Tell us what you want to do and we’ll help you get where you need to go
For years, people have clung to outdated perceptions of our professional trades. We’re ready to shatter that.
Education and career readiness goes far beyond the either-or options we have become far too comfortable promoting to our younger generations. It’s time for us to change our views, change the conversation and change the structure of education to support the many pathways that exist for our kids — all of which can lead to rewarding, lifelong careers.
How do we get there?
One issue we heard from stakeholders was far too many kids leave high school — and even four-year universities — and don’t know what they want to do. We also heard there is not enough time in school to allow for the systemic and meaningful career exploration students deserve.
In a way, the talent gap today stems from a career awareness gap.
Establish an in-depth career exploration class
Together with state Superintendent Brian Whiston, we are recommending the establishment of a class in seventh, eighth or ninth grade that will allow students to spend time in rich career exploration. This exploration class will help highlight the many pathways available to students, whether it’s a four-year degree or a professional trade.
Develop robust career exploration tools
Combined with the class, we are recommending the statewide adoption of the robust online career exploration and development tools: Career Cruising, My Bright Future and a tool TED is completing called Pathfinder, along with a model being pioneered by Wayne County RESA that inventories all local career opportunities and pathways. These comprehensive tools can be used by parents, teachers, counselors and students to get folks career connected.
Shatter the stereotypes
While we continue to focus on growing better access for students, we need to shift perceptions of the professional trades, too. These are widely-available careers with opportunities that span across both peninsulas and several industries.
It doesn’t stop there.
These steps just touch the surface of the recommendations outlined by state Superintendent Whiston and I on Monday, June 26. Recommendations included:
Match crowdfunding for counselors and professional trade programs — A program to provide state-matching dollars through a crowdfunding program to assist in covering the costs for counselors and professional trades programs.
Enhance career counseling — Support districts with the hiring of “career development facilitators” that support school counselors, with the focus of helping students explore career options, whether that pathway is early/middle college, apprenticeship, community college or four-year universities, and provide guidance on setting a path to a career. We have additional “best practices” from which districts can choose.
Create the “Rising Tide” (technical assistance teams) of professional trades programs — Establish a Rising Tide model of partnership with local districts, employers, advocates and training centers to help match what is being taught with community needs.
And many more!
All of us have a role to play in this alliance. All of us can change the conversation. The future is not about an either-or pathway, but about multiple pathways for Michiganders and lifelong learning. So, if you do nothing else, don’t ask a child where they want to go, instead, ask them what they want to do and then help them find that pathway. That is a great starting point for all of us.
So, go ahead: Tell us what you want to do and we’ll help you get where you need to go.
Learn more about the recommendations by visiting www.michigan.gov/ted.
