Choosing a career path has never been easy for young people. It is hard at 18 to pick a life. Years ago, though, it may have been a little easier. Factories flourished, the manufacturing base here and nationwide was strong, and in general, products and services were made in America.
Today, there are career choices that didn't exist 30 years ago (who ever heard of a graphic artist or a sustainability engineer in 1960?), but it is also true that someone who wants to work with his or her hands had better have a skilled trade -- welding, carpentry, electrical, and so on. Selecting a college major is equally daunting; it's a big investment and one hopes to find the right field for which to prepare. Choosing a path is daunting; choosing wisely is imperative.
That's why the District works so hard to try to help young people explore careers in a meaningful way. The Career Pathways program at Niagara Falls High School is designed to help students start exploring in their freshman year. A Career Pathway is a coherent, articulated sequence of academic and technical courses starting Grade Nine and leading to an associate's or bachelor's degree, an industry-recognized certificate and/or licensure.
Pathways are available to help students prepare to study engineering, political or social sciences, become bilingual, study business, enter a college accelerated dual-enrollment pathway, or enter a pathway for art, science, or any of the many areas of study available through BOCES. These include health, culinary, law enforcement, skilled trades and many more. NFHS also offers the opportunity for students to participate in Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) classes and to become certified in MOUS, and CISCO classes and trainings teach networking and prepare students to study computer science. Students also have the chance to participate in in-depth externship experiences with the police department and hospital and at businesses like architectural firms.
Like many school districts, the Niagara Falls City School District also has programs available to help high-achieving students earn college credit before high school graduation. Now, we also have a pathway for more average-achieving students to leave NFHS with college credit -- and a lot of it.
The District received a grant from the state Education Department in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the Early College High School (ECHS) initiative. Through this program, high school students each year who are thought to be "at-risk" for not attending college are given an opportunity to apply to participate in ECHS by working with Niagara University. Fifty applicants will be successful each year. This is not an advanced placement or honors program; rather, it serves students who may be the first generation of their families to attend college or whose family income qualifies them for free or reduced meals at school. Those whose academic averages range between 65 and 85 may be eligible.
ECHS is a four-year commitment. There is zero cost to students in ECHS. The savings in college tuition realized by these students works out to be about $25,000 in tuition, if all 30 credits are earned.
There is also path for students who want to enter the skilled trades through earning an Associate's Degree through community college or entering into an apprenticeship. Students can study auto service, digital arts and so much more. Whatever the path, the District aims to provide real-world experiences through internships and externships with businesses and employers.
Currently, we are planning to launch a pathway for students to enter technology and healthcare fields by taking classes directly at NFHS; externships will also be available. Extensive thought and planning is being devoted to design a cohesive plan for students to emerge from high school exceptionally well prepared to study in these fields. In a year or two, we should be ready to fully launch these pathways, so that students who choose them have an in-depth and meaningful experience.
If you have a student at NFHS, talk with him or her about participation in a Career Pathway. If you are a business owner, and can provide students with experiences, call us and let's talk. Everyone in our community wants to see students graduate with a plan and good odds for being successful and productive. Together, we can provide "Learning For All ... Whatever It Takes."
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | Feb. 21 2012 |