The generally accepted programmatic model for Agricultural Education consists of three basic components: classroom and laboratory instruction; student application of the classroom instruction in a employment, project, or research based Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE); and student participation in the leadership and technical skill development activities of The National FFA Organization. The technical assessment is designed to measure student achievement in all three components of the program. The written evaluation tool (examination) provides 60% of the total assessment score. The examination includes multiple-choice questions based on an approved agricultural science content framework. The student SAE projects provide 20% of the assessment score and are evaluated based on three documents demonstrating student fulfillment of a long-term work-experience, entrepreneurial activity, or research project: the New York State FFA Empire Degree using the American FFA Degree format, a National FFA Proficiency Award application, and a consortium developed youth leadership record of achievement. The final component of the assessment, worth 20%, is a record of student participation in four state or nationally sponsored FFA career development events (CDE). Participation in both the Prepared Public Speaking and Employment Interview CDE are required; the student must choose two other state or nationally sponsored CDE in which to participate to complete the technical skills component of the assessment. Student scores in the FFA portion of the assessment are based on the National FFA Organization scoring rubrics.