Strengthening Work-Based Learning and College Readiness Programs:

1. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers Strengthening Work-Based Learning and College Readiness Programs: The Career Academies Project: Linking Education and Careers Mary Visher, MDRC Mike Sack, Bloom Associates Shelley Rappaport, MDRC Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education

2. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Goal: Develop a program to build the capacity of academies to offer quality work-based learning and college readiness experiences to all students.

3. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Work: • Develop a program of curricula, activities, guides and materials • Test the program in four academies • Improve, revise and evaluate • Make the program available to all schools

4. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT Student Learning Outcomes: • Increase awareness of career and college options. • Make connections between school and careers. • Understand and practice “transferable skills”. • Graduate from high school with skills needed to succeed in college and career.

5. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Academies: • Culinary Arts Academy – Tampa, FL • Digital Safari Academy – Concord, CA • Academy of Arts & Technology – Los Angeles, CA • Academy of Hospitality, Tourism, and Marketing – Atlanta, GA

6. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Program: • 10 to 15 lessons (“workshops”), each grade, taught by CTE teachers: • Career Development topics • Career Exploration topics • College Readiness topics

7. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Program: Career Exploration Visits • All 10th and 11th graders attend half- day group visits to local worksites. • Visits are carefully structured with clear learning objectives. • Students and employers are well prepared before visit.

8. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT Career Exploration Visits Sample Workshops

9. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Program: College Visits • All 10th and 11th graders visit college campuses. • Local 2-year and 4-year colleges. • Parental involvement. • Counseling and mentoring supports.

10. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT College Visits Sample Workshops

11. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT The Program: Internships & Seminar • All 12th grade students offered internships • Compensated (pay, credit, stipends) • Project-based • Concurrent, weekly classroom seminar

12. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT Internships & Seminars Sample Seminars

13. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT Next Steps: • Continue Pilot – refine program • Evaluate student and school-level outcomes • Evaluate feasibility • Scale-up

14. The Career Academies Project Linking Education & Careers THE CAREER ACADEMIES PROJECT For more information, contact: • Mary Visher • mary.visher@mdrc.org • Sue Bloom • SBloom96@aol.com • Mike Sack • MSack@yesphilly.org