Overview

What Are Career Pathways?
In Utah our challenge is to provide opportunities for every student to succeed in the 21st century workplace.  Providing these opportunities requires that programs keep pace with a rapidly changing business and economic environment.  Our high school students must have a strong academic education; obtain Career and Technical Education skills, and be prepared in transition to some postsecondary education.

The High School to College and Career Pathways initiative helps match education and workplace needs through partnerships with postsecondary institutions, the school districts, business, and industry. Pathways identify and group courses within Career and Technical Education (CTE) areas of study that offer students depth of knowledge and skill, linked with specific postsecondary programs culminating in degrees or certificates.

The United States is experiencing a profound economic shift as the global economy continues to expand.  Workers are needed who possess knowledge and skill and postsecondary educational credentials (though not necessarily a bachelor’s degree), technical skills, the ability to learn rapidly, and an entrepreneurial approach to work and career management. i

Across the nation, policymakers are increasingly concerned that the current educational training systems are neither meeting the workforce needs of business, nor preparing individuals to earn family-sustaining wages. With few exceptions, the nation’s education and training systems operate in relative isolation from broader economic development efforts, largely because state policies governing adult and postsecondary education workforce and economic development, and social and human services are designed an implemented with few meaningful connections. ii

An approach that is gaining momentum in several states is a system of aligned education and training programs called “career pathways.”   Here in Utah, the partnership between public education and higher education with the career pathways project is bridging this gap.  We have an opportunity to take this initiative statewide involving public education, higher education, workforce services, and economic development.

i. Davis Jenkins. Career Pathways: Aligning Public Resources to Support Individual and Regional Economic Advancement in the Knowledge Economy.  (New York: Workforce Strategy Center, 2006).

ii. The Progress of Education Reform 2007:  Economic and Workforce Development.  Volume 8, No 2, August 2007.

What Are the Goals of Pathways?
The goals are to:

• Maximize opportunities for students.
• Increase student awareness of careers and education and training.
• Strengthen the planning process using a Student Education Occupation Plan (SEOP).
• Ease student transitions between secondary and postsecondary education through:
      Concurrent enrollment.
      Articulation agreements.
      Skill assessment recognition.
      Comprehensive Guidance.
      Regional and state planning.
• Align training with employer needs.
• Provide strong academic skills and real-world problem solving skills.

What Are the Anticipated Outcomes by Participating in Pathways?
The anticipated outcomes include:

• Increased academic and skill achievement at secondary and postsecondary levels.
• Decreased need for remediation at the postsecondary level.
• Increased enrollment and persistence in postsecondary education.
• Increased attainment of post-secondary degrees, certificates, or other recognized credentials.
• Increased rate of entry into employment or further education.
• Savings of time and money for students.

How Many Pathways Are Developed for Students to Utilize?
In Utah, there are 62 Career Pathways within eight Areas of Study. A sampling of these 62 Pathways is listed below.

Agriculture
• Horticulture Science & Management
• Production/Processing Animal Science

Business
• Accounting & Finance
• Business Management

Family & Consumer Sciences
• Child Development
• Food Service & Culinary Arts

Health Science & Technology
• Biotechnology
• Nurse Assistant

Information Technology
• Web Development & Administration
• Programming/Software Development

Marketing
• Marketing Management
• Sales & Service Marketing

Skilled & Technical Sciences
• Automotive Service Technician
• Automotive Collision Repair
• Drafting/CAD
• Electronics

Technology & Engineering
• Pre-Engineering

What Does a Pathway Look Like? How Does a Student Get Started?
High School to College and Career Pathway Map: Drafting/CAD Sample - PDF

What Are the Benefits of Career Pathways?
Students use Pathways to investigate a wide range of career choices. Pathways make it easier for students to understand the relevance of required courses and select elective courses more wisely.

Parents learn what academic and technical courses their children need for college and a variety of career fields. Pathways and the high standards that go with them reassure parents that their children will be fully prepared for college and the workplace.

School counselors use Career Pathways to help students explore options for the future. Current information on the academic, technical, and college requirements for a wide range of careers will be readily available.

Teachers use Pathways to promote programs, increase student participation, and encourage students to persist in training beyond high school.

Schools use Pathways to organize to meet the demands of postsecondary education and the expectations of employers.

Employers partner with schools to contribute to the development of high academic standards that help students prepare for work and help workers keep their skills up to date. Employers gain workers who are prepared to learn new skills, adjust to technological change, and advance their careers