Career Ready Connections
Fall 2021
A message from Career Ready PA
Welcome back! A new school year is here again, and the Career Ready PA team is here to assist with opportunities, resources, and updates in career readiness.
Please seek out new opportunities for learners and educators on the Career Ready PA Coalition webpage. Students and families will find career awareness opportunities to experience with one of our many stakeholders!
Don't forget that our Career Ready PA regional liaisons are here to support you with training and resources. If you don't know your region, you can use the regions map located on the Career Ready PA page.
And, for upcoming events, join the Career Readiness Learning Community on SAS. The Career Ready Liaisons are constantly adding statewide events.
- Resources are available at SAS for Career Readiness.
- Join our Career Readiness Learning Community. (PDE SAS login is required.)
- Career Ready PA is PDE’s source for guidance and resources.
Career Ready PA Western Regions (1, 2, 3, 4) Spotlight
Region 2 - Simcoach Games Summer Apprenticeship
This summer 40 students in the Pittsburgh region participated in a summer apprenticeship with Simcoach Games. Students, ages 16-18, experienced a real job with a video game company, and built their own gaming solutions to real world problems. These aspiring game designers worked on teams to create, build, and then present their video games. Not only did these students learn how to build and create games, they were exposed to employability skills, including: entrepreneurial skills, taking initiative, goal-setting, planning, creativity, communication, and team collaboration.
Career Ready PA Coalition
From April to June 2021, the Coalition held four (4) work group priority sessions with statewide champions to create awareness and align opportunities in Industry Credentials, Employability Skills, Apprenticeship, and Career Pathways. Each session included a best practice or resources, including presentations from Snap-On, Ephrata Area School District, Indiana Area School District, PA Labor & Industry Apprenticeship and Training Office, and Google. The upcoming year will include a series of best practice webinars and pilot opportunities. To learn more, check out the Career Ready PA Coalition website. Career and workforce readiness are integral to developing equitable access to career pathways for all Pennsylvania learners, through effective workforce training, aligned to workforce needs and departmental career readiness initiatives.
Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge
The Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge provided an opportunity for learners to earn a digital badge for their career portfolio in the Remake Learning Days festival, held in May 2021. Coalition champions Remake Learning, STEM leads, and the Career Ready PA team collaborated in this statewide opportunity to integrate authentic learning STEM experiences with career readiness. Learners earned 1340 artifacts and 7 schools collected more than 100 artifacts to earn a banner for their school. The Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge will be held both in a virtual and live format during Remake Learning Days from May 12-23, 2022.
The Coalition and Career Ready PA are hosting a series of monthly webinars highlighting career pathways, resources, and best practices. Please join us at our first webinar with Nupaths. Upcoming webinars include equity and apprenticeships from our state agency champions.
Educators can view our upcoming webinars and register online on our Eventbrite page. We will be adding new ones throughout the year.
Are your Students Future Ready?
October 14, 10am-11am
Educators can view our upcoming webinars and register online on our Eventbrite page.
Introduction to Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship (Secondary Education Focused)
The Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) will provide a brief overview of Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship and its benefits.
November 2, 2:45pm
Educators can view our upcoming webinars and register online on our Eventbrite page.
Teacher in the Workplace
Updates and Trainings from PDE
Act 158
An Act 158 Training Series will be held in virtual Zoom sessions from September 29 to October 14. No registration is required. For more information, visit the Act 158 Pathways to Graduation Toolkit webpage.
SAS Institute
This year's SAS Institute, Focusing Forward: Creating Innovative Educational Pathways, scheduled for December 6-8, 2021, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center (virtual option also available) will center around five major strands designed to transform learning. For more information visit the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit's SAS Institute webpage.
Grant Updates
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is providing a grant opportunity for school with the PA Farm to School grant, deadline October 1, 2021. The Pennsylvania Farm to School Grant Program will provide schools with funding to improve access to healthy, local foods and increase agriculture education opportunities for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. For more information, including the application, visit the Pennsylvania Farm to School Grant Program webpage.