Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 9/14/2023 - 5:30 PM
Category: ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Type: Info
Subject: 6. Report with Possible Action Regarding the Annual Workforce Readiness Update for the 2022-2023 School Year
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
Policy: Admin Policy 7.01 - Teaching and Learning Goals
Attachments
File Attachment:
Background: The annual workforce readiness report was last provided at the September 2022 meeting of the Committee on Student Achievement and School Innovation. The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office has continued its work to improve and expand student work readiness and provide work opportunities for students throughout the district. The following are highlights from the 2022–23 school year:
•Each high school had one main point of contact, which we call “career champions,” to coordinate communication and work-based learning activities with CTE.
•In addition, each school had a work-based learning team to assist students with work readiness and employment. The teams are led by the career champion and include other key school staff members.
•In February, approval was given to add up to 20 full time limited-term employment work-based learning specialist positions. These individuals will work directly in our schools to assist students with securing and sustaining employment.
•CTE met monthly with all career champions and College and Career Centers representative(s). The purpose of the meetings was to ensure efficient communication and coordination between the schools and CTE to continue growing the number of internships and youth apprenticeships for our students.
•An Employer Playbook was provided to employers as a guide on how to provide high-quality, work-based learning opportunities for students.
•CTE utilized an online application system for all potential youth apprentices, making the process easier and more efficient for students to apply and for CTE to coordinate and track.
•Students interested in work opportunities had access to a CTE-developed work readiness video. The video provided an overview of our youth apprenticeship and internship programs as well as next steps for students to become better prepared for work.
•CTE provided students with two Google Classrooms: a Job Readiness Google Classroom for all students interested in work opportunities, and a Google Classroom specific to youth apprenticeship. In addition, a Google Drive folder containing work-readiness resources was available for all teachers, counselors, and other staff to access.
•The student job board was updated on a regular basis throughout the school year and was shared with all high school students to view and apply to work opportunities.
•CTE held two in-person job fairs attended by over 900 students this past school year. The junior fair was held on March 15, and the senior event was held on April 19.
•At least 2015 students had some sort of work experience in the 2022–23 school year, including students who worked in summer 2022. This number includes experiences such as 2022 summer employment through the Mayor’s Earn & Learn Program, the School-to-Work Transition Program, work release, youth apprenticeships, and internships.
•All students who successfully completed a youth apprenticeship or internship received high school credit.
•CTE continued its successful collaboration with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce to host career exploration and work-readiness experiences and events for high school students interested in health science, information technology, or finance.
•CTE entered into a contract with District C to offer alternative work experiences for students and provide them with the kinds of transferable skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
•Together with our M3 partners—MATC and UWM—CTE team members participated on the M3 Work-Based Learning Committee to improve and expand work-based learning opportunities for students.
Fiscal Impact Statement:
Implementation and Assessment Plan
Recommendation:
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Eric Radomski - Senior Manager, Career and Technical Education
Signed By:
John Hill, Ph.D. - Director
Signed By:
Jennifer Mims Howell - Chief Academic Officer
Signed By:
Keith Posley, Ed.D. - Superintendent