LA-23 ABCUSD: Equitable Outcomes through Expanding and Enhancing CTE Pathways and Partnerships

Pathways Improvement Scope

Through K12 SWP funding, ABCUSD seeks to ensure Equitable Outcomes through Expanding and Enhancing CTE Pathways and Partnerships to support each and every student in becoming college and career ready. Based on the success of prior K12 SWP funded programs, ABCUSD will expand its Health sector options, by creating a new Patient Care Pathway in Nursing. This pathway will be offered after-school to increase access for student populations who otherwise do not have room in their schedules as a result of courses required for graduation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projections indicate the RN workforce will increase 6% between 2022 and 2031, adding over 222,000 new positions. ABCUSD will also expand the Cloud Computing pathway established in 21-22 to ABCUSD’s new Virtual School, set to open Fall 2023. This program will support virtual learners who desire an academic environment aligned to their physical and mental needs with a high-wage, high-demand STEM pathway option that yields dual enrollment credit and certifications. In the next 5 years, there is projected to be 11,088 jobs available annually in the region for Cloud Computing due to new job growth. Additionally ABCUSD will enhance current CTE partnerships by: increasing early college credit: aligning curriculum and equipment; providing WBL and increasing exposure to CTE pathways to middle school students.

Goals & Priorities

• Develop a new CTE Nursing pathway, in partnership with Cerritos College to support students in an after-school pathway which will include: certifications, industry/college aligned curriculum and WBL. ABCUSD will also expand Cloud Computing to ABCUSD’s Virtual Secondary School in partnership with Cerritos College, which will be a fully dual enrolled, 2 year pathway in which students earn 12 units of college credit and receive compTIA and Amazon Web Services certificates.
• Coordinate meetings with community college partners to review CTE MOU’s and curriculum as well as finalize new agreements for CTE pathways identified in the LARC list of high priority sectors.
• Align with community college pathway programs by developing and purchasing college curriculum as well as updating supplies and technology to match partner colleges.
• Create an effective and efficient process to support new dual enrollment and articulated courses. A Cerritos College Liaison will continue to be contracted to provide direct support to CTE Special Population and underserved students.
• Increase CTE exposure by contracting with Thrively to support middle school students in identifying their skills and aligning with CTE pathways and career options – as well as CTE high school students in developing 4/6 year plans (including post-secondary education/career). ABCUSD will also host CTE Summer Bridge Camps to provide early exposure to high priority pathways for underserved students.
• Support ABCUSD CTE teachers with opportunities to participate in professional learning coordinated by a CTE TOSA to align curriculum to college and workforce needs, as well as develop strategies to support underserved CTE students in successfully completing pathways and earning early college credit.