & Sustainable Ag, Agriscience-Chemistry, Floriculture, and Horticulture. They represent the first level within the two-tiered certification system offered through AgAlign. Students must demonstrate proficiency at this level to be eligible to participate in the Tier 2 certifications.
TIER 2:
PERFORMANCE-BASED ASSESSMENTS
These advanced level certifications recognize students that possess a deeper content knowledge and hands-on practical skills. They represent the highest level of applied knowledge and technical skill obtainment. Currently, Tier 2 Certification is available in Floriculture. Tier 2 Certification in Ag Mechanics (Ag Welding, Power Mechanics, and Advanced Ag Mechanics) will be operational in Spring, 2023.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in the ongoing process of creating these assessment blueprints or revising them in the future, we would love to connect with you! Fill out the form below and we will get in touch.
GET INVOLVED
GET INVOLVED
If you are interested in becoming more involved in the ongoing process of creating these assessment blueprints or revising them in the future, we would love to connect with you! Fill out the form below and we will get in touch.