The latest stakeholders meeting hosted by the U.S. Department of Education focused on college- and career-ready graduates in the context of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Panelists at this week’s forum included Michele Cahill, Vice President for National Programs and Program Director for Urban Education, Carnegie Corporation; and Kathy Havens Payne, Senior Director of Education Leadership, State Farm Insurance Companies.
Under Secretary of Education, Martha Kanter, kicked off the meeting by reiterating President Obama’s call to have the U.S. lead the world in college graduates and have the most educated workforce in the world. She then gave a broad overview of the issues that the Administration is concerned with as they look at the reauthorization of ESEA: the impact of drop outs and the achievement gap on the economy, standards that prepare students to enter the workforce and college, better assessments, and teacher preparation and professional development.
During the Q&A portion of the forum, one member of the audience raised the issue of job availability once the student enters the workforce. Undersecretary Kanter said that there are a variety of federal programs that will help students get the experience they need for future careers – WIA Summer Youth programs, Career Clusters, and career pathways. She emphasized that teachers should be using Career Clusters and pathways in the classroom to expose students to all available careers.
You can watch an archived version of the forum here.
Tags: Career Clusters®, federal legislation, NCLB/ESEA, Public Policy