Pennsylvania Career Pathways Planning Guide Steps tward the visin v.1.0 The Career Pathways Visin T have a wrking system f partners cllabrating t equip Pennsylvanians with the cre skills that will enable them t succeed as wrkers, citizens, and family members. Divisin f Adult Educatin Pennsylvania Department f Educatin Pstsecndary and Adult Educatin Michael Westver, Directr 333 Market Street 12 th Flr Harrisburg, PA 17126 Phne: 717.783.6788 E mail: ra able@state.pa.us Web: www.paadulted.rg (www.educatin.state.pa.us)
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Element 1: Build crss agency partnerships. A successful career pathways (CP) system is cmprised f partners frm the Lcal Wrkfrce Investment Area (LWIA) wh have a shared visin. T ensure that all partners have input int CP activities, it is imprtant t include all relevant entities thrughut the develpment and delivery f CP prgrams. Existing Calitins must be expanded t include the partners that play an essential rle in career develpment. These partners shuld be extended an invitatin initially, but becme members wh cntribute t the verall CP service delivery thrughut the regin. Essential career pathways partners Cnnecting with Wrkfrce partners Cnnecting with Human Services partners Educatin partners: Adult Basic Educatin prviders, including teachers CTCs Pstsecndary schls, including cmmunity clleges, trade schls, public and private trade schls Wrkfrce partners: Lcal Wrkfrce Investment Bard (LWIB) representatives PA CareerLink, including Title I prvider and Business Services Team (BST) Ecnmic develpment representatives Human Services partners: Cmmunity Actin Agencies Cmmunity based health and human services agencies Cunty Assistance Offices Mst ABLE Calitins include sme wrkfrce develpment partners in their quarterly meetings. Fr example, staff frm the LWIB attend meetings and prvide updates t the Calitin. Career pathways planning requires additinal partners frm the wrkfrce develpment system. LWIB representatin is necessary, as calitins need t cnsult with the LWIB t determine the mst effective way t cmmunicate with PA CareerLink. Calitins need t crdinate all cmmunicatin with Business Services teams and Industry partnerships thrugh the LWIB. Calitins shuld als crdinate with the LWIB t identify apprpriate ecnmic develpment entities within each regin. Many LWIBs have established relatinships with ther partners and can be essential in develping and maintaining lines f cmmunicatin. Make yur prgram s presence knwn in the cmmunity. Maintain clse ties with the Cmmunity Actin agencies in yur regin. Discuss with ther agencies ways t assist each ther s clients. Use the phne bk blue pages t research cmmunity agencies. Refer t any cmmunity resurce guide the cunty may publish. Expand yur Calitin membership t include representatives frm health and human service prvider agencies. Hst a human services pen huse (lcal and/r reginal) t shwcase yur prgram. Attend a human services cuncil meeting. Attend a lcal scial services fair t learn abut health and human service prviders. Yur agency may even be amng the featured prviders. Ask Wrkfrce partners t list agencies with whm they regularly wrk. Befre referring an adult, call the agency t be sure the referral is apprpriate. (Clients shuld schedule their wn appintments.)
Cnnecting with pstsecndary partners Definitin, gals, and shared visin Wh are career pathways participants? Cmpile a list f all pstsecndary schls, including tw and fur year clleges, trade schls, and public and private training prgrams, alng with cntact infrmatin fr the admissins ffice, financial aid ffice, and relevant department heads. Wrk directly with apprpriate individuals and departments in pstsecndary schls t crdinate adults transitin t pstsecndary educatin and training. Based n the general career pathways visin, partners first rder f business is t develp a definitin, a cmmn set f cmmn gals, and a shared visin fr establishing a career pathways framewrk within the LWIB. Strategic planning resurces are available thrugh the career pathways supprt prject. Adult educatin agencies are n lnger serving every individual wh walks thrugh the dr; rather, prviders must wrk tgether and with partners t infrm ne anther abut their services s that apprpriate candidates are referred t apprpriate prvider agencies. Once a candidate has cntacted a prvider, it is the respnsibility f all reginal prviders t ensure that the adult is referred t the agency and prgram that is mst apprpriate t meet individual emplyment related needs. Agencies need t wrk tgether t determine applicants eligibility (as per funding guidelines) and suitability (e.g. time cmmitment, cnflicting respnsibilities, drug r alchl abuse, criminal recrd that wuld bar admissin t sme certificatin prgrams). Definitins f mst in need (f basic skills services) may nt be unifrm within all regins. Wrking with partners, agencies need t determine which adults will gain mst frm enrlling in a career pathways prgram and develp an interagency pririty f services plicy. Recruitment and referrals Recruitment fr career pathways prgrams is interwven amng a variety f referral surces and partners. Referrals t and frm PA CareerLink are an essential element f successful CP prgrams. Agencies need t have strng relatinships with PA CareerLink in rder t have an understanding f the services available at each center. Build referral netwrks with cmmunity service and gvernment rganizatins whse missin includes getting peple int emplyment. Examples are Cmmunity Actin Agencies, the Office f Aging, and the Office f Vcatinal Rehabilitatin. Custmize and print the supplied student recruitment flier. Streamline the referral prcess by having all adult educatin agencies within the LWIA using cnsistent intake and rientatin prcedures that identify individual strengths, weaknesses, and gals. Plan amng partners hw t manage referrals ut f CP prgrams. Publicizing the career pathways prgram Include career pathways presentatins in PA CareerLink rientatins. Wrk with PA CareerLink t identify and cntact graduating Individual Training Accunt (ITA) awardees wh are nt yet emplyed. Ask PA CareerLink and ther agencies t include a career pathways message in the vice greeting fr peple calling these service prviders. Military veterans ften have transferable skills, and many industry sectrs are eager t wrk with them. Wrking with PA CareerLink, intrduce yurselves and the CP prgram t the veterans representatives. Cntact recent GED graduates. While their academic skills may be adequate, they may lack specific career skills. Annunce yur prgram n cable TV public service crawls. In many areas these are free t nnprfits. Cntact public husing ffices t learn hw t include yur message in their mailings, deliveries, and bulletin bards.
Send annuncements t churches and ther religius rganizatins fr inclusin in their bulletins r newsletters. Prvide prgram infrmatin t dmestic relatins ffices. They wrk with peple wh cannt pay child supprt, and sme may nt have basic skills r be aware f their ptins. Emplyers see peple every day that they cannt hire because they d nt have the requisite skills. Prvide human resurce ffices with printed fliers abut yur prgram s that they can prvide an alternative t unsuccessful applicants. Talk t high schl guidance cunselrs and principals. Cntact the WIA Yuth prgram abut presenting r distributing yur prgram infrmatin. Directly ask all partners and individual staff fr referrals. Include security guards, wh meet peple every day and are there t help whenever pssible. Case management Case management services are essential t the success f career pathways prgrams. A case manager n staff, t crdinate all career pathways services fr each prgram participant, is required f all adult educatin agencies. Cntact lcal Cmmunity Actin agencies t determine hw they may be able t help with case management services where apprpriate. Where Cmmunity Actin agencies are nt available, seek alternative partners wh can serve as case management referral agencies. When it cmes t building partnerships D this: Build a functining, wrking relatinship with the LWIB. Listen t their needs and determine hw prgrams can help them. Be prepared t discuss utcmes that are relevant t the partners. Keep plitical leaders infrmed f yur wrk, including cunty cmmissiners and state and federal representatives. Be visible and visit with partners. Let partners knw what it is that yu d and what yu d fr the clients they serve. Tgether, partners can then determine what they can d t cllabrate. Dn t d this: Tell the LWIB what their jb is. Merely prvide infrmatin abut increased Educatinal Functining Levels (EFL). Mst partners will nt knw what that means r hw it cncerns them. Keep infrmatin t yurself. Tell the partners what they shuld be ding. Learned frm experience Wrk n grwing and keeping up with relatinships. Private Industry Cuncil f Westmreland/Fayette, Inc. 5
Element 2: Engage emplyers and cnduct gap analysis. Partnerships with emplyers are a key element t successful career pathways prgrams. Adult educatin agencies shuld becme familiar with emplyers in the regin by building and strengthening relatinships within Pennsylvania s wrkfrce develpment system. Lcal labr market infrmatin Develp career pathways fr careers that actually exist and are in demand. This is why lcal labr market infrmatin is crucial in CP prgram planning. Research lcal labr market infrmatin thrugh a variety f surces, including: Center fr Wrkfrce Infrmatin and Analysis www.pawrkstats.cm PA Fast Facts www.pawrkstats.state.pa.us PA Jb Spidering pawrkstats.geslinc.cm www.indeed.cm hiring.mnster.cm Cmmnwealth Wrkfrce Develpment System (CWDS) https://www.cwds.state.pa.us Lcal PA CareerLink Business Services Team Lcal Wrkfrce Investment Bard websites: Lehigh Valley www.lvwib.rg Luzerne Schuylkill www.lswib.rg Nrthern Tier www.nrtherntier.rg Nrthwest www.nw upawib.rg Suthern Alleghenies www.sapdc.rg/sawib Suthwest Crner www.washingtngreene.rg Three Rivers www.trwib.rg Westmreland & Fayettte Cunties www.westfaywib.rg Determine ccupatinal trends and identify in demand r emerging industry sectrs in yur area by: Talking with the lcal PA CareerLink (Business Services Team) and LWIB (Industry Partnerships). Reviewing labr market intelligence, jb trends and statistics, market reprts, and ccupatinal reprts, derived frm the analysis f jb pstings and résumés psted t jb search sites. Using labr market intelligence such as CWDA data, www.indeed.cm, and hiring.mnster.cm, identify the lcal pl f jb seekers. Frm what types f jbs have peple been laid ff? Hw d their skills cmpare t available jbs? Determine the skills and educatin needed fr jbs available. Identify skills that are cmmn t all the types f in demand jbs. Use labr market infrmatin t infrm gal setting prcedures and career awareness instructin as yu mve int prgram design. Inventry training and certificatin fferings f the regin s existing pstsecndary schls. Assess these prgrams strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and gaps in meeting current sectr and industry training needs. Business Services Team PA CareerLink Business Services Teams prvide cmprehensive services t the business cmmunity, including linking clients t educatin and training pprtunities. Meet with the BST f yur PA CareerLink t infrm them f adult educatin services available thrughut the regin, particularly thse fr incumbent wrkers and custmized pre emplyment pathways prgrams. Likewise, the BST needs t keep adult educatin agencies infrmed f current and emerging market trends.
Ask the Business Services Team fr jb descriptins and descriptins f wrk envirnments. Industry Partnerships and Emplyers Pennsylvania s Industry Partnerships prvide an excellent way t be in cntact with key lcal emplyers, t better understand the skills they require f emplyees, and t learn wh is hiring; thus, include Industry Partnerships in CP prgramming. Establish cnnectins with lcal emplyers thrugh the LWIB s Industry Partnerships t maintain current infrmatin abut jbs and advancement ptential in the LWIB. Make all initial emplyer cntacts thrugh the Lcal Wrkfrce investment Bard. Fllw up activities may ccur at the agency r Calitin level. Cnsult with partners t determine which emplyers t target and hw t engage them. Ask what specific skills r knwledge each emplyer feels new r current emplyees are lacking mst. Obtain authentic wrkplace materials t aid in instructin f these skills. Keep emplyers infrmed f the services yu are prviding and the successes f yur prgram. Industry Partnerships Pennsylvania s Industry Partnerships are cllabrative effrts that bring tgether management and labr arund the purpse f imprving the cmpetitiveness f a cluster f cmpanies r rganizatins prducing similar prducts r services and sharing similar supply chains, critical human resurce needs, infrastructure requirements, business services, and/r retentin/recruitment challenges. The purpse f supprting existing partnerships r rganizing new nes is t cncentrate attentin and resurces n industries that prvide gd wages and benefits, have the greatest ptential fr ecnmic grwth and/r which face serius challenges t grwth r retentin. By bringing tgether emplyers and their wrkers the public can learn significantly and qualitatively mre abut the pprtunities and challenges facing a set f similar cmpanies. At the state level, the Bureau f ABLE has built relatinships with Industry Partnerships thrugh the state Wrkfrce Investment Bard staff. Bureau staff has als slidified relatinships with the Pennsylvania Center fr Health Careers, the Pennsylvania Center fr Advanced Manufacturing Careers and the Pennsylvania Center fr Energy and Green Careers, representing the il and gas industry. (All are under the Pennsylvania Wrkfrce Investment Bard, Pennsylvania Department f Labr and Industry.) Representatives frm these areas are aware f the career pathways initiative and are supprtive f the effrts. At the lcal level, by including Pennsylvania s Industry Partnerships in CP prgramming, agencies can benefit frm a single pint f cntact within the wrkfrce develpment system. While initial cntact shuld be made thrugh the Lcal Wrkfrce investment Bard, fllw up activities may ccur at the agency r calitin level. 7
When it cmes t engaging emplyers D this: Stay cnnected t PA CareerLink Business Services Team and Industry Partnerships t develp relatinships with emplyers. Cnsider the Chamber f Cmmerce, as well. Attend all necessary meetings, including LWIB meetings, PA CareerLink meetings, Chamber f Cmmerce meetings, and reginal Industry Partnership meetings. Find a need t fill, and fill it. Crsswalk instructin with needs f students entering cllege prgrams. Embed WrkKeys preparatin training (WIN, KeyTrain ) int basic skills instructin, as apprpriate. Dn t d this: Cntact emplyers n yur wn, at least nt unless yu have already established a wrking relatinship. Expect smene else t attend meetings fr yu. Duplicate services. Teach traditinal ABE/GED classes. Have an exclusive WrkKeys preparatin class. Learned frm experience The mre the emplyer is engaged, the mre successful the prgram will be. Emplyer engagement is a huge issue. Listen and read the emplyer t be sure yu identify the rle they want yu t play r dn t want t play. Identify gals and make sure they are attained. District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund, Philadelphia 8
Element 3: Clarify rles and respnsibilities. Career pathways prgrams imprve the capacity f and strengthen cllabratin amng educatin, wrkfrce preparatin, and human services partners t meet the needs f adults and emplyers. Rles and respnsibilities f the expanded Calitin f partners Rles and respnsibilities f Adult Educatin Agencies Rles and respnsibilities f Case Managers Rles and respnsibilities f Lcal Wrkfrce Investment Bard (LWIB) Rles and respnsibilities f PA CareerLink Rles and respnsibilities f Emplyers The degree f Calitin invlvement with individual agencies CP activities will vary depending n gegraphic and ther factrs f the LWIB regin. Calitins in urban r ne cunty regins will have greater invlvement in agencies CP activities than regins that include multiple cunties and/r where agencies are gegraphically at a distance frm each ther. Hwever, all Calitins are expected t: Be infrmed f CP activities within the regin. Supprt CP activities within the regin. Cmmunicate regularly with the LWIB regarding CP activities within the regin. Guide the prcess f develping a career pathways system. The degree f initial invlvement with CP activities will vary based n the agency s missin and capacity. All agencies are expected t build their capacity t ffer a range f CP services, thrugh lng term planning, cllabratin, and prfessinal develpment. Adult educatin administratrs are expected t demnstrate what they can accmplish with the resurces they are awarded, including: Prgram design Instructin Supprt services Adult educatin agencies are expected t: Prvide a full range f adult basic educatin services. Offer career explratin activities and career pathways t all students. Assistance with setting and meeting gals Academic supprt services, such as cunseling, tutring, and mentring Assistance with finding resurces t vercme barriers Assistance with accessing PA CareerLink services Assistance with transitining t pstsecndary educatin prgrams Supprt services t enhance persistence (e.g. childcare, transprtatin) Career planning services, including assessment and career plan develpment Referral t cmmunity resurces t help adults succeed in their cmbined educatin and wrk respnsibilities. Cllabratin amng all wrkfrce partners Reginal supprt fr career pathways activities Cnnectin t emplyers thrugh Business Services Teams Jb search and placement assistance Recruitment and referral Recruit individuals t pursue career pathways educatin and cmmit t hiring, retaining, r advancing successful CP prgram participants. Identificatin f basic skills necessary t btain emplyment. Identificatin f basic skills necessary t maintain and advance in emplyment. Access t authentic materials t use in the classrm. Supprt participatin f their emplyees in career pathway educatin. Recruitment and referrals. 9
Rles and respnsibilities f Jb Training prviders Rles and respnsibilities f ther wrkfrce and ecnmic develpment partners Rles and respnsibilities f Human Service partners Rles and respnsibilities f Pstsecndary partners Skills training that helps adults take the next career step, such as CNA r CDA training Alignment with adult basic educatin (ABE) curses Lcal labr market infrmatin Pervasive case management Transprtatin Childcare Cperatin and jint planning with adult educatin agencies Infrmatin abut pstsecndary educatin prgrams and credentials Infrmatin abut enrllment prcedures and financial aid Infrmatin abut what it takes t succeed in a pstsecndary educatin prgram Services t supprt transitining t pstsecndary educatin Supprt services t help students succeed while enrlled in pstsecndary educatin Educatin and career cunseling 10
Element 4: Design career pathways prgrams. Career pathways prgrams accelerate learning, while preparing students fr cntinuing educatin and careers based n lcal labr market infrmatin. Career and pstsecndary readiness Adult educatin agency prgram planning A career pathway prepares students fr pstsecndary educatin and training and/r a career. Adult basic educatin prgrams are clearly articulated with pstsecndary educatin and training prgrams and lead t industry r emplyer recgnized credentials. Career readiness begins with career explratin and can extend t ccupatinspecific training. Pstsecndary readiness invlves bth cllege knwledge and academic preparatin. Cllege knwledge refers t (1) infrmatin abut pstsecndary educatin prgrams and credentials, enrllment prcedures, and financial aid and ther types f supprt, and (2) expectatin in terms f what it takes t successfully cmplete pstsecndary educatin prgrams. Academic preparatin invlves self regulatry strategies and critical thinking skills, as well as a slid fundatin in reading, writing, math, science, scial studies, and study skills. All adults, regardless f level, can participate in career readiness activities. Participate in the Calitin, n a regular basis, t ensure that all Calitin members are infrmed f their wn agency s CP activities and t supprt ther agencies CP activities. Wrk as partners with ther adult educatin agencies within the regin, as well as with agencies in adjacent regins, t serve the needs f adults and emplyers. Wrk thrugh established prtcls with PA CareerLink, such as making cnnectins with emplyers thrugh Business Services Teams. Supprt teachers in becming highly prficient in their instructinal areas thrugh jb embedded prfessinal develpment. Design a recruitment/referral plan t enrll adults mst likely t benefit frm CP (t include all levels f learners). Prvide adults with a cmprehensive rientatin and, tgether, develp individual career pathways plans. Link t supprtive services fr prgram participants at all levels. Prvide a prgressin f educatinal curses that aligns with career pathways and Pennsylvania s Standards Aligned System (SAS). Accelerate learning thrugh shrt term, intensive curses and advancement int either pstsecndary educatin r training. Schedule educatinal curses at times and places that ffer adults flexibility. Structure prgrams that accmmdate thse wh are currently emplyed. Investigate pprtunities fr educatinal activities in the wrkplace, and cnsider a variety f lcatins and times fr instructin, as well as distance learning. Instructinal prgram design Offer a full range f adult basic educatin services. Chunk educatinal curses int sequenced levels f instructin, r mdules, that align with NRS levels; each level is aligned with the ne that cmes befre and after it. Curses are articulated frm ne level f instructin t the next. Chunk instructin int sectins that respnd t emplyer needs and lead t industry r emplyer recgnized credentials that may be stackable tward mre advanced certificates and/r degrees. Offer multiple entry and exit pints ( n ramps and ff ramps ). Prvide cntextualized instructin, based n targeted career pathways. Create learning cmmunities, i.e. chrts f prgram participants with cmmn 11
gals wh wrk tgether and advance tgether. Integrate the use f technlgy, as apprpriate. Create shrt term training prgrams as a cmpnent f lng term certificates and degrees that can lead t ther educatin and training pprtunities. Prvide cntent that addresses general emplyability skills that can transfer t new industries as the labr market changes. Address the educatin and training needs f emplyers incumbent wrkers t assess emplyees needs fr advancement. Designing curriculum PDE funded adult basic educatin prgrams are nt expected t teach peple hw t d specific jbs but t teach the basic reading, writing, and math skills that are needed t perfrm the jb functins. Cnsult lcal labr market infrmatin t design r adapt curriculum that targets emplyer needs and prepares adults fr jbs. Cntextualize curriculum t meet the needs f the emplyers, the emerging industry, and ccupatinal trends. Crrelate jb skills t basic academic skills. Cncentrate instructin n crrelated skills. Use ccupatin specific examples when teaching basic skills. Use industry sectrs and specific ccupatins as the cntext fr reading, writing, and math instructin. Fcus instructin n the skills needed fr the jbs available. Plan curriculum accrding t Pennsylvania s Standards Aligned System (SAS). Align with pstsecndary educatin requirements. Align with training prgrams, pssibly cncurrently, where apprpriate. Prvide career awareness activities that give adults access t infrmatin that will help them make sund career chices apprpriate fr their skills and regin. Many Pennsylvania prgrams use The Pennsylvania Career Guide as a starting pint fr career awareness and explratin. Offer a prgressin f educatinal curses, beginning with basic literacy instructin. Offer basic skills instructin aligned with Pennsylvania s SAS. Offer research based ESL instructin. Cncentrate all instructin n what the adult really needs t knw, i.e. the shrtest path t the individual s gal, t ensure the mst efficient use f limited time. Frm chrts f prgram participants t enable strng peer supprt. Occupatin specific educatinal curses Align curriculum with lcal labr market infrmatin. Target specific industry sectrs and ccupatins. Cnsult with emplyers t review curriculum authenticity. Cntextualize instructin using authentic wrkplace materials, prblems, and scenaris. Intake and rientatin Use apprpriate PDE apprved assessments t place students, guide instructin, mnitr student prgress, and determine successful cmpletin. Intrduce PA CareerLink services: CWDS enrllment Interest assessment such as O*Net Lcal labr market analysis WrkKeys preparatin class intrductin and enrllment Intake frm shuld btain: Persnal data 12
Other agency invlvement Pssible attendance barriers Friends in the prgram Emergency cntact infrmatin Allergies Primary and secndary gal Referring agency Hw yu heard abut the prgram Wrk histry Educatin histry Orientatin shuld include: Icebreaker activity Class gals Class schedule Attendance plicy Dress cde Signing releases f infrmatin Assigning a career cnsultant Career awareness activities Career awareness Integrate career awareness activities int existing curriculum. Cmplete interest assessments t infrm and direct career explratin prcess. Explre past experiences and cnnect them t basic skills instructin. Identify transferrable skills and hw they lk in varius ccupatinal cntexts. Discuss and priritize jb values and ethical beliefs. Match skills, interests and values t ccupatins f interest. Career explratin Use career maps t explre careers pathways fr ccupatins f interest (see sidebar belw). Identify career ladders within ccupatins. Review lcal labr market trends and infrmatin. Identify lcal emplyers and ccupatins. Identify certificatins and credentials needed fr ccupatins f interest. Explre cntinuing educatin ptins. Attend jb fairs, career fairs, and educatin and training prviders pen huses. Develp educatinal plans incrprating shrt and lng term gals. Distance learning Distance learning prvides a way t nt nly reach students wh cannt attend classes, but als t increase the intensity f instructin t help learners reach their gals faster. Teachers can als use distance learning t supplement face t face instructin with cntent that may nt be available at a lcal agency. Distance learning can als build r reinfrce wrkplace skills such as time management, independent learning, and cmmunicatin skills. T integrate distance learning referrals int yur agency s services: Ensure that all agency staff understand what distance learning is, knw hw t screen fr distance learning apprpriateness, and are able t make a referral t the Centralized Distance Learning Service (CDLS). Have intake specialists, case managers, and teachers lk fr times when distance learning might be apprpriate; this can be when the student first starts the prgram, if challenges arise that prevent cntinuing with face t face instructin, r when it is apprpriate t use a blended instructin apprach (distance learning and face t face). Cntinue t mnitr referral distance learners prgress, ffering face t face supprt when needed. Crdinate case management services with the CDLS. 13
Industry and emplyer recgnized credentials Effective teaching Industry r emplyer recgnized credentials shuld be awarded in recgnitin f a student's attainment f measurable technical r ccupatinal skills that are necessary t btain emplyment r advance within an ccupatin. These credentials include, but are nt limited t a high schl diplma r GED, pstsecndary level certificates and degrees, and industry recgnized certificates, such as the Natinal Career Readiness Certificate. Wrk with the lcal PA CareerLink, wrkfrce partners, and emplyers t identify in demand credentials. Link credentials t the educatin curriculum at the apprpriate levels f instructin. Offer prtable credentials credentials that are widely recgnized and accepted. Offer stackable credentials a sequence f credentials that can be accumulated ver time as students mve thrugh a career pathway. Teacher effectiveness deep cntent knwledge and a range f research based teaching practices is the mst imprtant factr in adult learning utcmes, which is the ultimate gal f adult educatin. As such, all teachers must be prficient in their instructinal areas and teaching practices. T that end, all teachers must have a prfessinal develpment plan and must participate in prfessinal develpment activities that supprt that plan. Teachers need t understand the CP mdel, their wn agency s CP activities, and their particular rle. Understand and apply research based practices and key cncepts f cntent in instructinal area(s). Use Pennsylvania s SAS resurces t develp learning activities. Cntextualize instructin apprpriately, using resurces prvided. Integrate career explratin int learning activities. Prepare students fr pstsecndary educatin and training. Wrk backwards t develp learning activities; in ther wrds, design instructin with the gal in mind. Think beynd the classrm t cnsider adults individual pathways. Shadw jbs in targeted ccupatins. Develp a prfessinal develpment plan that relates t instructinal area(s) and teaching practices. Participate in jb embedded and external prfessinal develpment activities accrding t the prfessinal develpment plan. Supprt and transitin services Offer wraparund services thrugh case management t help students vercme barriers t participatin thrugh cnnecting them t a wide range f human resurce agencies. Refer participants t PA CareerLink fr jb search services such as instructin in résumé writing, jb applicatins, and the jb search itself. Crdinate jb placement services with apprpriate partners. Prvide r link t training in self regulatry skills needed fr pstsecndary educatin r training, such as study skills, time management, and stress management. Investigate partners r ther prviders wh can prvide this training. Wrk with pstsecndary financial aid ffices and/r EOC (if available in yur area) in assisting transitining students with Free Applicatin fr Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Technical assistance and supprt PDE funded agencies shuld nt try t implement a career pathways prgram alne; a strng cllabratin amng all partners is key. The Bureau f ABLE will prvide technical assistance and prfessinal develpment supprt thrughut the year. In additin, many ther surces and frms f technical assistance and supprt are available fr Calitins, agencies, and teachers. 14
Resurces include: Pennsylvania Career Pathways Planning Guide (this dcument) Wrkfrce Educatin Research Center staff Prfessinal Develpment System Instructinal framewrk aligned t Pennsylvania s Standards Aligned System (SAS). www.pdesas.rg Fundatin Skills Framewrk aligned t Pennsylvania s Standards Aligned System (SAS). Natinal Career Awareness Prject: gal setting, resurces fr career explratin, career pathways, cllege knwledge, cllege success skills, prprietary schls, career planning, skills inventries, self assessment tls, using the Internet and nline tls, and lessn planning template. lincs.ed.gv/pd/nca Career Maps Teachers can use career maps with students t help them understand the educatin and experience needed t enter emplyment within a ptential industry and als t gain a perspective n the additinal educatin and experience needed t mve up a career ladder nce emplyed within an industry. Career Maps shw, at a glance, a career ladder f ccupatins, salary, educatin, and certificatins needed, as well as educatinal institutins available in the area. Teacher can use these maps t infrm student f the ptins available within a particular industry and the salary they can expect t attain. They can als fcus n the entry level psitins and hw emplyees have the ptential t mve up with an emplyer. These career maps might als be used t help students set shrt and lng term educatinal gals. Use the career maps as a basis fr a lessn n career explratin by reviewing and discussing a particular career map in class. Students culd then research the lcal labr market t identify ptential emplyers and their emplyment requirements. They may even be able t identify ptential penings, n the jb training, and career ladders within a cmpany. There may be many entry pints fr emplyment with a particular emplyer r an industry, but emplyees must cntinue t upgrade their skills in rder t be prmted r apply fr a higher level psitin within the cmpany. If a student has past experience t draw frm, teachers culd use the career maps t shw where a student might enter at a higher level entry pint with an emplyer. When it cmes t planning career pathways prgrams: D this: Slicit partners r ther prviders fr supprt, jb search, and transitin services. Dn t d this: Duplicate services available elsewhere. Learned frm experience Make sure the systems are in place t supprt the lwer level students and that the students are placed in the right setting. Literacy Cuncil f Lancaster Lebann 15
Element 5: Identify funding needs and surces. Services funded thrugh the Bureau f Adult Basic and Literacy Educatin represent the educatin piece f a much larger pie invlving all partners. Wrking tgether leverages funding where cmmn gals can be achieved cllabratively, and identifying and filling gaps benefits the entire system. Identifying needs Cnsider what CP services are currently funded and analyze funding gaps. What additinal services are needed t fulfill the gals f the career pathways system? Can these services be funded thrugh existing streams? Can these services be prvided thrugh partners? If nt, investigate additinal ptential funding surces, including thrugh the partners themselves. Funding surces A variety f funding is available t help agencies prvide services that help adults advance thrugh a career pathway, including assistance with training and tuitin csts. The challenge is t identify needs and make resurces available. Partners can be nt nly valuable surces f infrmatin but als prviders f resurces. Participant csts Assess the true financial resurces necessary fr cvering the training csts f CP prgram participants, including: Imprving cunseling and assistance t students in accessing student aid (Title IV HEA). Paying tuitin and related csts with student aid prgrams (e.g. Pell grants, state grant prgrams, PHEAA). Paying tuitin and related csts with WIA funding (including cntinued training after initial emplyment placements tward higher level credentials). Attracting and expanding emplyer prvided training, utilizatin f tax credits, etc. Cvering indirect csts f attendance. Pssible public funding surces include the fllwing. Private fundatin funding may als be available. Surce Purpse Administratr Cntact Wagner Peyser Act U.S. Department f Labr www.dleta.gv/prgrams/ wagner_peyser.cfm Carl Perkins Act (Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Educatin Imprvement Act f 2006) Temprary Assistance fr Needy Families (TANF) PHEAA U.S. Department f Educatin U.S. Department f Health and Human Services Pennsylvania Higher Educatin Assistance Agency www.perkins4.rg www.acf.hhs.gv/prgrams /fa/tanf www.pheaa.rg 16
Element 6: Align plicies and prgrams. While a career pathways prgram invlving multiple partners can add up t mre than the sum f its parts, a mix f partners, resurces, and accuntability requirements can als cmpel alignment f plicies and prcedures. Natinal studies encurage develpment f plicy alignment, and reginal CP prgrams are encuraged t recgnize plicy issues in need f alignment and share actin steps in this directin. Identify areas in need f alignment Identify key plicy and prgram changes and actin necessary t implement the gals and visin fr the career pathways system, including crdinating effrts acrss the state and/r regin. Administrative plicies Assess administrative plicies f each f the partner agencies (wrkfrce, educatin, human services, ecnmic develpment), identifying pprtunities and barriers t alignment arund: Allwable uses f funds, including cst sharing agreements Prgram eligibility Perfrmance reprting requirements Financial reprting requirements Crss agency prfessinal develpment Share prfessinal develpment pprtunities acrss adult educatin prgrams in yur LWIB and acrss partner agencies, s that everyne understands cmmn gals. PDE Plicy The Administrative Dcuments Library cntains all plicies in PDF. (Fllw www.paadulted.rg > Grants Administratin > Administrative Dcuments Library.) Of particular applicability t career pathways is Plicy G.100 Wrkfrce Develpment System and Adult Educatin Calitins. Learned frm experience Increase infrmal assessment prcess develpment within the prgram design. It wuld be an advantage t knw emplyers better t see if the training meets their needs. Emplyers have indicated that they are willing t cme t the training t talk abut what they want their emplyees t be able t d. Luzerne Cunty Cmmunity Cllege 17
Career Pathways Resurces Publicatins ABE Career Cnnectin: A Manual fr Integrating Adult Basic Educatin int Career Pathways. (2010). OVAE. www.plicy2perfrmance.rg/wp cntent/uplads/abe_career_cnnectins_manual.pdf Adult Career Pathways (ACP) News, a Publicatin f the Designing Instructin fr Career Pathways Initiative, OVAE. http://acp sc.rg/ Breaking Thrugh: Cntextualizatin Tlkit. (2010). Jbs fr the Future, Natinal Cuncil fr Wrkfrce Educatin. www.jff.rg/sites/default/files/bt_tlkit_june7.pdf Guide t Adult Educatin fr Wrk: Transfrming Adult Educatin t Grw a Skilled Wrkfrce. (2009). Jbs fr the Future, Natinal Center n Educatin and the Ecnmy. www.jff.rg/sites/default/files/adult_ed_wrk_guide.pdf Standards in Actin: Innvatins fr Standards Based Educatin. (2009). Adult Educatin Cntent Standards Warehuse, OVAE. www.adultedcntentstandards.ed.gv/standardsinactin.asp Prgrams and key resurces Basics f Adult Literacy: Mdule 4 Instructinal Techniques: Cntextualized Instructin, OVAE. www.c pal.net/curse/mdule4/m4_cntextual_instructin.html Breaking Thrugh: Wrking thrugh 41 cmmunity clleges in 22 states, this Jbs fr the Future (JFF) prgram helps lw skilled adults prepare fr ccupatinal and technical degree prgrams. www.jff.rg/prjects/current/wrkfrce/breaking thrugh/20 Career Pathways Initiative: A Wrkfrce 3 One prject, spnsred by the U.S. Department f Labr, Emplyment and Training Administratin. The six elements f this framewrk are reflected in Pennsylvania Career Pathways Planning Guide. https://learnwrk.wrkfrce3ne.rg/ CLASP: An rganizatin that develps and advcates fr federal, state, and lcal plicies t strengthen families and create pathways t educatin and wrk. www.clasp.rg I BEST: In Washingtn s 34 cmmunity and technical clleges, Integrated Basic Educatin and Skills Training (I BEST), launched in 2006, pairs wrkfrce training with ABE r ESL. Adult literacy and vcatinal instructrs wrk tgether, while clleges prvide higher levels f supprt and student services. ww.sbctc.edu/cllege/e_integratedbasiceducatinandskillstraining.aspx Ohi Stackable Certificates: The State f Ohi has been wrking t prvide adult students a career pathway that lead t certificates and degrees. www.uliteracycenter.rg/partnerships/stackables/ Pennsylvania Department f Educatin s Standards Aligned System (SAS). www.pdesas.rg RISE: A jint initiative f the Wiscnsin Technical Cllege System and the Wiscnsin Department f Wrkfrce Develpment, funded in part thrugh a Shifting Gears grant frm the Jyce Fundatin. risepartnership.rg Shifting Gears: Jyce Fundatin initiative addressing the mismatch between wrkers and the skills and credentials needed fr 21 st century jbs. Resurce Center: www.shifting gears.rg Wrkfrce 3 One: A wrkfrce slutins Web based resurce center fr wrkfrce prfessinals, emplyers, ecnmic develpment, and educatin prfessinals. Online learning events, resurce infrmatin, and tls help rganizatins learn hw t develp strategies that enable individuals and businesses t be successful in the 21 st century ecnmy. ww.wrkfrce3ne.rg 18
Career Pathways Glssary accelerated learning: Curriculum designed t help students advance as quickly as pssible and make transitins tward cmpletin f credentials. Often characterized by cmpressin, cntextualizatin, and custmizatin f prgram structure and delivery, and academic, financial, and supprtive services that keep adults learning and prgressing t cmpletin. Evidence suggests that accelerated learning prgrams are very effective with nntraditinal learners, perate at lwer csts, and have utcmes that are cmparable (and ften superir) t traditinal frmats (Wldkwski & Kaswrm, 2003). alignment: In the cntext f career pathways, alignment can refer t: Alignment acrss systems t create career pathways that reduce barriers t cmpletin and include effective n ramps t success. Alignment t industry skill standards, certificatins, r licensing requirements. Resurce alignment. articulatin agreement: Articulatin refers t the prcess f linking tw r mre systems. In a career pathway prgram articulatin can link adult basic educatin t pstsecndary educatin curses and training prgrams. Articulatin agreements prvide a clear alignment f curricula and ensure a seamless transitin fr students. bridge prgrams: Bridge prgrams vary in terms f gals, utcmes, target ppulatins, and funding, but typically are designed t prepare academically underprepared students t enter credit based pstsecndary educatin prgrams. A recent study (BridgeCnnect) fund that bridge prgrams are being used t prepare peple fr jb training in allied health fields, ffice technlgies, cnstructin trades, the energy sectr, infrmatin technlgy, and manufacturing. Researchers fund that almst 60% f adults enrlled in bridge prgrams pssess educatin skills belw the 10 th grade level. career ladders and lattices: Career ladders and lattices present a grup f related jbs that cmprise a career and help adults visualize and learn abut the jb ptins that are available (and hw they cnnect) as they prgress thrugh a career. They ften include a diagram f jb prgressin in a career, as well as detailed descriptins f the jbs and mvement between jbs. Career ladders display nly vertical mvement between jbs. In cntrast, career lattices cntain bth vertical and lateral mvement between jbs and may reflect mre clsely the career paths f tday's wrk envirnment. Carl Perkins Career and Technical Educatin Act f 2006: Federal legislatin that supprts the develpment, imprvement, and peratin f career and technical educatin (CTE) prgrams that develp the academic, career, and technical skills f secndary and pstsecndary educatin students wh enrll in career and technical educatin prgrams. chunked r mdularized curriculum: A structured curriculum that is sequenced in mdules r chunks t allw fr multiple entry and exit pints and multiple levels f industry r emplyer recgnized credentials. Curses are rganized in manageable increments, sequenced t allw students t mve in and ut while making academic prgress with minimal inefficiencies and disruptins. cntextualized instructin: Custmized instructin designed t meet the distinct needs f students and accelerate prgress in career pathways by integrating career cntent in basic skills instructin. Research indicates that cntextualized instructin can mtivate students and ease transitins int higher level academic and career curses. Cntextualizatin can invlve career fields r clusters, specific ccupatins, and/r career explratin (see Breaking Thrugh Cntextualizatin Tlkit). credentials: Brad term that usually includes certificates, certificatins, licensures, diplmas, degrees, r any dcumented qualificatins. stackable credentials: A prgressin f certificates entry level, intermediate, and advanced each targeted t adults at a specific pint alng the educatin cntinuum. Als defined as a clearly defined system f cmpetencies and industry r emplyer recgnized credentials that are linked t emplyment pprtunities and advancement. Stackable industry credentials prvide n and ff ramps t pstsecndary educatin needed in tday's wrkfrce. pre cllege stackable certificates: A unifrm system f certificates earned befre an adult is enrlled in pstsecndary educatin that can: 1. Prvide a clear and accessible path fr adults seeking t advance their educatin. 19
2. Transfer t cllege credit. 3. Articulate in a way that ensures the mst effective intercnnectin f cmpetencies ffered in specialized training prgrams. 4. Respnd t the expectatins f bth the wrkplace and higher educatin. 5. Be available frm an array f prviders, including adult career centers, institutins f higher educatin, and emplyers. cllege level certificates: Certificates earned while an adult is enrlled in a pstsecndary educatin that can be transferred t cllege credit in different subject cmpetencies. The certificates are based n cmpetencies and experience, rather than time spent in the classrm. industry r emplyer recgnized credentials: Certificates that ensure that adult learners btain cre cmpetencies needed by emplyers fr in demand, skilled jbs. Career and Technical Educatin (CTE): CTE typically prvides students: Academic subject matter taught with relevance t the real wrld. Emplyability skills, frm jb related skills t wrkplace ethics. Career pathways that link secndary and pstsecndary educatin. Educatin fr additinal training and degrees, especially related t wrkplace training, skills upgrades and career advancement. dual enrllment/credit: Prgrams/curses that can be used t satisfy high schl graduatin requirements and als transfer as pstsecndary educatin credits. high demand ccupatins: Occupatins that have mre than median number f penings fr a regin. High demand ccupatins are based n industry, jb prspects, percent grwth, and numerical grwth. Emplyment is likely t grw faster than the labr frce in the lng term. They are ften characterized by: Fast grwth Mst penings Largest emplyment High Pririty Occupatins (HPO): Jb categries that are in demand by emplyers, have higher skill needs and are likely t prvide family sustaining wages. The Cmmnwealth's Wrkfrce System has develped a three step prcess t define HPOs: Step One: Industry Cluster Analysis t identify the industry sectrs that have the highest ptential fr grwth and culd benefit mst frm strategic wrkfrce investments. Step Tw: Occupatinal Data Analysis t create a baseline list f high demand, higher wage ccupatins within each f the targeted industry clusters using the best available labr frce data Step Three: Expert Input and Reginal Factrs t identify ccupatins that are likely t emerge based n ecnmic develpment investment, new labr market trends r business demand as well as thse that are t new r reginally specific t be captured by the data. HPOs require high skill levels and ffer high pay and significant pprtunities due t grwth and the need t replace wrkers retiring in the next decade. Many f these jbs d nt require a 4 year cllege degree, but they d require additinal training beynd high schl. industry clusters: Gegraphic cncentratins f intercnnected businesses that have sme srt f systemic relatinship t ne anther. industry sectrs: Term used by ecnmic analysts t define and rganize industries. Industry Partnership: A multi emplyer cllabrative effrt that brings tgether management and labr arund the cmmn purpse f imprving the cmpetitiveness f a cluster f cmpanies r rganizatins prducing similar prducts r services and sharing similar supply chains, critical human resurce needs, infrastructure requirements, business services, and/r retentin/recruitment challenges. industry r emplyer recgnized credentials: Credentials recgnized by emplyers fr designated skills required t perfrm specific ccupatins r tasks at the wrkplace. 20
radmaps: Visual representatins f a career pathway framewrk that include cursewrk, cmpetencies, skill requirements, and credentials needed fr a series f ccupatins with an industry sectr (als include infrmatin regarding wages and labr market demand). Assist students in navigating pathways. Standards Aligned System (SAS). A cmmn framewrk fr cntinuus schl and district enhancement and imprvement research supprts the ntin that great schls and schl systems tend t have six cmmn elements that ensure Student Achievement: Clear Standards, Fair Assessments, Curriculum Framewrk, Instructin, Materials & Resurces, and Interventins. Mre infrmatin and resurces: www.pdesas.rg TANF: Temprary Assistance fr Needy Families (TANF) is a federal prgram administered lcally that prvides case management and cash assistance t lw incme families with minr children. Designed t reduce number f families living in pverty thrugh emplyment services and cmmunity resurces. Wagner Peyser Act: The Wagner Peyser Act f 1933 established a natinwide system f public emplyment ffices knwn as the Emplyment Service. The Act was amended by the Wrkfrce Investment Act f 1998 t establish the Emplyment Service part f the One Stp services delivery system. Wrkfrce Investment Act f 1998: Federal statute that establishes plicy directin and apprpriates funds fr emplyment and training prgrams fr disadvantaged yuth, adults, and dislcated wrkers; adult educatin and literacy; emplyment services and labr market infrmatin; and rehabilitative services fr individuals with disabilities. Wrkfrce Investment Act Title I: Supprts services fr dislcated wrkers, yuth emplyment training prgrams, and ther wrkfrce training prgrams fr adults. Wrkfrce Investment Act Title II: Supprts adult basic educatin and family literacy services. wrk backwards design: Prgram design and planning prcess that begins with the end r desired results in mind. wraparund services: Supprt services prvided by multiple agencies t help students persist and succeed as they navigate pathways. Include utreach and recruitment, referrals, student rientatin, career planning and develpment, career assessments, academic and career advising and cunseling, mentring, caching, tutring, childcare, financial aid, jb search skills training, and jb placement assistance. 21