CONNECTING ACTIVITIES SCHOOL TO CAREER
CONNECTING ACTIVITIES SUPPORT
Connecting Activities is a statewide network, organized through the sixteen MassHire Workforce Boards, connecting employers and schools to support work-based learning and other career development education activities for students.
The MassHire Workforce Boards provide a regional system of support for high schools and high school students, to engage in career immersion learning opportunities for career readiness through Connecting Activities. Programming exposes students to a variety of career opportunities based on labor market research and allow for targeted workforce and career skills development, career counseling, and elements of experiential and work-based learning. Additionally, through Connecting Activities each MassHire Board offers at least one annual regional convening open to all schools in the region to provide school and district staff with updated regional workforce data, reflection on regional work-based learning opportunities, opportunity to learn of resources and best practices related to providing high quality career immersion activities.
Connecting Activities Priorities include:
Increasing the number of students placed in work-based learning immersion experiences (e.g., internships, whether paid or for school credit, pre-apprenticeships, career capstones, etc.) and youth employment aligned to student interest and planning, including where schools have implemented MyCAP, documented and aligned in student MyCAP.
Increasing the number of employers partnering with districts/schools to provide career development opportunities to all students. A deliberate focus should be on WBL opportunities in high wage, high demand and other fields identified as growth areas that will provide family sustaining wages in the Commonwealth.
Supporting the efforts of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Executive Office of Education (EOE) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) to improve equity and access to career development education opportunities for underserved student populations. (Including underserved racial/ethnic populations, low-income students, English learners and students with disabilities as well as students from cities and towns with high youth unemployment)
Supporting school and districts’ efforts to increase MyCAP implementation for all students.
For more information on the initiative, see the MA DESE website: http://www.massconnecting.org/ and http://www.doe.mass.edu/connect/.
For more information contact one of the local Partnerships:
Springfield School-to-Career Partnership – Serving Putnam Academy, Sci Tech, Springfield High, Renaissance, Central, Commerce, Duggan and the Conservatory for the Arts Schools – Employment Office (413) 787-7100
“River West” Schools – Serving Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative/Career Tech, Gateway Regional, Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional and West Springfield High School, N’Tasia Meadows, (413) 755-1367
“River East” School-to-Career Partnership – Serving Belchertown, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Hampden-Wilbraham, Pathfinder Technical High School Quaboag Regional and Ware, Amy Scribner, (413) 283-5051
Holyoke School-to-Career Partnership – Serving Holyoke and Dean Vocational High Schools, Julia Gillis, 413-534-2020 x1143
Chicopee School-to-Career Partnership – Serving Chicopee High and Comprehensive High Schools, Kara Blanchard, (413) 594-3517