Program Description
Program/Practice Description: A nonprofit community-based organization, CET was established and headquartered in San Jose, California, in 1967 and has grown to a national network of 28 vocational educational centers in eight States, the District of Columbia, and international centers in Belize and Chile. CET directly administers 18 of the 28 centers. CET serves low-income, disadvantaged persons of all backgrounds. Students are males and females from 17 years old to workers in their 60s. Over 50 percent of CET participants are high school dropouts; approximately 50 percent are non-English speakers.
Background/Program History: CET was started as a faith-based initiative under the leadership of Dr. Anthony R. Soto and Russell Tershy. CET focused on improving the lives of poor and disadvantaged individuals in the community, primarily migrant and seasonal farm workers, through skill training, human development, and job placement. In less than 4 years of operations, CET was rated as the most effective training program in the nation among projects funded by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 1990, the Rockefeller Foundation released results of a 5-year national study of programs serving female minority heads of households and CET stood out in every category of measurement. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush recognized CET as a model program for replication across the country. In 1992, CET received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to replicate CET nationwide. CET provided technical assistance to local communities, rural and urban, who were interested in replicating the CET model. In particular, CET centers were established on the East Coast and served primarily African-American welfare recipients. In 1995, CET received accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, one of the nation's most prestigious accrediting councils. In 2004, CET received the top Workforce Innovations 2004 Award from the U.S. Department of Labor for "Recognizing the Demographics of the Workforce."
Innovations and Results: CET centers operate year round and feature an open entry, open exit, variable course length format. There are no fixed semesters or quarters. There is no applicant testing as a prerequisite to enter training. CET does not require a minimum education or English speaking ability.
CET students train 5 days a week, 6 to 7 hours daily, year-round, at their own pace, in a highly individualized, noncompetitive environment, attending skills and job training until they pass competency levels of a minimum 70 percent in a given skill. Classes are conducted for small groups of students, which reinforce the individual training focus. Good work habits are learned through simulation of a business environment. Human development is an essential program requisite for participants and incorporated into every aspect of the training program. Training is integrated to include workplace know-how, work preparedness, good attendance and punctuality, and job placement. CET students stay in training until they are successfully placed in jobs. Extensive follow-up is performed with all students after placement to ensure stable employment and job growth.
CET students are trained by instructors who have over 10 years of industry sector experience and provide instruction and workplace simulated supervision to best prepare students for long-term job placement. Instructors work in core unit teams to provide a confidential learning environment for each student. Core unit teams typically include the technical instructor, remedial education instructor, Vocational English as a Second Language instructor, job developer, and counselors. Core unit teams meet weekly to assess student progress. Instructors typically meet with students bimonthly to assist them in achieving competencies and deal with any important issues or crises.
Nationwide, CET offers more than 30 courses/skill training options, including culinary arts, early childhood teacher assistant, truck driver, medical administrative assistant, accounting clerk, electrician, and building maintenance. Standard training courses are 30-35 hours a week for an average of 7 months and typically 840 hours of instruction.
CET has successfully trained and placed more than 120,000 people over the last 40 years. In October 2007, CET marked 40 years of operations with an 85 placement rate and an 80 percent retention rate.
Services: CET offers a variety of services, which vary from center to center. They typically include:
Vocational guidance
Vocational English as a Second Language
Job preparation instruction
GED preparedness instruction
Federal Financial Aid (Pell grants, student loans, work study)
Transportation services
Childcare development services
Emergency assistance (food, housing, medical, clothing, child care)
Information and referral services
Immigration services/citizenship training
Funding: CET has received funding support from two primary sources local/State/Federal government and the private sector.
Partnerships: A large part of CET's success over the years has been its close ties to industry standards and employer demands. Instructors are hired directly from various industries and often have experience in a particular field. CET offers training only in high demand occupations and strives to maintain close relationships with local employers through the Industrial Advisory Boards, which are CET volunteer support groups composed of representatives from a broad spectrum of the private sector. Industrial Advisory Boards provide to CET direct contributions of time, resources, and equipment. Industrial Advisory Boards assist CET in accomplishing its goals of training and placing qualified personnel in jobs.
Employers are directly involved at CET through Technical Advisory Committees, which help CET compose the elements of training curricula and validate them annually.
CET conducts extensive labor market research prior to offering any skill training in a community to ensure the demand, potential growth, and opportunities of various careers.