Career Pathways 101: A Tour Guide

1. Career Pathways 101: A Tour Guide

2. Career Pathways & Perkins • Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 • Reauthorized from 1998 legislation • Reauthorized through fiscal year 2012 • Purpose of the Act • To develop more fully the academic and career and technical skills of secondary education students and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs

3. Perkins Funds • Louisiana Community & Technical College System • Postsecondary • Technical College Campuses • Community College Campuses • Universities with 2-year Associate Degrees in CTE Programs • Secondary (grades 8-12) – through State Department of Education • Parish School Systems • City School Districts • Special School Districts

4. Perkins Requirements • Build on efforts of states and localities to develop challenging academic and technical standards to assist students in preparation for high-skill, high-wage or high-demand occupations • Promote the development of services and activities that integrate rigorous and challenging academic and career and technical instruction, and that link secondary education and postsecondary education • Support partnerships among secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, baccalaureate degree granting institutions, area career and technical education schools, local workforce boards, business and industry • Provide individuals with opportunities throughout their lifetimes to develop, in conjunction with other education and training programs, the knowledge and skills needed to keep the United States competitive

5. What are Career Clusters? • Groupings of occupations and industries • Based on common Knowledge and Skills • Organizing tools for curriculum design • Guidance model • Instructional model

6. How were clusters developed? • U.S. Department of Education • National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) • National Advisory Committees (each cluster) • Business and Industry • Labor • Government • Education (secondary & postsecondary)

7. 16 Career Clusters 16 clusters which include validated knowledge and skills

8. Career Clusters as a Tool • Blends rigorous academic/technical preparation • Provides career planning • Offers options for students to experience all aspects of an industry • Facilitates/assists students with transitions

9. Cluster Approach • Strategy to organize instruction and student experience around career themes • Incorporates existing school reform strategies (career academies, small learning communities, etc.) • Connects to business and higher education • Connects academic, technical and employability knowledge and skills

10. Career Clusters DO NOT • Take away current programs • Take away occupational areas • Track learners into a single job

11. Career Clusters DO • Provide a framework that current programs slot into • Provide a framework for seamless education • Provide MORE career options for learners • Provide a framework for addressing the entire world of work • Provide a picture of how Knowledge and Skills transfer vertically and horizontally

12. Career Clusters Framework

13. Foundation K&S Topics • Academics • Communications • Problem Solving and Critical Thinking • Information Technology • Systems • Safety, Health and Environment • Leadership and Teamwork • Ethics and Legal Responsibility • Employability and Career Development • Technical Skills

14. Career Pathways • A coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career courses, commencing in the 9th grade and leading to an associate degree, and/or an industry-recognized certificate or licensure, and/or a baccalaureate degree and beyond • Developed, implemented, and maintained in partnership among secondary and postsecondary education, business, and employers • Formulated by grouping professions that require similar talents, knowledge and skills • Available to all students, including adult learners • Designed to lead to rewarding careers

15. Occupational Specialties • Specific occupations within the cluster / pathway • Advanced skills typically taught for a particular occupation

16. Pathway Model www.careerclusters.org

17. Programs of Study • State developed or approved programs, which may be adopted by local education agencies and postsecondary institutions to be offered as an option to students when planning for and completing future coursework for career and technical content areas • Incorporate secondary and postsecondary elements • Include coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant career and technical content in a coordinated, non-duplicative progression of courses that align secondary education with postsecondary education to adequately prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education • May include the opportunity for secondary education students to participate in dual or concurrent enrollment programs or other ways to acquire postsecondary education credits • Lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the postsecondary level, or an associate or baccalaureate degree

18. Sample Program of Study

19. Put it all together ! • Career Cluster (16) • Student will choose after career guidance and exploration • Career Pathway (81+) • Student will choose a pathway within the cluster that narrows the career choice • Program of Study (endless) • Student will use the Program of Study to plan high school course selection to prepare for postsecondary education or career choice • Personal Plan of Study (each student) • Student’s personal plan of coursework • Revisited annually

20. Where do clusters fit? • Elementary, Middle and Comprehensive High Schools • Career Academies • Small Learning Communities • Regional Career Centers • Magnet Schools • Technical Colleges • Community Colleges • Business and Industry

21. Educational System Model • Career Awareness (Grades K-5) • Career Exploration (Grades 6-8) • Career Preparation/Transportable Skills (Grades 9-postsecondary) • Advanced Technical Skills/Continuing Education/Lifelong Learning

22. Benefits • How does the career clusters/career pathways approach affect: • Students • Teachers/Faculty • Counselors • Schools • Business/Industry • Parents

23. Students • Enhances academic achievement by providing real-world relevance • Provides opportunities to explore multiple pathways • Helps relate high profile careers to real life situations • Eases transition between education levels and into workforce (and maybe quicker)

24. Teachers/Faculty • Curriculum can be tailored to the needs of the community • Opportunity to integrate CTE and traditional academics • Opportunity to enhance academic achievement for all students • Learners are more focused and engaged

25. Counselors • Connects learner interest with coursework • Helps explain to students the need for course selection / requirements • Motivates students to reach higher academic achievement • Helps counsel students towards appropriate postsecondary education • Shows relevance of school to postsecondary and lifelong learning

26. Secondary Schools • Broadens the scope of existing curricula • Encourages coordination among faculty • Provides a framework for curriculum alignment

27. Postsecondary Schools • Learners who have established a career path • Learners with better academic skills and in need of less remediation

28. Business/Industry • Provides a well qualified workforce which can quickly adapt to changing needs • Gives them the opportunity for input in school curriculum • Builds a framework for cross-training or re-tooling the workforce

29. Parents • Their child has a smoother entry into postsecondary education • Their child will be more prepared for making better career decisions • $$ savings in education costs

30. Getting Started • Recognize the need for school-wide change • Involve the community • Build staff capacity • Identify career themes • Develop advisory boards • Focus on professional development

31. What does all this mean? • Career Clusters are a part of our future. • They are a win-win for learners, parents, educators, and businesses. • They are flexible. • They fit into any educational setting.

32. What about Louisiana? • Louisiana has adopted 16 career clusters • 70+ career pathways have been designated throughout state • Programs of study developed at state meeting • DOE, LCTCS, BOR working together • State articulation agreements signed • High School ReDesign committed to change

33. Resources • States Career Clusters Initiative • www.careerclusters.org • Preferred Product/Technical Assistance Providers • Brochures, Posters, Resources CD • Pathway Models • Interest Inventory • Career Clusters Tour Guide, Modules 1 & 2 • 8th Annual Career Clusters Institute – June 14-16, 2010 – Denver, CO

34. Resources • College and Career Transitions Iniviative (CCTI) • www.league.org • Funded by the U.S. Department of Education • League for Innovation in the Community College • Leaders in development of the Programs of Study • League for Innovation Summit – March 28-31, 2010 – Baltimore, MD

35. Contact Information Melba Kennedy, Program Coordinator for Secondary to Postsecondary Transitions Louisiana Community & Technical College System 265 South Foster Drive Baton Rouge LA 70806 Phone 225-922-2787 mkennedy@lctcs.edu Terri Cedars, CCT Coordinator Region 7 South Partnership LTC Natchitoches Campus PO Box 657 Natchitoches LA 71457 Phone 318-357-7003 tcedars@ltc.edu Cheryl Probst, CCT Coordinator Region 6 East Partnership 508 John Dale Drive, Suite B Vidalia LA 71373 Phone 318-336-4746 x 15246 Cell 318-308-4789 cheryl.probst@ltc.edu Donnis Poe, CCT Coordinator Region 6 West Partnership LTC Alexandria Campus PO Box 5698 Alexandria LA 71307-5698 Phone 318-487-5443 x 125 Cell 318-308-5308 donnis.poe@ltc.edu