Arts & Communication Career Cluster ITAC for Career-Focused Education. Integrated Technical & Academic Competencies.

Designed for Ohio educators responsible for planning programs to prepare high school students for careers in the arts and communication, this document presents an overview of Ohio's Integrated Technical and Academic Competencies (ITAC) system of career-focused education and specific information about the arts and communication ITAC career cluster. The first half of the document, which introduces the ITAC system's underlying principles and elements, contains the following items: (1) descriptions of the three types of integrated competencies (core, career cluster, and specialization) forming the ITAC model; (2) guidelines for using ITAC; (3) an explanation of the components of the 51 core ITAC; and (4) a table detailing the academic connections in the core ITAC. The second half of the document, which focuses on the arts and communication career cluster ITAC, is divided into six sections, each of which focuses on one of the following strands deemed essential for all careers: solving problems and thinking skillfully; communicating effectively; applying technology; working responsibly; planning and managing a career; and managing resources. Each section contains the following items: expectation; competencies; sample scenario; sample guiding questions; connections to core ITAC competencies; connections to academic models; and connections to Ohio's proficiency tests and ACT Work Keys. (MN)