Community-Referenced Curriculum on Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) Model
Margaret A. Posch, principal investigator
FY 1996-2004
$394,074 – City of Detroit Empowerment Zone

Office of the Dean

The Project

This project provides direct support for the implementation of the Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) curriculum in a high school and four middle schools in the Detroit Empowerment Zone. LCCE implementation is directed primarily toward students with disabilities. This is a functional life skills curriculum based on three competency domains: daily living skills, personal-social skills and occupational guidance and preparation. It emphasizes the cultural needs of students, the use of community-based instruction (CBI) and the involvement of family members in helping prepare students for transition from school to work and community. It is modeled upon previous implementation in eight other school districts. The goal is to develop programs and partnerships that enhance youth, family and citizen leaning.

Its Impact

Students receive community-based instruction, promoting partnerships between business, industry, community agencies and education. As a result, students develop skills to live safely and independently, to acquire jobs, and to promote individual economic freedom. A bonus outcome of the program is that students will increase self-determination, which is an underlying element built into the LCCE curriculum. A greater understanding of education and business needs will be fostered through partnerships to provide necessary instruction in real-world contexts through field trips, speakers and demonstrations. To date, nearly 1,500 students, with a variety of disabilities, have been served by the LCCE program. Among those served have been 553 Empowerment Zone residents.