"Supporting States" issue (March)
A newsletter (for adults) about career readiness (for kids).
Dear Readers,
This month I’m excited to share a new report we’ve published entitled Extending the Runway: A 50-State Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration. (Read our report.) We learned that some 73% of states identified middle school career exploration as an important component of a student’s education. While there is a lot of work to be done on the programmatic side and in measuring outcomes, I want to focus on that data point, because it gives me great hope. When it comes to the value of career exploration, teachers are getting it. School leaders are getting it. And soon, many more students will get it, too. In 2023, some 47 states enacted 115 policies on career and technical education and career readiness, with a vast majority of them aimed at K-12 schools. (Read the report.) States are getting the message: career exploration programming in school is really, really important, and it works. We’re eagerly matching our belief in career readiness with funding: we’ve just announced more than $6 million in grants to increase access to career readiness programming. (Read the press release.)
What do career exploration and experimentation programs look like in action around the country? Inspiring examples abound, proving that, no matter how small, any program can have a profound impact on lives and communities:
This exciting initiative in Helena Public Schools lets sixth-graders explore a wide range of workplaces without leaving their community. (Read the story.) Wisconsin shattered historic records for the number of apprentices in 2023, thanks in large part to funding that supports youth apprenticeships. (Read the story.) Indiana is turning to Switzerland for inspiration as it builds its own ambitious youth apprenticeship program, working closely with Ivy Tech Community College. (Read the story.) In an initiative called Leaders Inspiring the Faces of Tomorrow (LIFT), fifty middle schoolers in Louisiana are being paired with mentors from the 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge organization for sessions throughout the school year. (Read the story.) And, the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize initiative will see a total of $1.5 million awarded to 25 U.S. public high school skilled trades teachers. (Learn about the prize.)
All of these are fantastic initiatives, but it’s the eloquent case for career exploration made by Brian Harrison, a high school teacher in North Carolina, that really drives it home for me. He writes that, “What inspires me most isn’t just knowing that my students enjoy this new approach, but that I can use it as another tool in my belt for equipping them for their futures. Together, we can move the needle for the next generation and ensure they feel prepared for their next steps after high school.” (Read his article.)
Additional Industry News & Research:
Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Jean Eddy of American Student Assistance Is Helping To Change Our World (Medium.com, March 3, 2024)
BUILD.org and Comcast NBCUniversal Announce “FamBiz,” a Groundbreaking Entrepreneurship Simulation Game Created to Empower Educators and Students (BusinessWire, March 6, 2024)
Proposed DC Bills Aim to Prevent Youth Crime with Jobs, Mentorship and Attendance (NBCWashington.com, February 28, 2024)
Start Your Career Search Before High School (The Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2024)
Extending the Runway: A 50-State Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration (CTE Policy Watch Blog, March 18, 2024)
Events
Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.
Register to Attend:
-ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 14-17, 2024 - Learn more)
-Horizons (Washington, D.C., July 22-23, 2024 - Learn more)
-Big Bang Conference 2024 (Memphis, July 22-25 - Learn more)
Recaps
-For Gen Z: Doing Well, Doing Good, and Having Autonomy are Key (Read the recap)
-If You See It, You Can be It: My Conversation with Ramona Schindelheim on the WorkingNation Podcast (Read the recap)
-The Credentialing Conversation: Four Sound Bites (Read the recap)
Sincerely,
Jean
P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org