Yesterday, the Delaware Attorney General’s office opened up Delaware to the world of the Delaware Pathways. Granted, this had to come in the form of a FOIA complaint from yours truly. But feast your eyes on all the big plans rolled around this initiative. An initiative so big Governor Markell had to issue an Executive Order when the General Assembly said no thanks to legislation creating a Steering Committee around the Pathways gig. Given how much is tied into this thing: Common Core, the state assessments, millions upon millions of dollars of state funding, outside businesses, all three of our major colleges, etc., is it any wonder this group has tried to keep things hush as long as they can? All I can say is whenever Rodel gets involved, something goes wonky with transparency. So what is “Work-Based Learning” and “Working To Learn”? The answers lie within. If you oppose this, let your voice be heard now. I do not believe it is a coincidence at all that Delaware will be handing in the first draft of their Every Student Succeeds Act state plan in the next few days. Between this and the ESSA state plan, with all the smoke and mirrors involved with that, NOW is the time to be extra vigilant. Read every single word in these documents. Every. Single. One.
The Season Of Myths 
“Expand the Dept. of Edu. and Dept. of Labor data-sharing agreement to include student level data under the Workforce Investment & Opportunity Act and in-state postsecondary institutions of higher education April 2017”
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In plain language a closet pedophile in a private business with access to the Delaware Job’s site, can see your child’s picture in the News Journal, and just from his/her name, access your child’s entire file including his psychological profile… What happens after that must be the worst fear any parent can ever have.
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Why does he force bad ideas to work together?
“Markell agreed with Ross. The governor said Bloom would not abandon the hundreds of manufacturing jobs it created and the state. He added that the company has become involved in community groups, including one of Markell’s favorite programs, Pathways to Prosperity. The program prepares high school students with in-demand jobs skills by having them work at local companies, including Bloom.”
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2016/10/29/blooms-sweetheart-deal-del-keeps-givin/92667946/
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Because that is how Jack Jack operates. He is a lot like Donald Trump in that respect… it’s the art of the deal…
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Just for fun… Assuming October is already over, here are what the checklists show have (or should have) already been done…………..
(Sorry, just easier to do a quick paste to see in full here than my own full article elsewhere).. 😦
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Develop new career pathways in partnership with employers and postsecondary institutions (@ $50,000 – $75,000) August-August annually
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Release new career pathways and award innovation grants to scale career pathways (@ $400,000) September- October annually.
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Seek private support to expand DE Pathways (@ $100,000) October annually.
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Develop and promote college & career advanced certificate for school counselors in partnership with Wilmington University August 2016
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Enroll cohorts of school counselors into advanced certificate program September 2016 (annually thereafter)
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Convene advisory group to review K to 12 school counseling programs and DE Admin. Code 545 .. September 2016
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Discuss DE Admin. Code 545 with State Board of Education January 2016 (typo?) (In timeline at January 2017 spot).
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Complete career & technical education course code rollover to support common transcript project November 2016 (close, keep an eye on this)
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Update DE labor market data for mid-Atlantic, state, cluster, pathway level, and standard occupation code in partnership with Dept. of Labor..Octovber 2016 (updated every 2 years afterwards)
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Publish labor market reports defined by NAICS industry codes that include real-time data in partnership with Del Tech (@ $15,000) October (annually)
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Convene DE Pathways Steering Committee (1st annual meeting) October 2016
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Hire Delaware Pathways Director (@ $145,000) (ongoing)
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Establish the workforce intermediary at DTCC September 2016
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Conduct secondary and postsecondary needs analysis for work-based learning in partnership with Dept. of Edu… October 2016
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Develop framework to scale work-based learning in grades 7-14 November 2016 (soon, keep an eye out)….
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Implement Del Tech Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) software December 2016 (should already be starting to meet that deadline)
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Map student scholarship opportunities through the Dept. of Edu., Office of Higher Education, and Dept. of Labor… November 2016
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Develop year-over-year funding targets and priority areas to generate capital August 2016
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Develop year-over-year budget and internal fiscal map August 2016
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Work with Governor’s office to develop DE Pathways fiscal request through state budget cycle and Governor’s recommended budget.. September (annually)
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Ensure partners advocate and support the public August – April
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Work with steering committee to develop plan for partners and advocates to meet with Joint Finance Committee to promote DE Pathways and the need for public funds .. October -April annually)
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Develop a social media marketing campaign using multiple platforms September 2016
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Regularly update social media content including school success stories, student profiles, partner op-eds, etc. Design and release promotion/success stories … Ongoing
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Launch http://delawarepathways.org website with information and resources for students, parents, employers, and funders October 2016
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Launch blog and website interactives.. October 2016
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Analyze web traffic, unique website visitors, and social media metrics.. quarterly…
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Conduct a SWOT analysis and develop a communications report to identify next steps and coordinated outreach for DE Pathways– May 2016
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Develop a communications plan outlining key marketing work, messages, talking points, and workflow calendar for 2016-19.. June 2016
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Create one-page materials for each career pathway, with course sequence, career ladders, credentials and college credit, salary ranges, and labor market information September 2016
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Develop “tool kits” with information and resources for students, parents, and employers — September 2016
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“In July 2016, the Delaware combined state plan under WIOA (which includes the Carl D. Perkins Act) was approved” ???
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Partners across the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health & Social Services, in addition to the Delaware Economic Development Office, community organizations, and other state and federal programs that promote education and workforce development, have met routinely in consultation with the DE Workforce Board to develop and submit the combined state plan. ???
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n June 2016, the Dept. of Edu. transitioned CTE course codes to align with the national career cluster and pathway coding system. This design provides a taxonomic scheme to track, assess, and report data for CTE and career development activities. ???
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In June 2016, the Dept. of Edu., through action by the Delaware State Board of Education, revised Regulation 1559 Skilled and Technical Science to provide additional opportunities for industry professionals to enter the classroom. ???
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In July 2016, the Dept. of Edu. published guidelines for local school systems and postsecondary education providers authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to facilitate financial and programmatic accountability routines.
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In July and August 2016, the Dept. of Edu., in partnership with Del Tech, Delaware State University, and the University of Delaware, hosted teacher professional learning for the ten (10) existing Delaware Pathway programs.
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In September 2016, the Dept. of Edu. released three new career pathways in environmental science, nursing assistant, and K-12 teacher preparation.
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In September 2016, the Dept. of Edu. released the third CTE Innovation Grant request for proposals (RFP). The RFP provides targeted funding ($400,000) to support the following priorities: 1. Support the implementation of new Delaware Pathways; 2. Enhance existing Delaware Pathways programs; 3. Prepare students for continuing education and career success; and 4. Provide professional learning for CTE teachers and school counselors. Grant awards will be made in November 2016 for programming beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
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In September 2016, the National Council for Workforce Education awarded their “Program Exemplary Award” to Del Tech for work in the Advanced Manufacturing pathway. Del Tech is one of two colleges to receive this award nationally.
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In April 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu. and school system staff, hosted a series of virtual tours to showcase nationally recognized best practices in establishing and scaling WBL. Virtual tours were held with the Philadelphia Youth Network, the Boston Private Industry Council, Linked Learning in California, and the Tennessee Department of Education.
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In May 2016, staff from Del Tech developed position descriptions, salary scales, and infrastructure needs/costs to staff the Workforce Intermediary, which includes the following positions: 1. Intermediary Director; 2. School System Liaison; and 3. WBL Regional Coordinators. This work is essential to garner state and private money necessary to fully staff this project, in addition to the development of roles/responsibilities between Del Tech and partnering school system staff.
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In June 2016, staff from Del Tech developed a series of legal tools that can be used to establish paid and unpaid WBL experiences with employers for secondary and postsecondary students. Standardizing these materials makes engagement with employers far easier and ensures that legal documentation for student work placement meets state and federal labor laws. This work also helps to dispel myths about youth employment.
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In August 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu., developed a template to source traditional and real-time labor market information for broader publication and future dashboard development. The sample high-level report includes information on low-, middle-, and high-skill jobs in Delaware, wages, employee career trajectories, and workforce readiness. The sample industry report is sourced for the Computer and Information Systems industry and includes information on middle- and high-skill growth occupations, wages, career trajectories, certifications, and active employers—which is useful for pathway design and improvement.
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In August 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu. and Department of Labor, submitted the US DOL America’s Promise Grant. Grant funds would be used to expand postsecondary education programs in high-demand areas and student enrollment would largely be sourced from secondary Delaware Pathway graduates.
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In September 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu. released a WBL needs assessment survey to secondary school system staff and postsecondary faculty. This will capture feedback on recommended policy and procedural tools to scale WBL. Responses are due by November 2016.
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At its April 2016, meeting, the DE Workforce Board voted to establish Delaware Pathways as a standing sub-committee under the Board. Michael Watson, Chief Academic Officer, Department of Education, and Stacey Laing, Director Employment & Training, Department of Labor, were appointed to co-chair the committee. Mr. Watson and Ms. Laing have since appointed members of the Delaware Pathways group and New Skills for Youth team to serve on the committee.
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In April 2016, the Dept. of Labor hosted a partner showcase to frame the statewide vision for the one-stop system and to showcase required, core, and other partner programs under WIOA. More than 200 staff from state agencies, community organizations, and other partners attended.
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Since April 2016, the Dept. of Labor has hosted monthly convening meetings to dive deeper into partner programs and further vet the client referral system under WIOA.
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In May 2016, the Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Edu. developed a taxonomic structure to classify all Delaware occupations into low-, middle-, and high-skill areas using Bureau of Labor & Statistics occupation data. The structure is posted on the 2016 Delaware Occupation & Industry Projections.
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In July, 2016 both agencies partnered to update the Economic Development and Employer Planning System (EDEPS) to include middle- and high-skill designations (MS & HS). Through EDEPS, every Delaware occupation can be sorted using MS and HS characteristics or by cluster/pathway, by occupation (SOC), by employment growth (%), employment change (#), and average wage ($#). This data corresponds to Dept. of Edu. requirements to conduct labor market research for career pathways.
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In June 2016, the public comment period for the draft Delaware Pathways strategic plan closed. The most common piece of feedback was about the need to clearly define services for youth with disabilities. As a result, staff from the Dept. of Labor, Division of Vocation Rehabilitation joined the Delaware Pathways planning team and the work plan under priority three was revised to include a more robust strategy to serve youth with disabilities.
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In June 2016, the Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Edu. conducted the initial data run to match the 2014-15 exiting student cohort to employment and wage data provided through unemployment information. There was a 40% match rate for secondary students. This work is based on a finalized an agreement to share employment and wage data for federal workforce programs, which includes adult education, IDEA, and Perkins.
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In June 2016, the Dept. of Labor received a grant to plan for the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (both apprentices and employer sponsors).
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In September 2016, the Dept. of Labor, in partnership with postsecondary Perkins providers and the Dept. of Edu., submitted a proposal for the ApprenticeshipUSA Expansion Grant. The state intends to build upon Delaware Pathways to link appropriate career pathways in secondary schools to apprenticeship programs for related occupations.
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In August 2016, the Dept. of Labor, in partnership with Del Tech, Dept. of Edu., and other community organizations, submitted the US DOL Disability Employment Grant. Grant funds would support youth with disabilities to enroll in and complete Delaware Pathways programs and create on-ramps for youth with disabilities to access additional employment opportunities. Unfortunately, this grant was not awarded.
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In April 2016, Del Tech received a four-year $720,000 grant from Delmarva Power to create an energy career pathway and expand postsecondary education programming in the same occupational area. Del Tech and Dept. of Edu. partnered with Delmarva Power and other employers to develop coursework for the energy pathway which will be piloted in the 2016-17 school year.
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In July 2016, the Dept. of Edu. and Del Tech received a two-year $250,000 grant to support the Readiness with a Purpose Project. The project provides support to CTE students who have not yet met English Language Arts requirements through the creation of a series of just-in-time learning modules mapped to PSAT/SAT diagnostic data and a Foundations of College English course.
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In July 2016, the Dept. of Edu. and Del Tech received a $270,000 grant for the Dept. of Labor to ensure at-risk youth enroll in and complete the Advanced Manufacturing Pathway. This grant ensures youth who are economically disadvantaged or have another barrier to high school graduation can access a career pathway that provides multiple industry credentials, paid work experience, and fifteen (15) early college credits. Funds also support career coaching for students.
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In September 2016, Del Tech received a one-year $100,000 grant to launch the workforce intermediary. These funds will be used to hire a Workforce Intermediary Director who will oversee WBL activities at the secondary and postsecondary levels.
Crosswalk to NSFY:
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In September 2016, the DE Business Roundtable received a one-year $50,000 grant from Bank of America to scale Delaware Pathways. This money will be used to enhance the $400,000 Innovation Grant sponsored by the Dept. of Edu. and will be granted directly to eligible school system(s).
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In September 2016, DBREC provided a $50,000 grant to support the workforce intermediary for Delaware Pathways and a $25,000 grant to support the state’s continued membership in the national Pathways to Prosperity Network.
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In May 2016, the Delaware Pathways team and Strongpoint Marketing conducted a communications audit. The process outlined effective Delaware Pathways outreach activities that engaged students, parents, educators, and employers. Additionally, the process distilled communication priorities to include expansion of the Delaware Pathways website, social media campaign, and a series of Delaware Pathways events.
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In August 2016, the Delaware Pathways team launched phase one of the communication plan. As a result, Strongpoint has completed: 1. Updates to the http://delawarepathways.org website; 2. Toolkits for employers and parents with turn-key information about pathway programs and partnering schools; 3. Materials for schools to promote Delaware Pathway programs; and 4. Launch of a social media campaign.
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In September 2016, 1,292 high school students are enrolled in Del Tech dual enrollment courses, representing an increase of 126% since the fall of 2013. Further, 65% of students are enrolled through dual enrollment agreements, 32% are enrolled in the Academic Challenge program, and 3% are enrolled at Delaware Tech attending classes on campus.
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The takeaway from all this should be that lobbyists are running our state, not our elected representatives. Keep in mind, all this was defeated (or not passed by the General Assembly), but signed in by executive order over summer.
It is obvious this has been planned for a long time and is running independently in the dark under all elected government authority and interaction.
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That’s it? Chump change, LOL! No kidding this was planned in the dark. They will say it was all part of the federal WOIA plan and all that. I would love to see the 800 public comments they got for their WOIA state plan. Every single one of them. I obviously have some more digging to do with this, but it aligns very well for something VERY SPECIAL coming out next week. Did I mention that is a week before the election? No? That is a week before the election… 🙂
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Oops… Comment kicked into moderation…
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Rumor has it that there is $6 million in public funds earmarked for 3 yrs. and private donors will be solicited by Rodel and United Way.
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I did see in the docs that Rodel and United Way will be begging for money on this. How can there be $6 million earmarked for it? Is this already in the epilogue language?
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