1

PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY NETWORKState Strategies for Sustaining and Scaling Grades 9-14 Career Pathways

Jonathan Furr, Director, Education Systems Center, Northern Illinois University

Jennifer Sattem, Fellow, New York Regents Research Fund

Joel Vargas, Vice President, High School Through College, Jobs for the Future

October 3, 2014

KEY IMPLEMENTATION LEVERS: PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY FRAMEWORK

Grades 9-14 Pathways in high demand career areas

Engaged employers

offering WBL and internships

Intermediary links between

education and employers

Early, sustained career counseling and information

Committed national & state leaders create

favorable policy environment

2

STATE POLICIES AND LEADERSHIP

• Stakeholders from education, industry, nonprofit, and community hold the vision.

• Does it make a difference where it is housed?

Cross Agency Leadership

Team

• Funding is leveraged or created to implement or strengthen local efforts

• What is best for comprehensiveness and sustainability?

Jumpstarting Regional Initiatives

Committed national & state leaders create favorable policy environment

9-14 PATHWAYS

• Best: Hold Harmless, Dual Credit, Subject-Specific Enrollment Criteria

• Innovations: College Credit Plus (OH); SAILS (TN); Career & College Promise (NC)

Dual Enrollment

• Attributes: Integrate, articulate, elevate, get employer input (TN, GA, NC)

Career & Technical Education

Grades 9-14 Pathways in high demand career areas

How are you building upon college-ready standards and requirements while building up into programs of study?

Is two years of free college a viable next step?

CAREER INFO & ADVISING

Early, sustained career counseling and information

• Mandates v. Supports

• Online resources

• Integrated Student Learning Plans

How else might states play a role to encourage?

WBL & EMPLOYERS

Engaged employers offering WBL and internships• Employer Champions• Highlighting Promising Practice• Align Education with Economic Development• Career Development as Shared Responsibility

Leadership

• Tax Credits• Direct Subsidies• Training Levies• Procurement Preference; Align Work Study

Employer Incentives

• Endorsements/Seals• Teacher Externships• Expanded Learning Time• Credit for WBL

Education Incentives

Are any of these feasible in your states?

INTERMEDIARY LINKS between education and employers

Regional Intermediary

Business

K-12

CommunityGovernment

Post- secondary

Source: Learning for Jobs, OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training

Essential Roles

Plan: Awareness; asset mapping; data/metrics Convene: Set vision and align goals; coordinate and communicate

Broker: Foster and support partnerships and work-based learning

Evaluate: Define benchmarks and standards; evaluate outcomes

What pieces might be put together and strengthened in your states?