What if I told you there are programs available to public high school students that would allow them to complete two years of college while working towards their high school diploma? What if I also said that these students have 98%–100% high school graduation rates and 87% associates’ degree attainment rates? In addition, 96% of those students who go on to achieve a bachelor’s degree recieve one within six years, compared to the national average of only 58%.
For thousands of high school students, a summer or afterschool job in a restaurant is their first introduction to the workforce. But while many young people transition to other career paths, some wish to continue in the industry. For these high school students, the National Restaurant Association’s Education Foundation (NRAEF) has created ProStart, a two-year program designed to help them establish careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
From iPads and iPods, to Facebook and Twitter, kids today generally use technology with ease. However, while most young people are savvy technology consumers, very few understand the programming and coding that brings their gadgets to life. This phenomenon becomes a problem when you realize that there will be 1 million more coding jobs than there are qualified students within the next ten years.
The U.S. manufacturing sector is more productive than ever, yet it is continually confronted with the challenge of finding technically trained people to work on its modern equipment. Illinois-based Caterpillar Inc. is no different. Last year, Caterpillar’s Sanford, North Carolina Fabrication Facility (part of the company’s Building and Construction Products Division) partnered with Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), Lee County Schools, and the N.C. Department of Labor to address the need of building a pipeline of skilled welders at the facility.
Low-income students have a higher likelihood of dropping out of school, in part because they are not exposed to the same resources as their more affluent peers. The fact is that all students, no matter their socioeconomic status, should be given the means to excel in school and held to the same high standards. In 1975, Greg Gannon, a math teacher from a Washington, D.C. high school, founded the educational program, Higher Achievement. The program’s original purpose was to address the growing achievement gap faced by students in underrepresented communities and create equal learning opportunities. Thirty-seven years later, Higher Achievement provides tangible results focused on data-driven program quality, academic rigor, and student accountability.
The Central Florida Education Summit will be hosted by the Central Florida Partnership and sponsored by the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, in partnership with the National Chamber Foundation, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, and the Central Florida Public School Board Coalition.
U.S. News STEM Solutions 2013 will bring together business, education and government leaders who have long recognized the need to connect the dots between STEM education and careers. Adding to last year’s successful conference format, the second edition will give more dedicated time for these leaders to interact and collaborate.
