Why we believe in career connected learning
TL; DR
Career connected learning (CCL) is a growing model to prepare students for jobs and connect employers to skilled talent
CCL is a continuum of experiences with increasing levels of training and depth
Washington is one of many states building CCL systems and programs
Kinetic West + Career Connected Learning
Since our founding three years ago, we’ve supported clients and initiatives across a range of topics including developing an intermediary business plan to combat homelessness, creating a growth model to project costs from increasing student enrollment, and researching best practices to boost postsecondary entry. However, of all the topics and sectors we’ve worked in, few have consumed as much of our time, energy, and thoughts than career connected learning (CCL) (also known as work-based learning /WBL).
We have supported – and continue to support – initiatives in Washington state and across the country to build and grow CCL. Locally, this work includes long-term strategic planning and program management for Career Connect Washington (CCW), and recruiting and training employers to host student worksite tours with the Community Center for Education Results (CCER).
Nationally, we are working with New America (a leading DC-based think tank), and their Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) initiative, to build youth-focused CCL programs and systems. Kinetic West has been providing support and technical assistance to PAYA grantees from across the country including North Carolina, Montana, Texas, Chicago, Louisville, and others on how to build and grow their CCL initiatives.
As we’ve talked with students, families, employers, educators, and policy experts, we have become strong believers that CCL can set students on a path to living wage careers and for employers to fill high-demand jobs.
What’s the need?
For the past few years, much has been written about the labor market challenges facing students and employers. Students are not completing postsecondary training at high enough rates, and when they do, they’re saddled with ever-increasing student loan debt and face underemployment. Meanwhile, employers are unable to find the skilled talent they need for high-demand jobs. In workforce parlance, this problem is known as the “skills gap” – a fundamental mismatch between the skills students have and the jobs employers need to fill. (For a great weekly newsletter on this topic, follow Ryan Craig’s “Gap Letter”)
Each state and region has its own version of this narrative. In Washington, we talk about how 70% of jobs will need a postsecondary credential, yet only 40% of students are earning these credentials today. Montana knows they’ll have 100,000 workers retiring in the next few years and that they lack the supply of students to replace these positions. In North Carolina, employers are faced with fewer than two qualified applicants for every job opening, down from 10 earlier this decade.
Career connected learning offers a remedy for these challenges. By creating a “braided pathway” that connects employers with the education system, and by exposing students to jobs and job skills at an earlier age, we can close the skills gap.
How does career connected learning (CCL) work?
To put it briefly, CCL (aka work-based learning / WBL) combines hands-on work experience and mentorship with aligned classroom instruction to prepare students for a real job. CCL is generally viewed as a continuum of activities with increasing levels of training and depth (see Career Connect Washington continuum as an example below):
Career Exploration: The basics of career exposure and awareness building, designed to answer the early questions of “What are different jobs?,” “What are different industries?,” and “What do people do at work?” Career exploration can begin as early as elementary and middle school and includes guest speaker visits, career fairs, and worksite tours. (see Career Explore in Washington).
Career Preparation: After learning about various careers, students begin to build their knowledge of core skills for specific professions. In the tech industry this could be the basics of Python or C++ coding. In health care, this could be assessing patient vitals. In construction this could be an introduction to welding. Career Preparation activities can take place within a classroom or at a worksite. Experiences could include high school summer internships, CTE (career-technical education) courses, and pre-apprenticeships. (see Career Prep in Washington)
Career Launch: In Washington, we refer to this final step as “Career Launch.” This step combines supervised, paid training at an employer site, with aligned classroom learning, that culminates in an industry-recognized credential and a competitive candidacy for a real job. Career Launch programs are developed in tandem between employers and educators, working backwards from specific jobs. Students can start Career Launch programs as early as high school. Programs also provide postsecondary credit. (see Career Launch in Washington)
The top of this continuum is where we see the greatest potential to reshape how students learn and enter the workforce. By enrolling more students in Career Launch programs, students are better qualified for real jobs and employers have a ready supply of talent to fill critical openings.
There’s a lot of momentum around Career Connected Learning
Whether it’s statewide system building in Colorado and North Carolina or local program development in Chicago and Oakland, there is a lot of energy surrounding career connected learning.
Here’s a small sampling of promising work outside of Washington:
Thought leaders:
How to grow career connected learning
Career connected learning has left the initial piloting phase and is now focused on growth. To close the skills gap, we need employers and educators to forge partnerships, build programs, and get students enrolled.
In Washington, here are a few ways to get involved now:
Contact your local CCW regional network: There are nine CCW networks throughout the state who can help answer your questions and connect you to current programs, partners, and planning efforts in your area. Regional networks are also your best first resource to find education, labor, employer, and non-profit partners to design a new Career Launch program -- state funding is available to support program design and student enrollment!
Host student worksite tours: Help students learn about different career pathways and jobs by hosing a group at your office. This program in Seattle alone has grown in the last three years with our partners at Challenge Seattle and Community Center for Education Results (CCER) and has now served over 5,000 students in South King County! To learn more about the program take a look at the CCER resources or us contact@kineticwest.com.
Host teacher externs: The Washington Alliance for Better Schools’ Access STEM program pairs teachers in grades 4 through 12 with employers for summer externships. Teachers spend time at local job sites learning about various professions to infuse job skills and career pathways into their instruction. During the school year, teachers continue working with employer partners to develop student curriculum. Contact Linda Richard to learn more.
Develop your own career connected learning program: Washington STEM has assembled this great guide that details different experiences you can create and the resources and time needed for each.