While it is impossible to build an exemplary program overnight, OSS believes it is possible to determine a program's potential as an exemplary program. The following checklist can be used for that purpose. It can also be used to detect gaps in a program's operation. A majority of "Yes" responses does not identify a program as exemplary. Rather, it indicates that a program meets some of the more observable criteria that the OSS identified as necessary for an exemplary program.
| PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION | Yes | No | NA | ||
| 1. Administrative Leadership and Support | |||||
| Is an organizational chart/table identifying operational elements and administrative personnel in charge available? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| In what areas is administrative support provided? | |||||
| funding? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| advocacy? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| marketing? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| other? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 2. Financial Support | |||||
| Is funding stable and reliable? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are sources of funding diverse (from both local and state funds)? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Do records of recurring and nonrecurring funds exist? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 3. Professional Development | |||||
| Is inservice or continuing education provided for all program staff? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Do staff members have input on inservice activities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are support/incentives available for staff to attend inservice activities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 4. Formative Program Evaluation | |||||
| How is data on program effectiveness collected? | |||||
| through surveys? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| other assessments? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| other methods? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| How often are program evaluation reports prepared? | |||||
| at regular intervals? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| during the year? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are evaluation reports available for use by key program personnel? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Which groups provide feedback on program effectiveness? | |||||
| teachers and other staff members? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| students? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| parents? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| business/community representatives? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| other individuals or groups? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 5. Summative Program Evaluation | |||||
| Is an annual or biannual program evaluation conducted? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Who conducts the program evaluation? | |||||
| an internal evaluator? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| an external evaluator? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is sufficient information collected to provide evidence of effectiveness? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION | Yes | No | NA | ||
| 1. Individualized Curriculum Modifications | |||||
| How is curriculum modified? | |||||
| through use of computers? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| writing or adapting separate lesson plans? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| use of other media to deliver instruction? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| use of teacher aides? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| use of tutors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| use of mentors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 2. Integration of Academic and Vocational Curricula | |||||
| How are academic and vocational curricula integrated? | |||||
| use of applied academic learning materials? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| through integrated courses? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| team teaching between an academic and a vocational teacher? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| involvement in Tech Prep initiatives? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| participation in career academies? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 3. Appropriate Instructional Settings | |||||
| In what settings are students who are members of special populations placed? | |||||
| fully included in regular education classes? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| partially included in regular education classes? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 4. Cooperative Learning Experiences | |||||
| What types of cooperative learning experiences are available? | |||||
| group projects, in or out of classroom? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| peer tutoring? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| student organizations? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| senior projects? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES | Yes | No | NA | ||
| 1. Assessment of Vocational Interests and Abilities | |||||
| Are students' interests and abilities assessed using a combination of instruments and techniques? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Does assessment begin during 8th grade or lower? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 2. Instructional Support Services | |||||
| What types of support services are available? | |||||
| tutors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| mentors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| rehabilitation counselors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| psychologists? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| job coaches? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| adaptive devices? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| financial support for books, tools, and so on? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| child care? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 3. Career Guidance and Counseling | |||||
| Are guidance and counseling activities conducted by certified guidance counselors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| What types of guidance and counseling activities occur? | |||||
| individual counseling? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| assessment of interests and abilities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| career planning? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| consulting with teachers and parents? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| group counseling? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| job shadowing? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| field trips to various businesses? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is the guidance counselor-to-student ratio no higher than 1:300? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
FORMALIZED ARTICULATION AND COMMUNICATION | Yes | No | NA | ||
| 1. Family/Parental Involvement and Support | |||||
| Are there opportunities for parents and family members to participate in school planning and other education-related activities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Do parents avail themselves of these opportunities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are parents/family intricately involved in the school programs? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 2. Notification of Both Students and Parents Regarding Vocational Opportunities | |||||
| When is information about vocational opportunities available? | |||||
| during the 9th grade? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| before the 9th grade? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are brochures, newsletters, and other forms of information dissemination (e.g., radio, newspapers, presentations in community) utilized? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is the information in a format that both students and parents will understand? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| What type of information is disseminated? | |||||
| programs? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| eligibility for enrollment? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| specific courses? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| special services? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| employment opportunities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| placement? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| financial aid? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 3. Vocational Educators' Involvement in Individualized Educational Planning | |||||
| Are vocational teachers of classes where student will be placed present during individualized educational planning meetings? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are the roles of vocational teachers and others involved clearly stated? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 4. Formalized Transition Planning | |||||
| Does an individualized transition plan (ITP) exist for each student? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is the ITP prepared during 9th grade and no later than the 11th grade? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Does the plan indicate the individuals who are involved in the process and their roles? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Do students have input in the plan? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 5. Intra- and Interagency Collaboration | |||||
| Do various offices in the organization provide services and support to the program? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are the services provided (type of involvement) and contact persons in these various offices clearly stated? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Do community agencies and businesses provide support to the program? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Which types of support are provided? | |||||
| serving as tutors and mentors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| donations (e.g., cash, equipment, supplies)? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| volunteering for various classroom/school activities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| participation on advisory committees? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| providing work experience and job training? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES, PLACEMENT, AND FOLLOW-UP | Yes | No | NA | ||
| 1. Work Experience Opportunities | |||||
| Does the program provide formal work experience to students? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Where does work experience occur? | |||||
| in school? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| out of school? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is placement in work experience based on an assessment of student's interests and abilities? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is the assessment conducted by qualified guidance counselors? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 2. Job Placement Services | |||||
| Is there a designated person whose major responsibility is searching for businesses which may provide job placement to students in the program? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Does the entire school population participate in this process? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Is training or assistance in developing résumés and job interview skills provided? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Does a networking system exist which the school can draw upon for job placement? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| 3. Follow-Up of Graduates and Nongraduates | |||||
| When is follow-up data on participants collected? | |||||
| upon graduation? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| three months after graduation? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| six months to a year after graduation? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Are reports summarizing the follow-up information prepared and shared with key program personnel? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Do school administrators, program coordinators, and staff use these reports for program planning and improvement? | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||