Description:
Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI) has had a long standing partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. Developing and implementing quality, career-connected learning initiatives and pathways for young people are core areas of expertise and practice for PAI. Starting 50 over years ago, PAI has since developed a diversified portfolio of career-development strategies grounded in lessons learned from the Career Academy model that includes: work based learning, career pathways, bridge programming, as well as 9th - grade success and data utilization supports. Because PAI integrates direct student service provision with technical assistance/professional development, the organization is uniquely qualified to continue support of this work.
PAI will work in a number of different schools to supplement instruction in various CTE Programs of Study, implementing programs supporting CTE students in the Business of Hospitality and Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathways, the Bridge program, the All Academy Model, and other various college and career supports. PAI’s initiative is to provide intense and focused college and career exposure. Working directly with students, as well as with teachers, administrators and industry/post-secondary partners, PAI’s Specialists run and/or coordinate in-class career workshops, industry site visits, Master Classes, Summer Internships, a Customer First training program, and special events and competitions. This work ties into the District’s strategic plan Anchor Goal #1 to assure that all students graduate college and career ready, as well as tying into goals for specific career-connected learning programming advocated in the District’s High School Plan. It also aligns with the City’s workforce development plan, Fueling Philadelphia’s Talent Engine, which, in Goal 1, specifically calls for preparing “Philadelphians with the skills employers need for a world-class workforce”.
Schools are selected through a combination of interest from school administration, suggestions from leadership at the District, and assessment by PAI staff that there is strong support from school administration and staff for programming supports. Individual schools or Programs of Study may change from year to year depending on the above criteria, as well as available funding. Student participation varies depending on the school, program of study, and activities included. Students opt into their CTE courses and receive additional programming supported by PAI as a result. Expected outcomes are increased engagement in school, increased student exposure to and understanding of careers, and increased number of graduates entering careers or post-secondary education.
Business of Hospitality: PAI’s Business of Hospitality initiative works in a number of different schools to supplement instruction in various CTE Programs of Study, providing intense and focused college and career exposure in the field of Hospitality. Working directly with students, as well as with teachers, administrators and industry/post-secondary partners, PAI’s Hospitality Specialists run and/or coordinate in-class career workshops, industry site visits, Master Classes, Summer Internships, a Customer First training program, as well as special events and competitions. In 2018-2019, over 800 students participated in some part of PAI’s Hospitality Initiative.
PAI's Customer First Program offered in the following schools and pathways:
Dobbins High School: Graphic Design, Digital Media. Culinary Arts, & Sports Marketing. Also offering Limited Specialty Programming in: Building Property Maintenance, Cosmetology, Barbering, Fashion Design, Network Technology, Biomedical Technology
George Washington High School: Accounting and Financial Services, Sports Marketing and Entertainment Management, and Culinary Arts.
Frankford: Culinary Arts
Abraham Lincoln: Sports Marketing
Mastbaum: Culinary Arts & Business Administration
Benjamin Franklin High School: Culinary Arts
South Philadelphia High School: Culinary Arts and Graphic Arts
Swenson High School: Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts, and Digital Media Production
Cost/Funding: This program is covered by philanthropic/public funding, totaling $625,500 for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway: PAI has worked with Parkway West High School for over ten years, culminating in the creation and implementation of their Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway, which is designed to prepare students for career opportunities in the ECE field. PAI staff support this work in many ways, working closely with teachers, industry partners, post-secondary partners, etc., to ensure all courses are aligned to the Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials, as well as CTE competencies, and by providing key supplemental experiences (WBL, industry tours, summer and school year internships, career days, career mentoring, college trips, etc.) to ensure a robust and rigorous education for all students at Parkway West. Thanks to the work of PAI staff, in partnership with Parkway West and District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund, this program now includes the first Registered ECE Pre-Apprenticeship (for 12th graders and one post-secondary year) in the State of Pennsylvania.
Cost/Funding: This program is covered by dedicated philanthropic/foundation dollars, totaling $126,982.
All Academy Model: PAI continues to support the implementation of the Career Academy Model at both Roxborough and Abraham Lincoln High Schools. This model, created by PAI in 1969, offers a structured environment that schedules students and teachers in small learning communities within schools focused on specific career pathways. The majority of our work at these two schools is currently focused on the support of a total of seven (7) Industry Advisory Councils, where PAI staff work with school administration, teachers and industry partners to create, populate, and sustain active and involved Industry Advisory Councils for each career pathway.
Cost/Funding: There is no dedicated funding for this work, rather PAI covers the cost through general operating funds. Cost per year is approximately $90,000, including both schools.
Bridge Program: Mastbaum Bridge Program - PAI supplements instruction in the Welding, Electrical and Carpentry CTE programs at Mastbaum Vocational Technical High School by working with teachers, students, and industry partners to support 11th - and 12th -grade students as they complete their high school programs and bridge the gap between school and the world of work. Through individual case management, in class workshops, industry partner participation, industry site tours, summer internships, WorkBased Learning (WBL) experiences, resume-writing instruction and more, PAI staff work closely to build industry partner relationships, as well as prepare students to have the necessary skill sets to enter the workforce upon high-school graduation and/or connect with post-secondary training and/or apprenticeships, with the goal of securing employment with life-sustaining wages and a path to career progression.
Cost/Funding: There is no dedicated funding for this work, rather PAI covers the cost through general operating funds. Cost per year is approximately $45,000.
College and Career Supports: PAI Staff work with the administration and teachers of both Furness and Paul Robeson High Schools to provide a number of college and career supports. Supports given vary by school and context, but typically include WBL and Project-Based Learning (PBL) assistance, career day coordination, college trips, industry partnerships, resume writing instruction, and more.
Cost/Funding: There is no dedicated funding for this work, rather PAI covers the cost through general operating funds. Cost per year is approximately $19,000, including both schools.
Quantifiable Outcome (2018-2019). A total of 2,073 CTE students received a total of 3,432 certifications.
Goal for next year (2020-2021). Increase certifications by 10% (approximately an additional 207 students will earn an additional 343 certifications).
Quantifiable Outcome (2018-2019). A total of 1,347 CTE students took the NOCTE exam of which 59.6% have earned competent and advanced.
Goal for next year (2020-21). It is expected that at least 66% of 12th grade CTE students who take the NOCTI exam will earn Competent/Advanced, thereby earning Pennsylvania Skills Certificates.