Career Pathways and Related Metrics

Career Pathways and Related Metrics

By CRTC Director Steve Rothenberg

The CRTC has updated its core vision and beliefs to better align to a new set of emerging metrics that define the 21st century college and career readiness level of a student.  

A national movement is well under way to recognize students who pursue rigorous and relevant career pathway education goals while in high school. This vision is timely because it is clearly defining (and celebrating) the significant accomplishments of a very wide swath of students. Many states see this approach as a core element of their combined educational and economic strategic long-term plan.

At the CRTC we define career readiness as follows (context is a current CRTC student):

• Engaging in internships and job shadows with career professionals
• Earning nationally recognized industry certificates and/or licensure
• Completing numerous college courses (with transcripts)
• Acquiring (with evidence) industry-ready practical skills
• Demonstrating (with evidence) employability/work-ready soft skills
• Attaining targeted, career-specific writing, presentation, and math skills
• Working in an entry-level position in the industry
• Developing the beginnings of a professional network

The State of NH is pursuing a large, 3-year grant sponsored by JPMorgan/Chase to focus on education around career pathways and readiness.  The goal would be to flesh out these types of metrics and educate all students and parents on their definition and value.  The false stigma of pursuing a career and not going to college needs to be debunked.  College or a training experience is seen as a more strategic (and not default) option in this model.

Lastly, the big economic umbrella for this movement is the 65 by 25 movement.  New Hampshire has a target of 65% of the adult population to possess a degree or advanced industry certificate by the year 2025.  The basic premise is that if we do not meet this mark, we will not be competitive with other states and countries.  Presently, without changing the course, we are cruising towards the 54% mark.  There are many groups, including business and industry, actively working to develop new methods to make this happen.