Industry-led coalition launched to prepare next generation of Hawaii workforce

The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced its Connect to Careers (C2C) coalition today alongside business and education partners including the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) and the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund. The initiative is designed to collaboratively prepare students for success in high-skill, in-demand career pathways.

"Preparing students to be ready for life after high school is an evolving target, and it is important that professionals from various industries and trades are involved to ensure we are providing the right skill sets and aptitudes in our schools," said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. "We are thrilled to launch C2C and grow Hawaii's future workforce and economy, and thank our partners for supporting and investing in our students."

The effort has three pillars:

• Business-led: Industry identifies needed entry-level skill sets and employability qualities, and collaborates on degrees and certifications that prepare students for these opportunities.
• Aligned curriculum and opportunities: The K-12 and post-secondary educational systems coordinate relevant and rigorous learning pathways that answer these needs.
• Tracking effectiveness: Industry identifies needed entry-level skill sets and employability qualities, and collaborates on degrees and certifications that prepare students for these opportunities.

"When we have a strong workforce, it creates a healthy economy," stated Linda Chu Takayama, DLIR director.  "By educating our middle and high school students about the practical application of their skills after they graduate, our kids not only have a shot at employment but also we put them on a path for their future careers."

The announcement took place in Kapolei at the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund site.

"For our local construction industry, this is a valuable partnership," said Edmund Aczon, executive director, Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund. "Currently we have programs underway at Kahuku, Waianae and McKinley high schools. In addition to aligned curriculum, we have teacher support and coursework at community colleges."

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the University of Hawaii are leading industry partners.

"During our sessions we are able to determine what career pathways are needed most and discuss the changes that are taking place in our industry sectors," stated Sherry Menor-McNamara, president and chief executive officer, Chamber Commerce of Hawaii. "C2C is transformative work that we believe will put students on a path towards success and result in an innovative workforce."

For more information about C2C, visit http://bit.ly/Connect2Careers.

Ongoing Partner Investment

The C2C coalition building and planning was first facilitated through the New Skills for Youth grant that was competitively awarded to HIDOE in 2016 from JPMorgan Chase in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers and Advance CTE. Hawaii was among 24 states and the District of Columbia to receive the New Skills for Youth grant.

C2C industry partner Harold K. Castle Foundation recently approved up to $200,000 to be spent towards Career and Technical Education within C2C to improve, enhance and expand career academies. The following six schools were awarded funds for the following initiatives:

• Waipahu High School: $30,000 to expand quality and rigor to three more high school academies so that all five meet National Standards of Practice and achieve National Certification as model academies.
• Farrington High School: $29,600 for the Health Academy to meet National Standards of Practice and achieve National Certification as a model academy.
• Kapaa High School: $29,100 to create the Natural Resource Academy.
• Kapolei High School: $20,550 to improve overall governance, student voice and staff capacity as a wall-to-wall academy school that offers eight career academies.
• Waimea High School: $28,513 to expand the Engineering Academy and create the Natural Resource academy.
• Pearl City High School: $30,000 to help the school transition to wall-to-wall academies in school year 2018-19 as well as to improve the rigor of the existing SALT Academy.

In total, $167,763 was awarded directly to selected high schools. The Castle Foundation  also budgeted $12,500 for a mid-point gathering in October 2018 and $19,500 for the National Career Academy Coalition to conduct a Baseline Analysis in each participating high school at the end of the grant period as way to gauge progress and impact.

"We understand the benefit of investing in areas that connect our students to career opportunities and these schools are committed to developing educational pathways for students," shared Alex Harris, senior program officer for education, Harold K. Castle Foundation. "We congratulate all of the schools and look forward to seeing the progress of the career academies."