Filling the technical education pipeline through community partnerships

1. Filling the Technical
Education Pipeline
April 30, 2013

2. Panel
2
Gerald Witmer
Administrative Director
Aaron Costenbader
Marketing Manager
Dr. Anna Weitz
President

3. Careers in 2 Years: Why?
Business retention interviews with 100+ Greater Reading
companies:
– 47% identified the lack of necessary skill sets
– 26% identified the lack of technical skills as their hiring
challenges
3

4. Careers in 2 Years: Why?
2011 Survey:
–44% of PA manufacturers have open jobs due to a mismatch between
the skills that job seekers have and those required by the job the
company has open (Source: Central Penn Business Journal)
Facts:
–24 of the 30 fastest-growing occupations require education beyond
high school—including those with technical training certifications (Source:
Bureau of Labor & Statistics)
–By 2018, 47 million job openings are projected and one-third of them
will require an associates degree or certificate (Source: Harvard experts)
4

5. Careers in 2 Years: Why?
5

6. Governor’s Manufacturing Advisory Council:
Recommendations
• Talent and Workforce Data:
– 82% of manufacturers report a serious or moderate skills gap in
their employees
– 74% of manufacturers report that the skills gap has negatively
impacted their company’s ability to expand
– 25% of manufacturing workers are 55+
– 7,639 PA manufacturing job openings (June 2012)
6

7. • Highlights:
– Develop an “Adopt a School” Program
– Industry-led standardization of skill needs and curriculum
– Better connect job seekers with job openings
– Expand and better support CTE
– Support proven strategies to increase workforce pipeline
– Create measures and support systems for educators and school
districts
7
Governor’s Manufacturing Advisory Council:
Recommendations

8. Careers in 2 Years: How
• Collaboration
– Reading Area Community College
– Career and Technology schools:
o Berks Career and Technology Center
o Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center
– Business community
8

9. Careers in 2 Years: How
• Welder: $40,000
• Electrician: $43,053
• Draftsman: $35,000
• Machinists: $38,118
• Welding Technology: $43,000
• Mechatronics Engineering Technology: $49,000
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10. Careers in 2 Years: How
• Robotics & Automation Technology:
– Robotics Technology: $27,000
– Automation Technology: $70,000
• Precision Machining and Machine Shop Technology:
– Precision Machining: $46,000
– Precision Machining Technology: $36,000
• Machine Shop: $39,000
• Electronics Technology: $49,000
• Information Technology: $56,000
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11. Careers in 2 Years: How
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12. Careers in 2 Years: How
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15. Careersin2Years.com 15

16. RMCTC: Overview
• Part Time CTC located in Reading, PA
• Serve 1,200 on ½ day system
• 30 Career & Technical Education Programs
– Engineering & Automation Technology
– Health-Dental Occupations
• Supported by the Reading and Muhlenberg School
Districts
16

17. RMCTC: Overview
• 54% Male, 46% Female
• 72% Latino, 18% Caucasian, 10% African-American
• 85% Economically Disadvantaged
• 42% Poverty
• Transient Population
17

18. Career and Technology Education in PA:
Job Ready PA
• Program Accreditation
• Statewide Curriculum
– Program of Study (POS)
• Teacher Certification
• Student Certification
• Articulation Agreements (SOAR)
• Dual Enrollment (Tech Academy)
• Student Engagement
18

19. Strategic Plan
Goal / KPI
06-07
(Baseline)
07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14
(Goal)
Students receiving the
Pennsylvania Skills
Certificate (NOCTI)
will increase by 5% per
year
33.6% 41.2% 51.8% 55.6% 71.7% 77.8% 61%
Students performing at the
proficient or advanced
level on the PSSA will
increase 2% per year
Reading
31.2%
Math
14.3%
Reading
29.8%
Math
16.9%
Reading
33.7%
Math
22.4%
Reading
30.6%
Math
18.4%
Reading
32.8%
Math
24.3%
Reading
33.7%
Math
28.7%
Reading
43.2%
Math
26.3%
Students completing a
program of study will
increase by 3% per year
(earn job title / earn
PSC / graduate)
25% 37% 41% 44% 65% 63% 43%
Student membership in
CTSO’s will increase by
3% per year
51% 61% 63% 68% 66% 72% 69%
Students attending
post-secondary
programs of study will
increase by 2% per year
32% 37% 46% 37% 39% 48% 44%

20. Careers in 2 Years and RMCTC
• Programs…
– Machine Shop Technology
– Welding & Metal Fabrication
– Electronics & Communication Technology
– Computerized Drafting Technology
– Engineering & Automation Technology (2014-2015)
• Industry-driven
• Teenage-friendly technology
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21. Technical Academy
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22. Technical Academy: Student Entrance Requirements
• Grades 10 or 11
• 3.0 overall GPA
• PSSA Math Proficiency
• PSSA Reading Proficiency
• Students must complete a college prep academic
sequence throughout high school
• Successfully complete RACC placement testing prior to
taking the final three courses on the RACC campus
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23. Technical Academy: Get a Jump on College
• The Technical Academy Provides:
– Pathway for developing advanced skills and college credits
toward an associate and/or bachelor’s degree while still in high
school, at no cost!
– Students may earn up to 18 credits. The college credits earned
while at the CTC will be tuition-free.
– All credits earned are completed courses on a college transcript
—establishing the transferability of these courses.
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24. • The Technical Academy Provides:
– Tuition for the final courses taken on the RACC campus may be
subsidized by the CTC and is dependent on state and federal
funding.
– Multiple points of entry and exit
– Opportunity to earn recognized industry certifications and
prepare for jobs that are in high demand.
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Technical Academy: Get a Jump on College

25. Technical Academy
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26. Technical Academy
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27. • Science and Technology Programs
• Non-credit certificates
• Production Technology Certificate- Production Assembler/Machine Operator
• AMIST 1 Certificate- Entry Level Maintenance Mechanic
• AMIST 2 Certificate- Maintenance Technician
• AMIST 3 Certificate- Robotics- Automation Technician
• AMIST 4 Certificate- Mechatronics Technician
• Building Analyst Certificate- Renewable Energy Auditor
• CNC Machine Operator- Computer Controlled Machine Operator
• Solar PV Installer Certificate- Renewable Energy Technician
• Solar Thermal Installer Certificate- Renewable Energy Technician
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator- PA Department of Environmental
Protection Treatment Plant Operator Certificate
27
Reading Area Community College:
Stackable Credentials

28. • Science and Technology Programs
• Credit certificates
– Nanoscience Technology
• Career Track Associate Degrees
– Nanoscience Technology
– Machine Tool Technology
– Mechatronics Engineering Technology
– Technology Studies
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Reading Area Community College:
Stackable Credentials

29. • Degree Transfer Baccalaureate Agreements
• Nanoscience:
– Millersville University
– Penn State Berks
• Mechatronics:
– Penn State Berks
– Purdue University Calumet
– California State University of PA
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Reading Area Community College:
Stackable Credentials

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Questions?

31. Greater Reading Economic Partnership
(610)376.4237
Pamela@GreaterReading.com
Aaron@GreaterReading.com
Thank You!