Why is this contract needed? 

A solid foundation in workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, technology, life skills, and budget basics is critical to postsecondary success. The School District of Philadelphia's (District) Career Readiness Power Skills Pre-Apprenticeship program prepares students for entry into employment, registered apprenticeship programs, or further education in any career field. The program includes classroom instruction and national industry-recognized certification. During this summer program, students will have the opportunity to learn teamwork, communication and decision-making skills needed to find and keep employment through courses such as critical thinking, problem solving, and interpersonal communication. Benefits of the program include individualized career counseling and support, resume development, and job search and interview preparation. Additionally, students will have access to ACT WorkKeys, an assessment that tests students' job skills in applied reading, writing, mathematics and workplace skills. ACT WorkKeys are designed to be applicable across many career fields and scores are based on job profiles that help employers select, hire, train, develop and retain a high-performance workforce.  This summer we will be able to serve up-to 96 students.

How is this work connected to the District’s plan to achieve Goals & Guardrails?

The District’s vision is for all students to thrive, succeed, and lead in a global society. This drives the mission to provide an excellent public school education and ensure all children graduate from high school ready to succeed, fully engaged as a citizen of our world.  Every student needs to have the core academic knowledge and opportunity of experience that will prepare them for post-secondary success. Providing students with well-rounded experiences and valuable opportunities to learn essential career skills helps to achieve the Goals & Guardrails.

How will the success of this contract be measured?

The success of this contract will be measured by the number of students who successfully complete the program by earning one industry certification, score gold or above on the ACT WorkKeys exam, and complete the state approved information technology pre-apprenticeship program.

When applicable, is this an evidence-based strategy? If so, what evidence exists to support this approach?

According to Forbes, as more and more job activities become automated, soft skills, which cannot yet be replicated by machines, have become more important. In 2017, Deloitte also reported that "soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030" and that hiring employees with more soft skills could increase revenue by more than $90,000. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that employers view "soft" skills as even more important to work readiness than reading, math, and arithmetic. This demonstrates the importance of ensuing that students have opportunities to learn these valuable skills which have become significant factors of success.