Career Pathways in Virginia Elizabeth Creamer Director of Education and Workforce Development Office of the Secretary of Education Elizabeth.Creamer@governor.virginia.gov
Governor s Goals for Workforce Development Establish Career Pathways as the Primary Model for Collaboration
Governor s Goals for Workforce Development Increase higher education credentials Expand Virginia s pipeline of workers for targeted, high tech sectors Strengthen Data and Reporting
Sustained Drive for Coherent System
Sustained Drive for Coherent System
Virginia s Career Pathways System
Career Pathways in Virginia
Definition of Career Pathways Education and training programs that are sequential, connected, and efficient Employer Engagement Alignment of secondary and postsecondary education with workforce development and human services Multiple entry and exit points Comprehensive support services
Definition of Career Pathways Focus on regional workforce needs Instruction that makes work and work readiness the central context for learning Strategies that expedite progress to credential attainment Services to meet non-traditional student needs Focus on industry recognized credentials Career coaching and advising
Litmus Test for Career Pathways Are the requisite partners actively and meaningfully engaged? Is the initiative coowned and branded? Is skills development or credential attainment an integral component? Does the initiative align with regional and state economic development priorities and is it so publicized? Is it a sector strategy or supportive of such?
Career Pathways Regional Development Process 1) Build Cross- Agency Partnerships 6) Align Policies & Programs 2) Engage Employers & Conduct Gap Analysis 5) Identify Funding Needs & Sources 3) Clarify Roles & Responsibilities 4) Design Programs
Why Career Pathways? High demand for educated workforce in VA Number of future workers produced through STEM-H and career and technical education programs of study Priority for federal and private funding sources Priority #1: Economic Development and Jobs Creation
Career Pathways System Accomplishments Multi-agency, multi-year state plan Regional career pathway pilots Integration of career pathways in state plans for major federal grants Virginia Longitudinal Database System Participation in US DOL Career Pathways Institute National Alliance for Quality Career Pathways
System Accomplishments Sustained and Measurable Impact on Agencies PluggedInVA Adult Career Coaches College Access Challenge Grant Legislation and Budget Items Annual Workforce Development Report Card
Report Card Metrics Designed to capture performance of all workforce partners; cross-agency metrics Middle school students through middle age Includes sector specific progress indicators and outcomes Informed by Career Pathways Work Group, VWC, Commerce and Trade advisory committees Focus on secondary and postsecondary education and training attainment (including certifications and apprenticeships), STEM-H pipeline, Employment and Business Development, Manufacturing Workforce Pipeline
Role of WIA in Career Pathways Region XIV Skills to Succeed Inventories of Advanced Manufacturing and Allied Health Region IX Richmond GATE, PluggedInVA, NCPN Region I Energy Pathways, Career Coaches
Summary Use of career pathways as a lever for system transformation, not as a new workforce program Focus on business and economic development needs Differentiate and keep distinct what work is to be done at state and regional levels State develops infrastructure and policies that encourage sustainability Regions develop sector specific pathways. Principal players in regional career pathways development: a WIB and a higher education or training partner
Summary Publicize outcomes and successes in terms that align with stakeholder goals Inform policy recommendations that support career pathways and VWN.
Next Steps 1. Drive Career Pathways legislation 2. Drive sustainable funding for pathways 3. Create an integrated, coherent message about the value and capacity of VA s workforce system 4. Align branding of Career Pathways and VWN 5. Engage VWC in Career Pathways 6. Continue developing and aligning professional development and technical assistance from state to region 7. Promote the role of the WIBs and disseminate outcomes and successes