Career Ready Connections
Fall Edition November 2023
A message from Career Ready PA
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.
- 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 Coalition
The Coalition highlighted the Creative Arts pathway, featuring The Warhol Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, who shared their best practice, “Connecting Education Pathways with the Creative Economy.” It is truly eye-opening to learn of the diverse career pathways and workforce needs across sectors in the Creative Ecosystem and how work-based learning is integrated to develop the competencies needed in creator professional pathways for our future workforce. Our next session will continue the Creative Arts theme in Southcentral PA with Rock Lititz and career pathways in the music industry. Each session also prioritizes updates in education and workforce, especially employability skills and industry credentials. We look forward to hearing more best practices, beginning in February 2024! Access to the presentations and recorded sessions can be located at the Google Share link.
Webinars continue to be offered and recordings are posted on 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. Follow #CareerReadyPA to stay connected!
Career Ready PA Coalition Champion Spotlight (Statewide)
Remake Learning Days
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced (press release dated 10/30/23) a new investment in Remake Learning Days, an annual family learning festival, to expand programming in 2024. Remake Learning Days in Pennsylvania will occur from May 2-22, 2024.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Education is proud to support Remake Learning Days in its mission to create engaging, hands-on learning and career exploration opportunities for people across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Through this initiative, learners of all ages have access to free and fun educational activities right in their backyard—helping them to learn more about the world around them and preparing them for future academic and career success.”
The $762,062 in new funding will enable Remake Learning to expand add a 7th statewide festival region in North Central PA; increase the number of hands-on learning event opportunities for families across Pennsylvania; increase participant access to robust and diverse career exploration activities; create Youth, Parent, and Teacher Ambassador programs in all seven regions; and expand resources in agriculture, parks & recreation, businesses, arts, and libraries.
Career Ready PA is excited to support and expand the festival, once again, with the Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge! More to come!
Upcoming Events
SAS Institute 2023
Trainings - Don't Miss!
Career Ready PA “Reboot Camps” this fall in conjunction with the Apprenticeship and Training Office (PA Labor & Industry)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is pleased to announce a training to update and assist districts designed in meeting the statewide postsecondary attainment 2025 goal of 60 percent of Pennsylvanians with a postsecondary credential, certificate, or degree.
The goal of this training is to introduce new staff and reacquaint existing staff with new developments, trainings, and initiatives that utilize stakeholder and workforce partnerships to expand the classroom to career connections and build schoolwide momentum for career readiness.
Reach out to your Career Ready PA Liaison for more information.
Grants - Apply Now!
CTE Research Opportunity from the Institute of Education Sciences
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) launched a competition that will support research on career development opportunities in secondary schools. It is awarding up to $3.2 million per award to five research teams. Applications are due January 11, 2024.
Funding will be awarded to study the availability, quality, and impact of career development opportunities that support middle and high school learners. The career development opportunities may include but need not be limited to:
· CTE coursework and programs of study
· work-based learning
· career technical competency assessments (such as CTE end-of-course exams, certifications, microcredentials)
· career advising
· tracking tools (such as digital credential wallets, digital transcripts, dashboards).
The research teams selected in this competition will join the CTE Research Network that is supported by IES with funding from the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
You may review the request for applications here.
The Coalition and Career Ready PA often hosts webinars highlighting career pathways, resources, and best practices. Educators can view our upcoming webinars and register online on our Eventbrite page. Recordings of the webinars, as well as materials shared during the sessions, can be found on our Career Ready PA Coalition page under Career Ready Webinars.