Across the state of Pennsylvania, 72% of graduates pursue college degrees. About 1/3 of those students won’t make it through their freshman year. Many of those students move into the workforce and/or pursue other educational options at some point in the future. Of those who do make it through a 4 year program and graduate, many of them can’t find jobs in their chosen field.
The fact is that many of today’s jobs, and the jobs of the future, don’t require a 4 year degree. The standard thinking among parents and some educators consists of the “K-12 to 4-year College” path. Although this is a great path for a percentage of students, this standard is not sustainable for the majority! There are alternatives, and for many students, a career/technical education is the key.
For career/technical schools throughout the state, Programs of Study are becoming the standard: “SOAR is the career and technical Program of Study (POS) educational plan that articulates the secondary career and technical programs to postsecondary degree or diploma or certificate programs. SOAR programs lead students into a career pathway that aligns the secondary courses to a postsecondary program (in order) to complete a degree or certificate.”
Along with this, Career Pathways is being introduced to students in school districts throughout the state. This program focuses on students beginning their decision on a career path early on in their educational life. A career/technical education is one of the alternatives along this career pathway. And career schools all have articulation agreements with local colleges making the post-secondary transition almost seamless.
Given the changing job marketplace, career-technical schools can make an enormous difference in the lives of students!
