|
Contents
|
The month of April is speeding by with lots of events and experiences across the state, including a growing number of high schools, colleges, career academies or regional centers holding decision day or signing day events for their students to celebrate their postsecondary decisions to continue their education/training, join the military, sign on for an apprenticeship or enter directly into the workforce. (Be sure to review the opportunity below to register your event with Iowa College Aid!)
I hope many of you were able to attend and find value in the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Conference on 04/02 and Iowa STEM Council's Iowa Classrooms+Workplaces Summit on 04/10. I attended both and found them extremely beneficial and inspiring.
I was also able to attend the Build My Future career immersion event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds earlier this week with over 7,000 students. It was so fun and energizing to see students interacting with business and industry partners while testing out their hands-on skills with various tools, equipment and simulators. From construction to health care and transportation to IT, the event had a little bit of everything for students to test out!
As we near the end of the school year for most, please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, ideas or other feedback for how we can better serve you and your amazing work. Take care and keep up the great work everyone.
Sincerely,
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
The Iowa Department of Education recently awarded over $1.7 million in competitive grants to the 20 Iowa school districts below to focus on aligning secondary career and technical education programs with student attainment of industry-recognized credentials (IRCs). The Credentials to Careers grant awards will support high school students earning credentials with labor market value.
|
- Cedar Rapids
|
- Council Bluffs
|
- Fort Madison
|
- Gilbert
|
|
- Hamburg
|
- Harlan
|
- Indianola
|
- Iowa Valley
|
|
- Johnston
|
- Mason City
|
- New London
|
- Sergeant Bluff-Luton
|
|
- Sioux City
|
- South Hamilton
|
- Spencer
|
- Stanton
|
|
- Treynor
|
- Waukee
|
- Waverly-Shell Rock
|
- Woodbine
|
IRCs are certifications, credentials or licenses vetted by employers and endorsed by a nationally recognized trade association or organization in a particular industry. Credentials are available across many career pathways, including health sciences, information technology, construction, manufacturing, child development, culinary and business.
College applications. Financial aid deadlines. Changing rules and information. It can definitely be overwhelming at times for any Iowa student looking to prepare for college. But with Iowa College Aid's free Virtual College Coaching sessions, students and families can receive fast, easy assistance for their tough questions about college readiness and stay on track for important timelines and next steps.
Virtual College Coaching is an innovative practice that provides Iowa students and parents with text messaging and one-on-one assistance (from a real human, not a bot or AI) with important college preparation topics, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, upcoming deadlines, among others.
Have some free time this Summer? Want to earn some money, while also learning about local industries and companies? Consider applying to be part of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council's renowned Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program!
This program aims to build bridges between Iowa’s workplaces and STEM educators across the state. This summer professional development experience affords educators the opportunity to engage with real-world projects at local businesses, organizations and other workplaces alongside knowledgeable and skilled professionals. Past educators have said that the STEM Teacher Externships Program is one of the most beneficial professional development opportunities they have experienced.
The intended outcome is to build stronger connections between classrooms and workplaces for enrichments of career-linked learning for students. Currently, there are 100 STEM Teacher Extern opportunities at 75 different workplaces across the state.
While matches are now occurring, it is not too late for STEM teachers to sign up for Summer 2024. Please consider applying yourself and sharing with friends and colleagues at www.IowaSTEM.org/externships.
Is your high school planning a Senior Decision Day? It’s time to start planning for one of the most exciting and memorable events in a student's senior year, the time when they get to share and be celebrated for their decision to commit to grow as a productive citizen of their community by entering the world of academia, employment, military or apprenticeship.
Consider reaching out to Iowa College Aid, which is now part of the Iowa Department of Education, to receive advice and to share your event plans, such as date, time and location. Their team would like to come to your event and celebrate with you and your students. Please complete the form at the link below about your upcoming Decision Day events and your interest in being part of the broader Iowa College Aid plans in May!
Please consider taking a minute ROAR for WBL - Recognize the great work of new or existing work-based learning programs or initiatives; Offer exciting news, updates or plans; Acknowledge others with notes of appreciation or kudos; and brag a little about Rewards or awards earned for Iowa's amazing work-based learning programs, coordinators, educators, counselors, employers and other partners or support staff.
Below are a few great examples of submissions received of Iowans doing amazing work at both state and national levels! Please consider submitting your ROARs anonymously through the basic Google Form at the link below. Submissions may also be sent directly to me at joe.collins@iowa.gov.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Boone High School Senior Gracie Gustafson has won the America's Next Great Intern contest by Rubin Education. She represents Boone High School's EDGE program and beat out some great competition from across the country for this esteemed award. Congratulations Gracie!!!
- Shout out to Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) for expanding into the postsecondary world with a new pilot program at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Similar to the secondary program, there will be career readiness, on-the-job learning, projects with employers and tailored career counseling. Everyone is really excited to see how things go when the Early College Success Program in August for the 2024-2025 academic year!
- The Career Academy of Pella (CAP) hosted a Work-Based Learning Signing Event on 04/17 that included students signing up for local apprenticeship and work opportunities. Over 40 students were in attendance and they were joined by representatives from partner companies, public agencies, family, friends and others from the area.
- Sharing some great news from Oskaloosa! Special Education Work Experience Teacher, Sarah DeRonde, has been working hard to expand the Oskaloosa Spirit Café out into a new space in the community to provide training for her students to help ease the transition into the workforce. Students will gain experience in management, culinary arts, marketing, accounting, and more.
- Northern Iowa Community College (NICC) hosted their annual National Career and Technical Education signing day event recently and it was great! Students from the region signed letters of intent to continue their studies at NICC. Local employers, partners and members of the community joined to help celebrate these aspiring students.
Did you know the Iowa Department of Education has a large collection of pictures on our Flickr page? Head through the link below to view 1,000s of pictures, many from WBL experiences and events throughout the years, including the Iowa STEM Council's Iowa Classrooms+Workplaces Summit and Build My Future events this month. Spot anyone you know???
Share the Work-Based Learning Coordinator newsletter with your colleagues. Invite them to sign up to receive it in their mailbox using the following button.
Joe Collins
Work-Based Learning Consultant
Bureau of Community College and Postsecondary Readiness
Division of Higher Education
Iowa Department of Education
515-419-5190
joe.collins@iowa.gov
|
