LA-24: Education, Construction, Culinary, Middle Schools: Improving & Expanding CA Priorities

Pathways Improvement Scope

While Cerritos College offers no Residential and Commercial Construction pathway, DUSD plans to collaborate with Long Beach CC and LA Trade Tech to support in the create of this pathway. The focus is on aligning the curriculum with local hiring needs, introducing AutoCAD, and incorporating hands-on building experiences. In Culinary at Warren and Downey HSs, updates will reflect changes in the LA Metro Culinary landscape, with potential dual enrollment and articulation with Cerritos College. The Education & Human Development pathway at Downey HS aims to align with California Pre-K qualifications and early childhood education, emphasizing articulation and dual enrollment. Middle Schools in the Downey Unified School District (DUSD) are implementing a 2-year pathway program with a focus on career exploration and work-based learning. Measurable outcomes include articulation with Cerritos College, dual enrollment assessments, and updated curriculum in line with industry demands. Efforts to close equity gaps involve launching an Integrated Math 3 course and providing summer internships, pre-apprenticeships, industry tours, and guest speakers for deeper career exploration.

Goals & Priorities

This project encompasses various goals across different CTE pathways in Downey Unified School District. In Construction Technologies at Warren High School, the focus is on updating the curriculum in alignment with industry feedback and nearby community college objectives, incorporating AUTOCAD work-based learning projects, and articulating with Long Beach CC and/or LA Trade Tech. The Culinary programs at Warren and Downey High Schools aim to update their curricula with industry and Cerritos College input, explore dual enrollment opportunities, and align equipment with the revised curriculum. In Education & Human Development at Downey HS, the objectives involve updating the curriculum to meet new teaching guidelines, exploring dual enrollment with Cerritos College, and aligning equipment with the updated curriculum. The middle schools will implement 8th-grade work-based learning activities to guide students in selecting their 9th-grade CTE pathways. The project also addresses equity gaps by launching Integrated Math 3 across CTE pathways, assessing it against CORE and the 2023 Mathematics Framework, and integrating a work-based learning focus. Throughout the school year, pathway students will engage with guest speakers, research and invite university representatives, and participate in the DowneyMADE internship program during the summer. Additionally, collaboration with the Linked Learning Alliance will further enhance student college and career exploration opportunities.