This document discusses improving college readiness in math for students entering technical degree programs. It summarizes strategies used by local high schools and community colleges to better prepare students, including administering placement tests to identify skill gaps, developing targeted math intervention courses, and increasing collaboration between secondary and postsecondary educators. Assessment results showed that the interventions helped more students master prerequisite math skills and placed them into higher-level college courses.

2.  Provide you with information about how well
prepared our students are for college and career.
 Familiarize you with college readiness standards and
placement testing
 Familiarize you with the math courses that students
most often take at Community Colleges.
 Look at the alignment of the NYS Regents Math
courses with College Placement Tests and course-work.
 Investigate effective strategies for improving college
readiness in Math for students entering Technical
Degree Programs

3.  To build seamless instruction through collaboration
between HS and Colleges that will prepare students for
entry into High Wage, High Demand, High Skill Jobs
 Increase Educator’s knowledge of skill requirements
for students’ successful navigation of Career Pathways
 Increase the percentage of students who are “college
ready,”
 Provide educators with resources to improve readiness
for college and careers through more precise
instruction and applied learning that engages students

4. Career Opportunities Employment Outlook Starting
Salary Ranges
Battery energy
technology Mfg. Tech
Very Favorable Locally
Job Growth Predicted–GE
Battery
Not available
Chip fabrication
Technician
Very Favorable Locally
Excellent Job Growth
Predicted Locally – GLOBAL
FOUNDRIES
$35,000 to
$48,000*
Photovoltaic Design and
Installation
Favorable at present time,
Good job growth predicated –
Federal Stimulus
$31,000 to
$49,000*
Wind turbine technician
& wind energy
Very few jobs locally, Good
growth predicted in NYS,
Excellent growth Nationally.
$37,000 to
$45,000*
Smart Grid technology
Utilities
Stable with Projected Growth $42,000 to
$54,000**
Smart Building Systems
Installer, Designers,
Technicians Building
Analyst
Very Favorable Locally –
Excellent Job Growth
predicted -
$36,000 to
$46,500**
* Based interview with Local Employers ** Based on 75% of Median Salary report by NYDOL for related occupations

5.  Automotive
Technologies – CGCC
and HVCC
 Construction Certificate
Program
 Electrical Construction
and Maintenance
 HVAC and HVAC
Certificate Program
 Manufacturing
Technical Systems
 Overhead Line Worker
Certificate Program
 Photovoltaic Installation
Certificate Program
 Plant Utilities
Technology
 Wind Technology
 Alternative Fuels-
Certificate Program

6.  Photovoltaic Installation Certificate Program
 Overhead Line Worker Certificate Program
 Wind Technology
 Meets Related Instruction Requirement for
Electrician Apprenticeship Program –

7.  Alternative Energy –
Degree and Certificate
Program - SCCC
 Biotechnology – Degree
and Certificate Program
 Chemical Technician
 Computer Information
Systems and Network –
SCCC, CGCC & HVCC
 Construction
Technologies -HVCC
Degree
 Semi-Conductor
Manufacturing
Technologies - HVCC
 Nano-scale Materials
Program - SCCC
 Storage Battery
Technology –Certificate
Program - SCCC
 Electrical Engineering
Technology - HVCC

8. Career Opportunities Employment Outlook Starting
Salary Ranges
Battery energy
technology Mfg. Tech
Very Favorable Locally
Job Growth Predicted–GE
Battery
Not available
Chip fabrication
Technician
Very Favorable Locally
Excellent Job Growth
Predicted Locally – GLOBAL
FOUNDRIES
$35,000 to
$48,000*
Photovoltaic Design and
Installation
Favorable at present time,
Good job growth predicted –
Federal Stimulus
$31,000 to
$49,000*
Wind turbine technician
& wind energy
Very few jobs locally, Good
growth predicted in NYS,
Excellent growth Nationally.
$37,000 to
$45,000*
Smart Grid technology
Utilities
Stable with Projected Growth $42,000 to
$54,000**
Smart Building Systems
Installer, Designers,
Technicians Building
Analyst
Very Favorable Locally –
Excellent Job Growth
predicted
$36,000 to
$46,500**
* Based on interview with Local Employers ** Based on 75% of Median Salary report by NYDOL for related occupations

9.  Alternative Fuels-
Certificate Program
 Construction Certificate
Program
 Electrical Construction
and Maintenance
 HVAC and HVAC
Certificate Program
 Manufacturing
Technical Systems
 Overhead Line Worker
Certificate Program
 Photovoltaic Installation
Certificate Program
 Plant Utilities
Technology
 Wind Technology

10.  Photovoltaic Installation Certificate Program
 Overhead Line Worker Certificate Program
 Wind Technology
 Meets Related Instruction Requirement for
Electrician Apprenticeship Program –

11.  Alternative Energy –
Degree and Certificate
Program - SCCC
 Biotechnology – HVCC
Degree and Certificate
Program
 Chemical Technician -
HVCC Degree
 Computer Information
Systems and Network –
SCCC, CGCC & HVCC
 Construction
Technologies -HVCC
Degree
 Electrical Engineering
Technology - HVCC
 Mechanical Engineering
Technology - HVCC
 Nano-scale Materials
Program - SCCC
 Semi-Conductor
Manufacturing
Technologies - HVCC
 Storage Battery
Technology –Certificate
Program - SCCC

12.  Nursing – HVCC,
SCCC/Ellis, CGCC
 Respiratory Care
 Dental Hygiene
 Diagnoostic Medical
Sonography*
 Echocardiography
 Invasive Cardiovascular
Technology*
 Radiologic Technology

13.  Community colleges enroll more than 46% of all
the nation’s college students.
 Community colleges report that between 42% and
49% of incoming freshmen are not college ready in
at least one core area: reading, math or writing.
 Local community college faculty report that
BOCES CTE students are prepared for their
technical courses at college but often experience
difficulties in required writing and math courses.

14.  Half of community college students
recommended for a sequence of developmental
courses fail to complete the first course in the
sequence.
 More than half the students who do complete
their remedial sequence do not go on to pass
their first college-level course.
 As few as 18% to 25% of community college
students who enroll in remedial courses earn
an Associates Degree within 3 years.

15. Aligning Postsecondary Expectations and High School Practice: The Gap Defined, p.3
Policy Implications of the ACT National Curriculum Survey Results 2005-2006

16. ACT National Curriculum Survey® 2009, p.5
http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/NationalCurriculumSurvey2009.pdf

17.  COMPASS: ACT’s computer-adaptive testing
program for evaluating students’ ability to
begin college coursework
 Internet delivery: allows for remote testing of
students anywhere in the country
 Currently Hudson Valley, Columbia-Greene,
and Schenectady County all use COMPASS

18.  Reviewed the COMPASS instrument
 Participated in a Group Demonstration
 Discussed how COMPASS could be
implemented

19. Pre-Algebra Algebra
Integers Substitution
Fractions Setup Equations
Decimals Basic Polynomials
Exponents Factoring
Ratios Linear EQ – 1 Var
Percentages Linear EQ – 2 Var
Averages Exponents
Rational Expressions

20. Skills 2009-10 (n = 360)
Pre-Algebra
Weak 37 (10%)
Decision Zone 248 (69%)
In Place 75 (21%)
Algebra
Weak 218 (61%)
Decision Zone 93 (26%)
In Place 49 (14%)

21. Skills 2009-10 CTE
Cohort
HVCC National
Pre-Algebra 45.48 51.46 44.27
Algebra 27.04 31.44 31.33

22. 0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
Special Education
Students
Students Taking Math
(in senior year)
Students With a Study Hall
or Early Dismissal
30%
12%
63%

23. Integrated
Algebra
35%
Algebra II Trig,
11%
Geometry
38%
Other
16%

24. Range of Means
2009-10 CTE
Cohort
National
All Pre-Algebra
Concepts
34.22-58.20 40.78-57.24
Algebra:
Substitution
34.21 49.24
Algebra: All
Other Concepts
18.68-27.00 31.14-38.67

25.  COMPASS Math Pre-Algebra and Algebra
Diagnostics administered to12th grade
students who tested Weak in Math as 11th
grade students last year.
 These students have most Pre-Algebra
concepts mastered.
 All 12th grade students who test in Weak range
of Algebra diagnostics are given an
intervention.

26.  High school and college faculty
 Listed COMPASS content skills
 Created projects with real-world applications
to review and hone prerequisite skills
 Developed a course consisting of 8-10
consecutive projects, each lasting 3 to 6 weeks
 Met to review objectives, check for gaps, align
content with A.A.S. and A.O.S. degree math
courses

27.  High School Math Teachers: created a College Prep Math
course based on the content of Hudson Valley’s
developmental math courses, Elementary Algebra I & II.
 12th Grade Students: recommended and encouraged to take
the elective course by high school teachers and guidance
counselors.
 Pre-Test results confirmed the majority of the students had
Pre-Algebra skills in place but needed to improve their
Algebra skills.
 First Post-Test taken at the high school in January indicated
progress, and Final Post-Test taken last week documented
continued improvement.

28. 2009-10 Coxsackie-Athens Results:
27 students took the test in September 2009,
late January 2010 and early June 2010.
Skills Pre-test 1st Post-test 2nd Post-test
Pre-Algebra
Weak 6 (22%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
Decision Zone 14 (52%) 13 (48%) 13 (48%)
In Place 7 (26%) 14 (52%) 14 (52%)
Algebra
Weak 20 (74%) 5 (19%) 4 (15%)
Decision Zone 3 (11%) 18 (67%) 14 (52%)
In Place 4 (15%) 4 (15%) 9 (33%)

29. 2009-10/2010-11 Year Coxsackie-Athens
Pre-test Comparison:
Skills 2009-10
n=27
2010-11
n=25
Pre-Algebra
Weak 6 (22%) 3 (12%)
Decision Zone 14 (52%) 13 (52%)
In Place 7 (26%) 9 (36%)
Algebra
Weak 20 (74%) 18 (72%)
Decision Zone 3 (11%) 5 (20%)
In Place 4 (15%) 2 (8%)

30.  Juniors took the COMPASS math test in May.
 Students’ “Pre-Test” scores were higher than
CTE or Coxsackie-Athens students.
 Scores validate Tech Valley’s project-based
learning environment.

31.  30 Tech Valley Juniors tested on May 5th, 2010
Skills Results
Pre-Algebra
Weak 1 (3%)
Decision Zone 5 (17%)
In Place 24 (80%)
Algebra
Weak 6 (20%)
Decision Zone 14 (47%)
In Place 10 (33%)

32.  Course Recommendations for 30 Tech Valley
students and 27 Coxsackie-Athens students
after completion of a math intervention.
Recommended Course Tech Valley Coxsackie-Athens
Developmental # of Students (%) # of Students (%)
MATH 090
Numerical Skills
1 (3%) 0 (0%)
MATH 099
Elementary Algebra
5 (17%) 4 (15%)
College–Level # of Students (%) # of Students (%)
MATH 105
Applied Technical Math I
(A.O.S., A.A.S.)
14 (47%) 14 (52%)
MATH 150
College Algebra &
Trigonometry
(A.S., A.A., A.A.S.)
10 (33%) 9 (33%)

33.  Prepare Students for College/Career
 Address the Disconnect between High School
and Post-Secondary Educators’ Expectations
 Reach Out, Collaborate, and Integrate for
Student Success

34. Contacts:
 Kathleen Quirk, Associate Dean
Instructional Support Services & Retention
Hudson Valley Community College
E-mail: k.quirk@hvcc.edu
Phone: 518-629-7055
 Ted Hennessey, Career Development Specialist
QUESTAR III BOCES
E-mail: thennessey@questar.org
Phone: 518-479-6914
 Matthew Howe, Coordinator
Office of Testing, Advisement and Academic Placement
Hudson Valley Community College
E-mail: m.howe@hvcc.edu
Phone: 518-629-8069
 Lisa McNeil, Math 9-12 Grade Teacher
Coxsackie-Athens High School
E-mail: mcneill@coxsackie-athens.org
Phone: 518-731-1800
 Dan Liebert, High School Principal
Tech Valley High School
E-mail: dliebert@techvalleyhigh.org
Phone: 518-862-4964