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Creating Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century

What is the Challenge?. The United States is increasingly failing to prepare young people to lead successful live as adults:We have lost our global leadership in educational attainment and achievementTeen and young adults (20-24) are increasingly unable to find workThe transition to adulthood i

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Creating Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century

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    1. Creating Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century Bill Symonds Director Pathways to Prosperity Project Harvard Graduate School of Education October 29, 2010

    2. What is the Challenge? The United States is increasingly failing to prepare young people to lead successful live as adults: We have lost our global leadership in educational attainment and achievement Teen and young adults (20-24) are increasingly unable to find work The transition to adulthood is far longer

    3. A More Demanding Labor Market 1973: A High School Degree = Passport to the American Dream -- 72% of workforce of 91 million had no more than a high school degree

    4. Today’s Reality: A PSE Credential is the new Passport Between 1973 and 2007, we added 63 million jobs But jobs held by those with no PSE FELL by 2 million over this period Workers with a HS education or less now make up just 41% of workforce

    5. Tomorrow: PSE will become even more important Economic forecasters widely agree that these trends will continue One forecast – Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce: --63% of all jobs will require at least some college in 2018, up from 59% now --We will need to produce 22 million more PSE degrees, but are likely to fall short

    6. BUT: PSE does not always mean a B.A. Even Georgetown Study concedes that most jobs will not require a B.A.: Education required by 47 million openings: *36% will require a HS degree or less *30% will require some college/ AA degree *Only 33% will require a B.A. or better

    7. What is the right goal? “College for All” Needs to Be Broadened The goal is not a “B.A. for All,” but rather a meaningful PSE credential for all This can and should take many forms: --Community college --Apprenticeships --The military/community service --Four year college

    11. THE DEMOGRAPHIC DILEMMA: In the Future, Minorities Will Make Up a Much Larger Percentage of the Working Age Population, Due Directly to the Increase in the Number of Hispanics

    13. Our Highest Level of Educational Attainment May Actually Drop if the Current Trends Are Not Reversed

    14. The Crisis in Youth Employment TEEN employment: *Has plunged to lowest levels since the Great Depression *Low-income and minority teens have been hit hardest Young Adult (20 to 24) employment: *Have been hit far harder than older adults

    15. The Growing Gender Gap Women now account for 57% of college students, and 60% of graduate students Men earn just 43% of college degrees WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?

    16. Why are we failing to prepare so many youth? Our focus has been too narrow The transition to adulthood has changed radically, but our system has not evolved We need a broader, more holistic system of pathways to prosperity

    17. Lessons from Abroad

    18. U.S. rate has stagnated while most industrialized countries have improved.

    20. Why are Other Countries Surpassing Us? The key role of vocational education “Learning for Jobs”: *Reviewed “VET” (vocational-education training) in 17 countries, including U.S.

    21. Upper-secondary students pursuing vocational education Germany: 60% Switzerland: about 65% Netherlands: two-thirds Austria: 70% plus Australia: over 60% Britain: 40% plus

    22. The Case for Vocational Education Pedagogical: the best way for many young people to learn Higher attainment: many countries with best VET systems surpass the U.S. Finding work: facilitates transition to labor market

    23. THE ROAD TO AN AMERICAN SOLUTION

    24. Core Pathways Principles A New Social Compact with young people Multiple Pathways: A Broader Vision for School Reform An expanded role for Employers

    25. Multiple Pathways Key Elements: Elevate career education to world-class levels Provide high-quality career counseling Greatly expand and improve opportunities for work-based learning

    26. Examples that prove: We can Do It! Career Academies Linked Learning Cisco Networking Academy Massachusetts Regional VoTech High Schools

    27. Barriers We Must Overcome Taking high-quality programs to scale Cultural Resistance

    28. Expanded Role for Employers Why business needs to become a full partner in the pathways system Key roles for business/employers: Career guidance Designing/developing POS Providing Opportunities for Work-based learning and Work

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