Five-Step Program Improvement Process Training Resources

Five-Step Program Improvement Process Summary Handout

A one page summary description of each of the steps in the Five-Step Program Improvement Process.
(Five Step Program Improvement Process Handout)

Improving Performance - A Five Step Process

A guide designed to help state education agencies, schools and colleges use data to improve performance on the Perkins III core indicators. This guide provides a comprehensive generic explanation of the Five-Step Program Improvement Process.
(Improving Performance – A Five Step Process)

Guide for Program Improvement for Perkins IV: Nontraditional CTE Program Participation and Completion

A step by step guide for using the Five-Step Program Improvement Process to analyze Perkins performance data, identify root causes, select appropriate strategies, pilot test and evaluation and implement. this guide is specifically developed for working on increasing the participation and completion of underrepresented gender students in nontraditional career and technical education.
(Guide for Program Improvement for Perkins IV: Nontraditional CTE Program Participation and Completion)

Improving Performance on Perkins III Core Indicators: Summary of Research on Causes and Improvement Strategies

Theories and evidence presented in table format regarding each of the four core indicators in Perkins III. Chapter 6 is summary review of the research literature through 2002 on the participation and completion of students in nontraditional career and technical and STEM education. This document is currently under revision - look for an updated version by the end of 2008.
(Improving Performance on Perkins III Core Indicators: Summary of Research on Causes and Improvement Strategies)

Startling Statements

What are our biases about nontraditional participation in the workforce? This activity works well as an opening ice breaker and includes a group activity that has participants guessing what they think the statistics are for particular workforce participation data, including participation of men and women in the workforce and their representation in a variety of nontraditional occupations.
(Startling Statements Quiz & Instructions(zip))

STEM Case Study and Case Study Worksheet

This activity used after Step 1, 2, and 3 of the Five Step Program Improvement Process Training helps participants see what happens when you jump to conclusions about the barriers that students are facing to participating and completing nontraditional career and technical education programs.
(STEM Case Study)
(Case Study Worksheet)

Bias Literacy, by Ruta Sevo, PhD and Daryl E. Chubin, PhD

Use this resource document with participants to educate them about gender equity history and theory as part of Step Two – Identify Root Causes - in the Five Step Program Improvement Process. This can be used as supplemental resource materials or have participants "jigsaw" the publication and report out to the group about what they learned from the section they read. This is a great piece to use in concert with Improving Performance on Perkins III Core Indicators: Summary of Research on Causes and Improvement Strategies.
(Bias Literacy)

Early Exposure

One of the Root Causes identified in Improving Performance on Perkins III Core Indicators: Summary of Research on Causes and Improvement Strategies is early exposure. Research shows that individuals who have been exposed to nontraditional careers early in life or are introduced to the basics of a technical career field are more likely to succeed in their program of study and select a career in the field. This exercise illustrates with participants what it is like to not be familiar with items related to technology – a common occurrence for students entering an unknown nontraditional training program.
(Techno Bag Exercise Instructions)

Developing a Root Cause Theory

These two exercises, which compliment each other, can be used to demonstrate how a group of individuals at a local education agency could process the root causes information and develop a theory for the root causes that represent the most direct barrier for students pursuing nontraditional careers such as women in STEM related career cluster programs of study.
(Root Causes Cards and Dots Exercise)

Conducting A Study of Root Causes

This folder contains a variety of instruments and resources that can be used by a local team to conduct action research at home to effectively identify root causes for student participation and completion of nontraditional career and technical education programs.
(Root Causes Assessment Instruments (zip))

Root Causes and Effective Practices

This exercise takes participants through a fun exercise matching the root causes and strategies identified in Improving Performance on Perkins III Core Indicators: Summary of Research on Causes and Improvement Strategies.
(Root Causes and Effective Practices Exercise (zip))

Professional Development Implementation Planning

Central to the STEM Equity Pipeline Project is the intent that the training that participants receive will be used to train others. This may mean going back to their home school to work with a team of staff and faculty to implement the Five Step Program Improvement Process, conducting training with others in the state through their particular professional development network, or presenting at local, state or national conferences. The planning template provided is used at the STEM Equity Pipeline Five Step Program Improvement Process to get participants started on their professional development implementation plan. We use this plan as a baseline when conducting follow-up evaluation with training participants to determine the effect of the training on their work and on those whom they have trained.
(Professional Development Implementation Plan Template)

Additional Resources

Classroom Instruction (zip)
Tip Sheets (zip)
Nontraditional CTE Resources
NTO Resources Short List

CD Contents