Emerging themes from a K12 Stakeholder Assessment

Over the past few years, Futures Research has conducted a number of CLNA stakeholder assessments for CTCs. We recently had the privilege of conducting an assessment for a K12 school district and the differences were notable. We thought it might be interesting to share some of the findings.

Without getting too deep in the weeds, a quick word on how we developed these themes. A K12 CTE client approached us with a request to explore a set of topics related to equitable work-based learning opportunities with key stakeholders. We created a research design in which a set of questionnaires and interviews developed a large body of qualitative data that was structurally analyzed using the CLNA sub-elements and organically analyzed seeking emergent themes. Below is a lightly edited list of the emergent themes. 

1. 13th Year

Promotes an additional year of education after high school to aid students in transitioning to post-secondary education or careers, particularly those lacking home support, with collaboration between K12 schools, higher education, and industry providing guidance, work-ready credentials, and introductory college courses.

2. Advisory Committees

Emphasizes enhancing CTE programs through industry and educational partnerships, focusing on work-based learning and industry-aligned curricula for student success. Cluster-based advisory boards and regional coordination align curricula, provide training, and foster collaboration among K12, post-secondary institutions, and industries.

3. Awareness

Emphasizes informing and engaging students, parents, and educators about CTE pathways and post-secondary options through effective communication and outreach, with strategies like leveraging advisory boards and enhancing counselor involvement. A regional approach and public-private partnerships aim to improve equitable access to opportunities, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

4. Bridge Gaps

Emphasizes strengthening the connection between education and industry to enhance student outcomes and workforce readiness through strategies like fostering industry partnerships and simplifying processes for students and families. The theme aims to provide equitable access to opportunities for all students, prioritizing connections and addressing logistical challenges, especially for those in underserved communities.

5. Career Discovery

Emphasizes providing students with diverse career exploration opportunities through hands-on experiences and early engagement, aiming to ignite interest in various fields. Key components include empowering counselors, partnering with industries, and ensuring equal access to career resources in rural and underserved communities to support students in making fulfilling career choices.

6. Co-Investment

Emphasizes the significance of public-private partnerships in enhancing CTE programs, showcasing initiatives like New Tech schools that provide vital skills and opportunities for students. By involving businesses in the education process and securing funding, these partnerships address gaps in current CTE offerings, underscoring the need for a unified approach to prepare students for the workforce and foster community development.

7. COVID-19 Pandemic

Explores the pandemic's profound effects on the workforce and education, highlighting the importance of inclusive strategies to address inequities, support marginalized populations, and adapt to changing job expectations and remote work demands for a resilient recovery.

8. Credentials

Highlights the importance of industry-recognized certifications over traditional academic achievements for workforce preparation, emphasizing practical credentials like First Aid, OSHA, and Food Handlers Permits. Aligning learning outcomes with career pathways through effective communication between high school teachers and college faculty is crucial, with hands-on experiences such as the 13th year program and internships aiding in bridging the gap between education and employment.

9. District 

Emphasizes enhancing CTE opportunities within the district through strategic planning and community collaboration, utilizing dedicated teams to develop and promote CTE clusters effectively. Advisory committees play a key role in aligning curricula, fostering industry partnerships, and supporting educational pathways, with targeted outreach efforts addressing equity challenges through equal access to CTE options.

10. Dual Credit

Focuses on integrating high school and college coursework to enhance educational pathways for postsecondary success, addressing challenges in aligning programs like Running Start and College in the High School with high school assessments and student maturity levels. Work-based learning and CTE opportunities face barriers like unclear approval processes and equity gaps in participation, with districts aiming to empower students through tailored pathways and support structures for maximizing career opportunities.

11. Engagement

Focuses on enhancing student career readiness by integrating industry professionals into classrooms and aligning curriculum with real-world applications, with initiatives like Business Afterschool and trades night events introducing students to diverse industries despite challenges like logistical constraints. Early engagement strategies bridge the gap between education and workforce preparedness, aiming to create meaningful career-connected learning experiences through collaborative efforts between K12 and industry.

12. Equity

Focuses on addressing disparities in access and opportunity within K12 and CTE programs to create inclusive pathways to success, with initiatives like Running Start enhancing postsecondary success and promoting equitable student participation. Outreach efforts, including intentional enrollment strategies and community engagement, aim to bridge awareness and motivation gaps, prioritizing underserved populations for economic inclusivity and empowering all students towards equitable outcomes in education and beyond.

13. Hands-on

Emphasizes the importance of practical, experiential learning in CTE programs to enhance students' workforce readiness through early career exploration, industry partnerships, and hands-on activities like job shadowing and internships. Advocating for equitable access, these programs ensure all students, including those from underserved populations, have opportunities for meaningful hands-on learning experiences aligned with their career interests and goals.

14. Higher Ed Partners

Focuses on enhancing student transitions and opportunities by promoting collaboration between K12 institutions and higher education, addressing challenges like complexities in college in high school programs and rural education disparities. Initiatives such as targeted enrollment outreach and clearer communication between high schools and colleges aim to create seamless pathways to postsecondary success, with proposals for a 13th year program seeking to bridge gaps and strengthen partnerships for equitable access to educational pathways beyond high school.

15. Industry & Business Partners

Aims to prepare students for future careers by strengthening the connection between K12 education and industry through workforce development, career pathway alignment, and postsecondary transitions, with initiatives like after school visits and job shadowing to expose students to real-world job settings. This proactive approach emphasizes collaboration to bridge gaps between education and industry, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future careers.

16. Innovative Approaches

Focuses on enhancing educational outcomes and career readiness by facilitating seamless transitions from high school to postsecondary success, with initiatives like the proposed 13th year program. Industry partnerships support Work-Based Learning Opportunities (WBLO) in high-demand sectors, prioritizing student-centered education and collaboration across advisory committees to create cohesive pathways from K12 through higher education and into the workforce, ensuring students receive targeted support and relevant skills for their future careers.

17. K12 Teachers & Counselors

Highlights the crucial role of educators and counselors in promoting CTE pathways for students by bridging the gap between education and industry opportunities, emphasizing the need for additional resources and support for students to explore CTE options. Collaboration among educators, industry professionals, and advisory committees aims to make CTE pathways more relevant, addressing challenges like equity issues and transitioning to higher education, with insights from this theme enhancing CTE programs through the Perkins 5 CLNA planning process to better prepare students for future careers.

18. Parents

Emphasizes the vital role of parental involvement in guiding students through CTE program choices and transitions to postsecondary opportunities, particularly for those without familial college experience. Strategies include clear communication about CTE benefits, incorporating parental input into program development, and boosting family engagement in Work-Based Learning Opportunities (WBLO) to empower students for future success.

19. Rural Communities 

Highlights the challenges in rural areas, such as limited resources and geographic isolation impacting CTE opportunities and local workforce development, with shortages in healthcare emphasizing the need for improved educational pathways. Initiatives like Career Explore NW aim to broaden career horizons through virtual platforms, underscoring the importance of tailored support, increased CTE funding, and strategic partnerships to uplift rural students and align education with workforce needs effectively.

20. Seamless Transition

Highlights the importance of smooth transitions from K12 education to postsecondary success, with proposals like the 13th year initiative aiming to integrate career exploration and credential attainment for students without strong familial support. Challenges like navigating complex college systems emphasize the need for streamlined processes and state-level cooperation to empower students for seamless transitions to postsecondary opportunities and career readiness.

21. Simplification, Clarity, and Efficiency

Focuses on streamlining processes and reducing complexities in educational and workforce initiatives, particularly in work-based learning (WBL) and K12 CTE Advisory Committees, aiming to enhance employer participation and align with local initiatives. Simplifying transitions from K12 to higher education is crucial for clearer pathways and efficient hiring practices, emphasizing the optimization of educational and workforce development through clarity, efficiency, and accessibility. 

22. The City

Highlights efforts within the City to bridge educational and economic divides through strategic partnerships, focusing on integrating K12 students with local businesses through afterschool programs despite logistical challenges. Collaboration between K12 and City businesses, facilitated by educational navigators, aims to address workforce gaps and provide internship opportunities, showcasing the City's commitment to inclusive growth and leveraging technology for future success.

23. Systems

Emphasizes cohesive frameworks and streamlined processes to enhance student success, particularly in seamless transitions from K12 to postsecondary education by aligning educational institutions, industry, and support systems. Strategies include early engagement initiatives, robust career counseling, and overcoming logistical barriers to empower students in pursuing diverse pathways, while promoting equitable access to education and workforce opportunities across diverse communities.

24. Technological Change

Highlights technology's impact on education and workforce development, with CTE programs adapting to meet future demands influenced by AI and robotics, emphasizing the importance of advanced computer skills alongside traditional work ethics. This shift in technology extends beyond industries, shaping remote work trends and emphasizing the need for digital literacy, underscoring the importance of addressing the digital divide for equitable access to technology and skills training in a rapidly evolving landscape.

25. Work-Based Learning

Focuses on integrating students into high-demand industries like healthcare and manufacturing, emphasizing effective industry engagement strategies and the key role of industry leaders in supporting and participating in WBL programs. WBL benefits students by providing practical experience, enhancing skills, and fostering connections with employers, despite challenges like age restrictions and industry-specific rules.