AGC has been one of the driving forces behind the growth of construction career academies across the nation. From 2005 through 2007, AGC supported 9 such academies through a U.S. Department of Labor grant. We continue to provide information and support to AGC chapters and members who are working to establish more academies nationwide.

AGC is committed to construction career academies because they have a proven record of increasing attendance and graduation rates among at-risk students, while preparing students for a future in the construction industry - whether they want to go straight to work or continue their education through an apprenticeship program, two- or four-year degree.

The long-run benefit of career academies for participating students is the reduction in the dropout rate. The additional earnings associated with completing one more year of high school are estimated to be four to ten times greater than the additional earnings associated with one grade-equivalent year of test score gain. Career academies provide substantial benefits by enabling more students to finish high school.

The components of a construction career academy:

• A small learning community, comprising a group of students within the larger high school who take classes together for at least two years, taught by a team of teachers from different disciplines;
• A college preparatory curriculum with a career theme, enabling students to see relationships among academic subjects and their application to a broad field of work;
• Partnerships with employers, the community, and local colleges, bringing resources from outside the high school to improve student motivation and achievement.

Construction career academies resources

Registration is now open for the 12th Annual National Career Academy Conference, which will be held November 8-10, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. This three-day event includes workshops, presentations, tours, an awards luncheon and an exhibitors' section. The conference goal is to send attendees home "brimming with ideas for how to tackle a new academy or how to make your current academy the highest quality."

The next AGC-sponsored construction career academy workshop is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2009 in Portland, Oregon. Please check back for updates or contact Liz Elvin at elvinl@agc.org

AGC has compiled a list of AGC-supported construction career academies and contacts. We also have a list of books and other resources used by construction career academies.

East Ridge High School in Tennessee has developed a comprehensive checklist that serves a guideline for anyone thinking of starting a construction career academy.

Phelps Architecture, Engineering & Construction (PACE) High School is a new, comprehensive school that will begin classes in Fall 2008. It is a joint project of the AGC of Metropolitan Washington, DC and the Washington, D.C. public school system.

The students of the Palmetto High School Construction Design Center in Palmetto, Florida produced a four-page academy newsletter.

Online construction career academies resources

• Omaha Public Schools Career Center provides in-depth information about Omaha, Nebraska?s construction career academy.
• AGC of Wisconsin has a developed brochure about its construction career academy program, which currently has three academies with plans for six more by 2009.
• Oregon Building Congress offers great information about construction career academies and workforce development.
• Stanley E. Foster Construction Tech Academy, supported by the Nevada Chapter AGC, provides students with an opportunity to explore careers in construction, architecture and engineering.
• Career Academy Support Network provides information about the relevance and success of career academies.
• National Career Academy Coalition Provides information about career academies, provides a National Standards of Practice book, and performs academy assessments based on those standards, and hosts an annual conference.
• National Academy Foundation supports academies dedicated to information technology, hospitality and tourism, and finance. Provides information on starting an academy.