During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, state education leaders have been developing numerous innovative approaches to supporting high school students who are pursuing career pathways and preparing them for successful outcomes beyond secondary education. This topical brief summarizes state needs and strategies related to supporting…

In late 2020, Kentucky community and technical colleges participated in a national study of community college workforce education. Kentucky was one of 14 states where education authorities volunteered to encourage colleges to respond early enough in 2020 to receive preliminary statewide results in January 2021. This brief compares Kentucky to the…

The Certification Data Exchange Project (CDEP) was launched in 2012 to provide a model for sharing industry-recognized credential attainment data. Increasingly, employers and education leaders are recognizing the value of industry credentials to verify the knowledge, skills and abilities that students bring to the workforce. As states take steps…

This summary document highlights findings from CNA's study, "Manufacturing a Way to Career Readiness: How Industry Measures Student Readiness" (ED612988). In the study, CNA Education examined how central Kentucky employers in a high-wage, high-growth industry--advanced manufacturing--determine the readiness and additional training needs…

More clarity on career readiness and how to measure it would help educators prepare students for adult life and inform industry professionals who hire young adults. This report is a step in providing that information by exploring how a high-wage, high-growth industry--advanced manufacturing--determines the readiness and additional training needs…

As of September 2010, the U.S. manufacturing sector grew for the 14th consecutive month, leading some economists to speculate that, as with the Great Depression, American manufacturing will lead the economy out of the recession. It is a little bit of good news in a long stream of depressing employment reports. Career and technical educators…

This manual provides curriculum materials for implementing a career exploration class in communication and media occupations within a Practical Arts Education program for middle/junior high school students. Introductory materials include the program master sequence, a list of communication and media occupations, and an overview of the…

A staff exchange project designed to provide for an exchange of vocational education teachers and administrators with supervisors and technicians from business and industry is presented in this handbook. A step-by-step plan, for use at State, regional, and local levels, is given for initiating, planning, and implementing an exchange project. Six…

Farm output projections show increases for all farm products, with large increases needed in feed grains. This instructional unit was developed to promote the effective ability of producers to plan and develop a system of storing and handling home grown grain crops for maximum profits. The unit is structured in eight lessons which can be adapted…

This manual provides curriculum materials for implementing a career exploration class in manufacturing occupations within a Practical Arts Education program for middle/junior high school students. Introductory materials include the program master sequence, a list of manufacturing occupations, an overview of the competency-based instructional…

A project conducted in four vocational regions of Kentucky developed a system for providing vocational teachers with relevant metrics education and developed and identified materials to support and enhance the system. Ten occupational training areas selected as a focus of the project were air conditioning, auto body, auto mechanics, diesel…

This instructor's manual consists of materials for use in introducing middle and junior high school students to job requirements and career opportunities in the areas of agribusiness and natural resource exploration. Included in the first part of the manual are a program master sequence, a listing of various agricultural and mining occupations…

This manual provides curriculum materials for implementing a career exploration class in home economics occupations within a Practical Arts Education program for middle/junior high school students. Introductory materials include the program master sequence, a list of home economics occupations, and an overview of the competency-based instructional…