More than two-thirds (67%) of high school students feel their education is not preparing them for needs in the workplace.
School district leaders can act as change agents by expanding access to career readiness programming and, subsequently, better equipping students for the future.
To that end, Discovery Education has made available its latest free guide for educators – Expanding Opportunities: How District Leaders Can Champion Career Readiness.
“District leaders have an extraordinary opportunity to transform the educational experiences of all students by embracing and expanding career readiness initiatives,” says the guide.
Included in the guide, strategies for implementing and scaling opportunities for career exploration, work-based learning experiences, and career and technical education (CTE) programs.
According to the guide, “CTE programs are designed to align with high-demand industries such as health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and more. Successful CTE programs are designed in collaboration with local employers and industry groups to ensure that students acquire skills that are in demand.”
CTE can increase student engagement, improve graduation rates, and boost career readiness, notes the guide. Also included, best practices for district leaders to build partnerships with industry and community organizations, secure funding, and ensure long-term success with future-ready programming.
According to the guide, “students who participate in CTE programs are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to graduate from high school on time.” These students are often better prepared for college, as well as career – as many earn industry-recognized credentials.
In addition, on March 20 at 2 pm ET, Discovery Education will host a virtual event to “unveil new enhancements to its suite of digital services supporting the development of the critical skills and knowledge all students need for success.”
For more information about this online event, and to register, visit the event registration page.