Establishing Career Pathways
Apr 01, 2015
Establishing Career Pathways
Establishing Career Pathways
Turning the Dark Into Day
What Do You Call This?
• According to the US Census (2010) approximately 43 million adults in the United States do not have a high school diploma.
• 30 million American adults can perform only the most basic literacy tasks – this has not changed in more than a decade.
Illiteracy By Region
• South 16 Million
• Northeast 9 Million
• Midwest 8.5 Million
• West 9.5
Why Career Pathways
Career Pathways for Adult Education (AECP) recognizes the potential in every student and replaces the tradition of treating AE as a terminal program.
Multiple entry and multiple exit points create a system of lifelong learning and lifelong earning.
AECP Programs: A Brighter Future
• AECP is about life-long learning for life-long earning.
• Uses career ladders to promote career growth.
• Provides a framework of incremental success rather than a one shot deal.
AECP Works for the Most Challenging Populations
Low skilled adults/ex-offender re-entry students are in strong need of AECP.
Each population is “at-risk” more than the general Adult Education population
and, under a traditional system, is likely to fail.
Risk Assessment
Low-Skill Students
Undiagnosed learning disability(ies)
Lack a sense of purpose
Identify closely with failure
Often need extensive support in soft-skill development
Re-Entry Students
Undiagnosed learning disability(ies)
Lack a sense of purpose
Identify closely with failure
Often need extensive support in soft-skill development
Mentoring: The Critical Element
Every low-skill and re-entry student must have a mentor for accountability and encouragement purposes.
These populations are highly successful at quitting and failing.
A strong mentor is a bridge to the future. Mentoring in partnership with CBO’s and
others is a winning strategy.
The Right Student, at the Right Time, in the Right Place
• Grade levels do not singularly determine the best time to transition a student from Adult Education to post-secondary education.
• Grade level of 6 or above, maturity, established goals and a strong support network determine when a student is ready to enter a post-secondary educational program.
Traditional Model Through the Eyes of AE Program Directors
Adult Basic Education GED exam preparation Completion of GED program Entry to a post-secondary program Completion of a post-secondary program
A Traditional Model Through the Eyes of Low-Skill Students
Swallow pride – admit shortcomings and ask for help
Take a placement test to affirm you have low skills – deflation of existing value
Begin ABE coursework – lacking purpose Stop out Return to program
A Traditional Model Through the Eyes of Low-Skill Students
Enter GED program Complete program
Welcome to the Jungle Compete to learn about financial aid Struggle to complete paperwork Enter post-secondary program Often unable to navigate the system and
quit
A Traditional Model Through the Eyes of Re-Entry Students
Acknowledge criminal background to strangers
Lack funds to pay for classes Compete to learn about financial aid Enter and complete post-secondary
program (best case scenario) Fail to secure job because of criminal
background and inability to manage the past
AECP for Low-Skilled and Re-Entry Students
Program intake process must include the following for both groups of students:
Placement Test Facilitation that includes a brief report
on educational and career goals (Day 1)Use of a career inventory such as
CHOICES
AECP for Low-Skilled and Re-Entry Students
Contextualized curriculum
Career based breakout classes
Financial aid workshops and use of in-house scholarships
On-going workshops on career options and student support such as learning styles, study skills, time management, financial management, conflict resolution, and soft-skill development
Low-Skill Students Climb Career Ladders
Students who TABE at a level 6 are great candidates for many entry-level post-secondary educational programs including:
Certified Nursing Assistant
Office Skills Construction Barbering
Incentivizing Adult Education
• Adult Education in itself often fails to provide incentives for many students who are unable to see any long term benefit.
• AECP programs that allow students to enter career programs while in AE puts light at the end of the tunnel and establishes a sense of pride and accomplishment while also boosting retention and completion rates.
Supplemental Learning
Students who function between levels 6-8 need on-going support to succeed in post-secondary programs.
Consider the importance of supplemental learning workshops/classes: Vocabulary Math Soft-Skills
Support Groups
Mentoring and peer groups - essential for a strong ongoing support.
Low skill and re-entry students - often ready to begin job shadowing and, in some cases, in-house internships.
AECP Pre-Career Academies
• As part of the career pathways support system, students should have the opportunity to enter pre-career academies.
Health Technology Industrial Business Public Safety STEM Education
AECP Pre-Career Academies
Pre-Career Academies are interactive:
Professional speakers Field trips Project based learning Group activities Social bonding Resume development Mock interviews (the felony question)
Second Chance Act, 2007
“We believe that even those who have struggled with a dark past can find brighter days ahead. One way we act on that belief is by helping former prisoners who've paid for their crimes -- we help them build new lives as productive members of our society... [o]ur government has a responsibility to help prisoners to return as contributing members of their community.”
President George W. Bush - while signing the Second Chance Act of 2007.
(Ron Zapata, A True Second Change: Promoting Ex-Offender ReEntry Through Federal Anti-Discrimination Law, 2011)
President Obama: Town Hall Meeting in Tampa, Florida, 2010
“A smart crime reduction strategy must also incorporate outreach to those who have paid their debt to society and have become responsible and contributing members of their communities. Prisoner reentry programs have been tested and proven effective.”
President Barack Obama during a Town Hall Meeting, Tampa, Florida 2010.
(Ron Zapata, A True Second Change: Promoting Ex-Offender ReEntry Through Federal Anti-Discrimination Law, 2011)
Previous Re-Entry Program Initiatives
Previous initiatives are commonly short sighted and fail to support long term success because they:
Focus on limited skill development Focus on job placement in low wage jobs Neglect long term educational planning Often lack on-going support for career growth Neglect to implement a holistic approach
AECP
Financial Assistance
Community Based Partnerships
Strong Facilitation/Orientation
Contextual Core Curriculum
Mapping the Route to Your Destination…Through AECP
Career Goal Identification
Begin AE Classes
Enter an AECP Academy/Develop Career and Soft Skills – interview skills and conflict resolution
Secure Financial Aid
Enter Postsecondary Program with a mentor
AEIntake
Enter Workforce as a Life-
long Learner
2011 National Career Pathways Network Conference Orlando, FloridaOctober 12–14 Orlando World Center Marriott.
www.ncpn.info