Advisory Committee
October 10, 2024; 311 N Spring Street, Luverne, MN
LYFT Pathways Advisory Agenda/Objectives
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and Introductions
9:15 –10:15 Learning from the Field: Medical Careers Program
10:15 –11:00 LYFT Updates & Planning
11:00 –11:20 Planning for the Future
11:20 –11:50 Tour of Medical Careers Classrooms
11:50 –12:00 Closing Reflections/Upcoming Events
12:00 Lunch/Networking
Key Objectives…
- Explore ways to share our impact, support career-connected learning, and ensure sustainability of our results.
- Identify projects to showcase at the LYFT CareerConneCTED Conference in January
- Create common language around work-based learning (WBL) and identify prioritized opportunities for advancing WBL
- Identify our hopes and dreams for the next biennium of legislative support
Learning from the Field: Medical Careers Program
- Adrian
- Edgerton
- Luverne
- Pipestone
- Hills Beaver Creek
- Pipestone
Your Insights…
- How do we support more teachers in creating career-connected learning opportunities like these?
- How might we ensure the sustainability of these opportunities when changes in teachers/leadership occurs?
IMPACT GRANTS: Letters of Intent/Applications
- Southwest CEO Program
- Providing laptop computers for CEO students ($24,000 - $30,000)
- Tracy High School Construction Program
- Tools/tool trailer for Construction Class ($22,500)
- Jackson County Central Middle School
- Reality Works Trade Skills Package & Welding Simulator ($21,800)
FutureForward
- Update on expansion efforts
LYFT Annual Meeting/Conference
- What might attendees want to see/learn?
- Which experiences/projects should we “LYFT” up?
Definitions: Work-based Learning/Career-Connected Learning
Work-based Learning (MDE)
A structured academic program where students engage in real-world activities with instruction occurring both at school and with an employer. Work-based learning programs provide students with sustained interactions with industry in real workplace settings. As part of these experiences, students work with an employer partner for a minimum of 40 hours and are supervised by a licensed work-based learning coordinator.
Work-Based Learning (MinnState)
Provides students with authentic work experiences where they apply and develop employability and technical skills that support success in careers and are a pipeline to postsecondary education, family sustaining earnings and a lifetime of additional learning and skill accumulation.
Rule 8710.4825 (MN Statute) defines WBL as “learning through paid and unpaid work-based experiences where the worksite is the educational setting for one or more hours of the school day or week for one or more quarters or semesters of the school year.”
Work-based learning (JFF) is an approach to training in which a student or worker completes meaningful tasks in a workplace. Internships, on-the-job training programs, and apprenticeships are all forms of work-based learning, and each one has different purposes and different outcomes. Work-based learning activities fall within four categories: career experience, career engagement, career exposure, and career exploration.
MN Service Cooperatives
Bridging relationships between education and industry to provide immersive experiences that ensure all students have the knowledge, mindset, and skills to successfully navigate toward economically viable careers.
Resource Training & Solutions
A series of programs and support to integrate career exploration and experiences within all content areas by collaborating with central Minnesota businesses, workforce centers, and our regional school districts. Our goal is to provide students with experiential learning opportunities that will give them the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce.
National Center for College and Career Transitions
A range of activities that help students connect learning to the real world to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset they’ll need to successfully enter the world of work, careers, and community life.
How do we define and/or differentiate WBL and CCL?
LYFT Pathways Priorities: 2024-2025
This year’s primary goal: Amplifying student opportunity through career-connected learning.
How we will work toward reaching this goal…
- Provide consistent liaisons between schools and businesses in their area
- Intensify employer/student engagement through work-based learning that advances student experience while meeting the needs of employers
- Help schools create more advanced CTE programming through Impact Grants
- Help educators develop their ability to innovate, collaborate, through externships, licensure programs, and other support
Our why…
Through the alignment of industry and education, we create relevant and engaging opportunities for students to discover, pursue, and achieve the career path that best fits them. We believe that everyone’s potential is limitless when we know our strengths.
Current/Future Priorities
- Work-based Learning
- Career-Connected Learning
- Innovation Grants
- Teacher Prep/Support
Objectives:
Establish Consistent Liaisons:
- Appoint dedicated liaisons to facilitate communication and partnerships between schools and local businesses.
- Ensure liaisons are accessible to both schools and businesses to bridge gaps in connections and capacity.
Expand Career-Connected Learning:
- Continue hosting exploration events while expanding support for ongoing career-connected learning opportunities.
- Integrate career planning into the curriculum to provide students with continuous career guidance.
- Maintain and strengthen connections with industry partners and post-secondary institutions to provide students with relevant and current learning opportunities
Optimize School Schedules for CTE and WBL
- Collaborate with schools to develop schedules that accommodate Career and Technical Education (CTE) and work-based learning.
- Explore block or alternating schedules to provide flexibility for community partnerships.
Meet Employer Needs for Basic Skills:
- Address employer needs for basic skills such as communication, punctuality, and professionalism through targeted Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs.
- Partner with employers to teach students specific job skills while reinforcing essential soft skills.
Alignment with Perkins to Improve High School Experience:
- Ensure alignment with Perkins requirements, focusing on enhancing the high school experience through access to up-to-date equipment and resources.
Next Biennium Priorities (FY26-27)
- Should these priorities continue to be our focus?
- What might need adjusted?
- What might be missing?