Recognizing the need to promote PrintED accreditation to our member companies, we posted the article below on PGAMA's website to serve as a concise overview of PrintED's value to industry.

If you are an instructor preparing for PrintED accreditation or re-accreditation this information can be used to satisfy Standard 5.1.C-PrintED Orientation: Are all the members of the Advisory Committee provided a PrintED orientation to ensure that they have a full understanding of the program?

When going through the accreditation process for my program I used a website to communicate similar information about PrintED to my advisory committee, parents, and students:

http://web.mac.com/pfoster3/SPTAdvisoryBoardHomePage/PrintED.html

For the PrintED instructors out there, how do you satisfy Standard 5.1.C?

For members of the industry, does the following article resonate?

I look forward to your comments!

*************************

Is Your Local High School PrintED Accredited?

PrintED, administered by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF®) is a national accreditation program, based on industry standards, for graphic communications courses of study at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

PrintED has identified six standards that encompass the elements of a solid training program.

• Standard 1: Instructional Staff—The instructional staff must maintain technical competency, meet the requirements to be an approved PrintED instructor, and meet all state and local requirements for accreditation.
• Standard 2: Facility, Equipment, and Safety—The physical facility must be adequate to permit achievement of the program goals and performance objectives. In addition, the equipment must be of the type and quality found in the industry. Both the facility and equipment must meet today’s safety standards.
• Standard 3: Instruction—Program curriculum must include current industry tasks, safety procedures, acceptable work habits and ethics, and testing and evaluating procedures.
• Standard 4: Purpose—Program must have clearly stated goals related to student services and employers served.
• Standard 5: Administration—Administration must insure that instructional activities support and promote the goals of the program.
• Standard 6: Program Budget—Funding must be provided to meet the approved program goals and performance objectives.

In order for a program to become accredited, it must meet these standards in at least two areas of accreditation, one of which must be Introduction to Graphic Communications.

The ten accreditation areas (click on area for a full listing of competencies) include:

• Introduction to Graphic Communications
• Advertising & Design
• Digital File Preparation
• Offset Press Operations
• Binding & Finishing
• Digital File Output
• Digital Production Printing
• Screen Printing Technology
• Advanced Offset Press Operations
• Advanced Digital File Preparation

Competencies have been identified for each area of accreditation to determine whether the PrintED standards have been met. These competencies, developed by educators and members of industry, form the basis for instruction.

SkillsUSA Assessments

To measure acquisition of skills and knowledge related to the industry, students may take assessments in the skill areas above. A list of students who successfully complete an accredited program and/or pass PrintED/SkillsUSA assessments in the PGAMA membership area can be found here:

• Maryland
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• Washington, DC

Why Accreditation is Important to Industry

Before PrintED accreditation arrived on the scene in 2000, it was difficult if not impossible to make an apples to apples comparison of students graduating from different programs that offered graphic communications/printing. Strengths of programs generally paralleled the strengths of the instructor and no baseline of what was being taught existed.

With the introduction of national PrintED accreditation, for the first time there was a framework by which programs and students could be compared. Additionally, students could take assessments that measured the skills and knowledge resulting from participation in an accredited program.

As an employer evaluating potential candidates, participation of a student in a PrintED accredited program (according to their level of attainment) may have the following advantages over students that have not:

• The student learned from a instructor vetted by PrintED
• The student learned on equipment that was pertinent to the skill area being studied
• The program that the student participated in was adequately funded
• The student received safety training on procedures, tools, and equipment pertinent to the industry
• The student has received a general introduction to the industry and understands what is expected from employees in the industry
• The student has visited industry establishments and witnessed first-hand the operation of equipment in a live production setting
• The student has an organized notebook/portfolio detailing the skills and knowledge obtained in the program
• The student has passed assessments measuring the skills and knowledge obtained in one or more area

If you have any questions about how PrintED accreditation can help your company identify qualified employees please contact Paul Foster at PGAMA.