I ran across an interesting report
this week with evidence that associate degrees and certificates can be a viable
path to the middle-class. The report has significant implications for Kentucky
as we begin to reform our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. We
anticipate significant recommendations and budget requests focused on CTE
reforms during the 2016 session of the General Assembly. The Colorado report
could provide a goal and key measures for this legislation – an increase in
associate degrees and certificates that are linked to key industry sectors in
Kentucky and provide the opportunity to earn a living wage.
Here are a couple of the findings:
• While Colorado, like Kentucky, offers many
pathways for postsecondary degrees, the fastest growing sector is the associate
degree.
• Short-term certificates that take less than
one year to complete and have a significant payoff within 5-10 years after
earning the certificate. With certain certificates, average earnings exceed
$50,000 compared with bachelor’s degree earnings of $55,000.
• An associate degree in applied science has
far more value than an associate degree in art or science. An associate degree
in applied science has essentially the same average earnings after 5-10 years
as a bachelor’s degree. The most popular applied science areas and those
identified as being in industry sectors that have significant job openings are
registered nursing, allied health diagnostics and fire protection.
Possible next steps for Kentucky that should be integrated into
legislation include:
• Identify industry sectors that have
significant numbers of job openings.
• Within these industry sectors identify
certificates and associate degrees that enable students to compete for
available jobs.
• All certificate and associate programs should
utilize business and industry to regularly identify and refresh the skills and
competencies needed in available jobs.
• High schools and community colleges should
work closely to align career pathways to ensure students have a seamless
experience.
• Every career pathway should lead to an
industry-recognized certificate and/or appropriate associate degree.
• Heavy emphasis should be placed on dual
credit opportunities to reduce the cost of postsecondary education as a student
works toward an industry certification and/or associate degree.
Reforming career and technical education in Kentucky should not be based
on anecdotal information. We must move forward based on hard data from industry
and economic development. Preparing a workforce for the future will be
the best economic development tool for Kentucky as we recruit business and
industry to our state and local communities.
This blog is on target to turn the circle around again. We have spent many years running around trying to mold every student into bachelor degree seeking/earning with staggering numbers of stopouts. The pathways to career models are there but need revamping so that students are connected. Operation Preparation in 8th grade is a great place to start forming the relationship between student, high school faculty/program specific, college faculty, and industry representatives. They need to see the full path and not just the paper that tells them the courses they should focus on but rather be informed of the end result for them and explain why these courses will get them there. Industry has stepped back from working in the advisory capacity in many of the programs and that needs to be fixed. Students are not prepared for those jobs because the educators are not always aware when things change and industry doesn't inform them or work with them to make sure new competencies are integrated into the curriculum. Dual credit is an awesome opportunity for high school juniors and seniors. Kentucky legislators should be working to provide technical centers with funding to purchase textbooks/training manuals, equipment, and supplies so that those programs can continue to grow and keep up with the college that they are associated with.
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