A career pathway approach reorients existing education and workforce services from a myriad of disconnected programs to a coordinated structure that focuses on the individuals in need of education and training and corresponding career paths. This approach also provides clear transitions, strong supports, and other elements critical to the success of participants. It is not simply a new model; it is a new way of doing business – for education and training institutions, employers, students, community organizations, agency staff, and policymakers. Adopting a career pathway approach means redesigning the delivery of education, training, and employment services to be much more integrated, aligned, and participant-centered.
Last summer, CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy) launched the Alliance for Quality Career Pathways, a two-year, state-driven, CLASP-led effort to identify (1) criteria for high-quality career pathway systems and (2) a set of shared performance metrics for measuring and managing their success. The 10 states in the Alliance are leading the nation in experience with and scale of career pathway efforts. These states are Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Alliance recognizes that there are many different types of career pathways for different types of students and workers, and a comprehensive career pathway system provides an inclusive umbrella for all of them. The Alliance’s niche in this broad vision is to develop a framework for career pathways focusing on educationally underprepared youth and adults.
In the first phase of the Alliance, CLASP released two products this week:
- The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways Approach: Developing Criteria and Metrics for Quality Career Pathways - A Working Paper http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-The-AQCP-Approach-Feb-2013.pdf
- A Framework for Measuring Career Pathway Innovation - A Working Paper http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-AQCP-Metrics-Feb-2013.pdf
Comments
Hi Donna and all. I came across this announcement for a webinar being hosted by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning that relates to this post and which may interest some members:
Economic Development and Workforce Development Alignment Strategies: Working as a Community (March 1 at 2:30 EST)
http://www.ceosforcities.org/events/alignment-strategies-working-as-a-community?goback=%2Egde_1295137_member_217475720
I haven't read the CLASP reports you posted yet, but I wondered if they address the ways the economy and workforce are either working with or against each other in terms of preparing people for jobs right now. We have so many layers: helping low-skilled workers get the basics so they can actually earn a living; helping workers with higher skills go still higher; recruiting/attracting people who can fill the numerous tech and computer jobs that remain open because our pool does not pass their requirements; etc.
Thoughts?
What do you think about the latest news about cuts in educational budget?
Should we protest against these cuts? Why education?