MECS Academy

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School Choice

Every child deserves an effective, challenging, and motivating education. And, because each student has their own unique set of talents, interests, and challenges, having a variety of options in education is crucial. In short, school choice ensures that each student can find a learning environment that allows them to be inspired, successful, and happy.

National School Choice Week presented MECS ACADEMY with its Leadership Award on February 1, 2025.

Entrepreneurship Education

Minority Enterprise Career Schools (MECS) is a NY State–accredited nonpublic secondary school, grades 9 through 12, Chartered by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York, for and on behalf of the State Education Department.

The Minority Enterprise Career Schools’ Mission is to provide high-quality career and technical education (CTE) — Business and Marketing — CIP: Code 52.9999 and Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies — CIP: Code 52.0701 for all students through utilizing an authentic hands-on approach to learning.

MECS’ curriculum is in alignment with the New York State Education Department’s Career and Technical Education Business and Marketing Education Standards and Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Level Learning Standards, which actively encourage students to think on their own and take on responsibilities for their growth through developing a creative mindset. It addresses some of the existing deficiencies of the educational system by bridging a gap between the needs of individual students and the needs of our economy.

Entrepreneurial education is a critical response to the challenges facing our country today—making education meaningful and more inclusive. Entrepreneurship education is an essential tool for meeting the needs of the underserved and vulnerable students thus serving as a means of addressing the challenges of poverty, inequality, and economic growth.

Through Certiport’s full pathway solution you can prepare your students for the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification with tailored learning materials, practice tests, and a performance-based certification exam sponsored by Intuit and officially endorsed by The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Adding these materials into your curriculum is easy and seamless.

Certification, particularly entry-level certification, helps to build a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers and government tech initiatives. Certifications means having a global impact. We all live in a global economy. Gain in-demand, marketable skills to create more opportunities for yourself.

MECS Certiport Authorized Test Center (CATC) offers certification credential for the following certification programs:

Certiport

MECS—CATC Certiport Authorized Testing Center

Minority Enterprise Career Schools (MECS)—Certiport Authorized Testing Center’s (CATC) career planning and preparation for career and college-ready certification courses validates entry-level knowledge and skills, with industry-recognized credentials necessary for an employability profile demonstrating readiness for entry-level employment.

To keep pace with the rapidly changing job market, we've updated our curriculum to align with the needs of today’s learners. Our new Critical Career Skills (CCS) program builds on the previous Communication Skills for Business (CSB) offering. It expands our core communication training while boosting overall career readiness and employability. We've also introduced a Generative AI Foundations exam to reflect emerging workplace technologies.

This Critical Career Skills shift aims to prepare learners across various fields with versatile, in-demand skills. By focusing on cross-industry competencies, we're ensuring that both student learners and professionals are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of today’s employers. This integration of diverse skill sets under one umbrella allows for a more holistic approach to workforce readiness and professional development, making the Critical Career Skills program a comprehensive solution for those looking to excel in their careers.

Through Certiport’s full pathway solution you can prepare your students for the cloud computing workforce with tailored learning materials, practice tests, and certification exams officially endorsed by Microsoft. Candidates for this certification will be expected to have key conceptual knowledge of AI, Data Science, and Cloud Computing through at least 150 hours of instruction. Adding these materials into your curriculum is easy and seamless.

The Microsoft Certified Fundamentals exams are the pathway to fully understanding what cloud computing is, what options are available from Microsoft, and which options make sense for businesses to invest in. This set of exams is for students who are exploring a career in artificial intelligence, data science, and cloud computing. With the usage of big data and artificial intelligence on the rise, the demand for data scientists is not being met—and the gap is widening.

In collaboration with Meta, Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, is proud to bring you the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate Certification. The Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate is a great addition to the Certiport business certification portfolio and our first that focuses on helping learners launch their marketing career.

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.

Learners who earn the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate Certification understand the value that advertising on Meta technologies can deliver for businesses, small and large, by helping them reach new and existing customers. Whether a learner wants to start a career in marketing or upskill and expand their expertise, the Meta Digital Marketing Associate Certification is a great place to reach professional goals and validate their skillset.

Cisco

CCST Certification Overview

(watch video)

Cisco, the worldwide leader in technology that powers the Internet, has partnered with Certiport to create the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certification program. This program includes three certification exams designed to validate work-ready skills and knowledge to help learners find a job in the field of end user support, networking, and cybersecurity. Earning a Cisco Certified Support Technician certification showcases the learner’s skillset to employers, telling them they are ready to roll up their sleeves on day one.

The CCST IT Support, CCST Networking, and CCST Cybersecurity exams were created by a team of subject-matter experts from diverse careers and industries (including Cisco employees, networking and cybersecurity professionals, hiring managers, professors, teachers, and the experts at Certiport) to ensure these certifications effectively bridge the gap between education and the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workplace. It helps prepare learners for high-demand roles in tech support, networking, and cybersecurity, including analysts, auditors, support specialists, and technicians.

Learners that earn the Cisco Certified Support Technician certifications are expected to have the required knowledge and work-ready skills necessary to launch a career in IT support, networking, and cybersecurity, through at least 150 hours of instruction. The Cisco Certified Support Technician program comprises these certifications: Cisco Certified Support Technician IT Support, Cisco Certified Support Technician Networking and Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity.

The Cisco Certified Support Technician certifications are work-ready certifications that can combine with additional credentials to help set you apart for high-demand, specialized roles within IT. As the demand for networking and cybersecurity professionals continues to increase, so does the demand for specialized skills within those fields. By earning additional certifications paired with the Cisco certifications, you can prove that you have what it takes to hit the ground running and the determination to get the job done. Learn more about the additional certifications that can help stack your résumé or CV below:

Explore available pathways for Cisco Certified Support Technician Certifications:

Earning a certification is a major accomplishment and a major step toward achieving your goals.

My Pathway is designed to highlight your achievement, track your progress, and show you how far the right credentials can take you, by showing you the next step and further credentials needed to follow your aspirations.

Advance with My Pathway and become the student or professional you want to be!

Oracle

Helping educators and students open doors

As Oracle’s global philanthropic educational program, Oracle Academy helps educators in countries and communities around the world advance technology education, skills, innovation, diversity and inclusion. We offer academic institutions and their educators free teaching and learning resources that help prepare millions of learners with hands-on practice and career-relevant skills. In a world where education leads to transformation, these technology skills open doors and career possibilities. They launch graduates to fulfilling careers and grow the pipeline of technology innovators and leaders, driving growth in communities around the globe.

Oracle Academy curriculum pathways align with Oracle Foundations Associate professional certifications, which provide concrete evidence of Java programming and database knowledge and skills as students look to differentiate themselves when applying for jobs.

Curriculum + Certification =
Skills + Careers

Students in secondary schools and two- and four- year colleges and universities who have studied Oracle Academy curriculum with hands-on practice in Java or database may wish to explore earning Oracle professional certifications. Oracle Foundations Associate certifications can prepare students and educators to progress to the Oracle Certified Associate level, and later to become an Oracle Certified Professional.

Certifications provide validation of specific technical knowledge and capabilities and show students' potential to continue to build knowledge and skills as they continue on their education and career pathways.

After successfully obtaining Oracle Foundations Associate certifications, students might consider studying for and taking exams to obtain Oracle professional certifications, which show industry knowledge and skills and require additional comprehensive study, practice, and exam preparation.

Through Oracle certification, students can demonstrate a professional level of technical skills with a distinction recognized throughout the information technology industry. This gives them a competitive edge in their careers.

Java Certification

Two courses are offered

Java Foundations

Certification Exam: 1Z0-811: Java Foundations*
Certification Achieved: Foundations Associate, Java

Java Fundamentals and Java Programming**

Certification Exam: 1Z0-808 – Oracle Java SE 8 Programmer I
Certification Achieved: Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer

*The Java Foundations Certified Foundations Associate exam does not assume any hands-on professional experience with Java. However, to be successful, you will need a basic understanding of Java programming language and concepts and have mathematical, logical, and analytical problem-solving skills. In addition, you must know how to write and execute a Java program and work with the Java Development kit (JDK) and the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

**Both Java Foundations and Java Programming must be completed to build toward the knowledge required for the Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer certification, but further study and practice is highly recommended for obtaining certification.

Database Certification

Two courses are offered

Database Foundations

Certification Exam: 1Z0-006: Oracle Database Foundations***
Certification Achieved: Foundations Associate, Database

Database Design & Programming with SQL

Certification Exam: 1Z0-071 Oracle Database SQL
Certification Achieved: Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate****

***The Oracle Database Foundations Certified Foundations Associate exam does not assume any hands-on experience with Oracle Database products. However, to be successful, you need a basic understanding of the different types of database models and components. In addition, you need to know how tables are designed and the types of relationships between tables to manipulate data via SQL queries as well as familiarity with mapping of ERD model into relations.

****This Oracle Certified Associate certification is awarded only to candidates who pass the Oracle Database SQL | 1Z0-071 exam. This exam tests on topics that better align with the job role, and passing it results in an Oracle Certified Associate credential.

Cloud Certification

One course is offered

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure I and II

Certification Exam: IZ0-1085
Certification Achieved: OCI Foundations Associate

Don’t take our word for it.
See what our alumni said about
MECS Academy at the FES Reunion 2002.

Mentioned throughout the video is Joseph Jeffries-EL (MR EL), the Founder and President of
Minority Enterprise Career Schools formerly known as FES Sports Academy.