1. Rigorous Programs of Study Debra Mills Vice President Partnerships dmills@cord.org

2. Who is CORD? • Center for Occupational Research and Development • Non-profit, based in Texas • Founded in 1979 to serve educators across U.S. • Major Areas of Focus: • Connecting Education to Workforce Development; Econ Dev • Support for high schools, community colleges, industry • Focused on “The Neglected Majority” • Curriculum and faculty development/Technical assistance • Contextual teaching and learning/Integrated instruction • Math, science, advanced technologies • Customized training for technician education • National Career Pathways Network

3. Leading Change in Education • Tech Prep/Associate Degree: A Win-Win Experience (1991) • Opening Minds, Opening Doors (1994) • Tech Prep: The Next Generation (1998) • Career Pathways: Education with a Purpose (2005) • Adult Career Pathways: Providing a Second Chance in Public Education (2007) • Thriving in Challenging Times: Connecting Education to Economic Development Through Career Pathways (2009) • Adult Career Pathways: Providing a Second Chance in Public Education (2011)

4. Who is Debbie Mills? • Previous Life: HS Computer Teacher; CC Administrator (Workforce Development); ACTE CC Administrator Award; US DOE & Dale Parnell Awards • State & Local Level Technical Assistance: partnership structure; prof dev; curr dev; improving advisory committees, etc • SME: OVAE RPOS Project & DOL Career Pathways • Developer: Career Pathways Leadership Certification; ACP Certification • Recent Projects: Florida ACP Toolkit & Workshop Series; Colorado AC Toolkit; MN Adv Comm Handbook; NCPN Resource Center Developer

5. Your Menu of Choice… PPT Other Resources

6. Broad Structure of Partnerships

9. Connecting to Existing Partnerships and/or Initiatives

17. Common Mistakes in Partnerships • Not having a convener or organizer • Not convening employersfirst -Industry needs to drive the process • Not stating the ROI -Stakeholders not understanding how results from partnership programs can benefit businesses, individuals, and the economy. • Making the Partnership the Goal- There needs to be specific goals, objectives and timelines. • Not targeting an industry sector(s) Not doing a gap analysis (crosswalk programs with industry needs) • Not using Data - Messages need to be compelling and grounded in data. Businesses will respond to good clear data. Not letting ALL speak -Encourage champions because peer-to-peer (especially with employers) communication is very important

18. Common Mistakes from EDUCATION in Partnerships • Not identifying the talent pool that you bring to the table • Not being simple and straightforward – Employers want to know, in concrete terms, how education can benefit their businesses, their employees, and the economy. • Overuse of educational terms- Employers and other stakeholders do not understand • Selling what you are already doing- Education should not attempt to sell pre-existing programs, but should be sensitive to employers’ needs. • Not bringing the data - Partnership messages need to be compelling and grounded in data. If most students don’t transition to ps then that data needs to be brought to the table for discussion. Businesses will respond to good clear data even when it shows things are not working.

19. Sustainability • Formal or Informal? • Collaboration based on individuals? Okay in beginning….but will not sustain….people leave • MOU- Memo of Understanding

21. Sample Elements in Structure State Structure • State RPOS Steering Committee • Specific Career Pathways Committees • Local/Regional Structure • Composition • Role of Local RPOS Partnership Council • Executive Committee • Chairperson • RPOS Local Partnership Manager • Connection to Local Sec & PS Sites • Connection to existing committees (local business advisory committees, other local business entities)

22. MOU or By-Laws (Operational Procedures) Formation • Name of partnership • Mission • Organization &governance • Membership of Council: Election & vacancies; Time & date; Attendance; Roles & Responsibilities • Executive Committee: Designation & vacancies; Term & time of election; Duties • Chairperson: Designation; vacancies; Term & time of election; Duties • Local RPOS Partnership Manager: Duties • Elections: Terms and time • Meetings: Annual; Regular; Special; Notice of mtgs; Quorum • Task Committees • Accountability • Dissolution & Amendments

23. Communications within a Partnership

24. Meetings should NOT be used to disseminate information

25. Use Technology to disseminate information…..

26. Secondary to Postsecondary Connections

27. Joint Curricula & Professional Development • Align or develop curricula together • Vertical alignment of technical skills assessments • College & Career Readiness Standards • Are secondary teachers aware of PS entrance requirements? Using this criteria for curr? • RPOS Teams • Vertical • Horizontal • Student’s view • DATA: What is NOT working? Why? • Teaching Strategies • Contextual • Project-Based • Workbased learning

28. Joint Advisory Committees • Separate advisory committees support the individual programs at each institution • Joint advisory committees support the pathway (RPOS) that overlays two or more institutions.

29. Level of Sec/PS Connections • Level 1: Better Signaling -tutor of HS from PS students; college visits; info on ps; test prep (ACT) • Level 2: Blurring of Boundaries -Dual credit; data sharing; articulation; early ID of student needs; joint pd • Level 3: Blending -curricular alignment; sharing of equip, faculty & facilities; joint PD days

30. Engaging Employers

31. Begin with the End in Mind… • The first step in conceiving of a career pathway and developing a successful bridge program is to identify an employment sectorand a suitable target population. • Sectors chosen for focus demonstrate strong projected growthin the region based on labor market analysis and employer focus groups, have good quality jobs (i.e., provide a family sustaining income and good benefits), and are a good fit with the community’s available workforce.

32. Connecting with Business and Industry

33. Action Items for Employer Partners

34. Career Pathways Components Industry Engagement Industry Needs Assessment: Industry Forum Community Engagement Culminating Activities Workshops Career Ladders Development Career Pathways Implementation Plan Career Pathways Visioning Session: Influential senior executive community, industry, and educational leaders Industry Sector 1 Education Collaboration Session Influential executive level education leaders from k-12 and higher education Industry Sector 2 Industry Sector 3 Community Organization Collaboration Session Influential executive level community organization leaders Industry Sector 4 © CORD 2010

35. Industry Needs and Forum • Completed review of regional data and facilitated dialogue session for each targeted industry sector to capture and document participants’ identification, observations, perceptions of current and future industry challenges, and Career Pathways partnering potential. Topic Areas • Industry Trends • Operational Challenges • Labor Pool and Occupational Shortages • Workforce Performance • New employee skill gaps • Incumbent employee skill gaps • Areas of Focus

40. Connecting Advisory Committees

41. The Advisory Committee is basically a tool for educators to “talk to their customers”.

50. Meeting Minutes: It’s a Process