Federal focur on career pathways holds promise.
DeWitt, Stephen
CAREER PATHWAYS EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
focused on moving students through education to careers--are getting
more attention than ever at the federal level, and the (belts is not
just coming from the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education
(OC:TAE). Many more departments and agencies are working with OCTAE, to
discuss and define strategies to support career pathways development,
primarily to address workforce needs.
Last September, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and
Health and Human Services collaborated to host the National Dialogue on
Career Pathways. which had leaders from all three agencies attesting to
the value of career pathways. The event focused on the Pathways to
Success Network (PSN), which is a new peer learning network, sponsored
by the three federal departments, that seeks to advance career pat Itwa
s systems. You can register on the website at
http://www.lbrinstack.com/forms/msg-psn to keep in formed about the
latest information.
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Several kyeeks after the National Dialogue on Career Pathways, the
Department of Transport at ion held the forum, Strengthening Skills
Training and Career Pathways Across the Transportation Industry. This
event brought approximately 200 participants together for a series of
general sessions. Individual workgroups then convened to discuss and
identify specific skills needed for particular occupations and
sub-sectors within the transportation field. I am expecting more
sector-specific events as the federal government increases its attention
on career pathways.
Beyond these meetings, a number of policies are including t broad
focus on career pathways as 'Yell. Released niftily, Vice President
Biden's review of federal job-training programs, created in
consultation with federal agencies, involves the development of the
three-year career pathways initiative. Loving Pathways Forward:
Supporting Career Pathways integration. AGIT, was selected by the
Department of Education as a partner in the project, which includes
formation of the Career Pathways Exchange, a free information service
that will consolidate and distribute career pathways-related resources,
as well as information from federal and state agencies and partner
organizations. You can find information about the exchange at
https://lincs.ed.goy/programs/movingpathways/career-pathways-exchange.
Even the recently reauthorized Workforce Investment Act. now titled
the Workforce Investment and Opportunities Act AVIOA), encourages
workforce systems to expand I he use of career pathways. Federal leaders
are viewing NVIOA as an opportunity to collaborate 011 CarCCI pathWaVS
CCItlink kV (Iconic news to tlw CTE community, which has embraced and
advanced career pathways over the veitrs.
ACTE is excited and optimistic about the activity being initiated
by so many participants around Ow career pathways movement. However,
more activity means there will inevitably be more variation in beliefs
and understanding regarding what constitutes a career pathway. Good
advocates have the potential to motivate others and drive the career
pathways agenda.
The liAlowing principles serve as useful reminders regarding the
basics of what today's career pathways need in order to be
effective:
* Involve education, training and support services--all must work
collaboratively to support student and tuployer needs.
* Be career-lbcused and not limited to one occupation. 'Die
focus should be on meeting student aspirations over the course of their
lifetime.
* Linked to current and emerging local or regional economic
op-portun ies.
* Include multiple opportunities for students--bot youth and
adults--to enter, exit and reenter education and skills training.
Kudos to the federal government. for embracing career pathways and
working collaboratively to advance the career pathways agenda!
Stephen DeWitt is the deputy executive director at ACTE. He can be
reached at sdewitt@acteonline.org.
