Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Career Pathway?
A career pathway is a broad category that encompasses numerous occupations sharing a common theme. This broad theme gives students a context for connecting what they are learning across a wide spectrum of academic/technical subject areas.
Mississippi Career Pathways, aligned with the national 16 Career Clusters, are designed to expand options and opportunities for all students. They provide a map to reinforce academic learning by demonstrating direct application of classroom learning to the world of work. Mississippi Career Pathways enable students to gain a practical understanding of the broad range of career, occupational, and educational options that are open to them, thereby helping students gain a better understanding of their own interests and potential. They use the pathways to connect those interests to future education and career options. In cooperation with the counselor and parents/guardians, students are equipped to develop goals and plan for their career by making well-informed decisions.
All students will complete the following:
Grade Course
7th Information and Communication Technology I
8th Information and Communication Technology II
9th Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Applications
All students will have the choice to complete the following:
Grade Course
10th Introduction to selected MS Career Pathway
11th Year 1 of in-depth Career Pathway study
12th Year 2 of in-depth Career Pathway study and Co-op
How were Mississippi Career Pathways developed? Who were the members of the Advisory Committee from which the Career Pathways originated?
The national organization for state vocational directors developed 16 Career Clusters based on national economic needs and asked state directors to customize state clusters based on specific needs in the state. Specific pathways have been developed based on job demand and aligned with career information in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco/). Also, the Department of Labor information for Mississippi (researched by the Institutions for Higher Learning Research Center) was used to develop the seven MS Career Pathways. Twenty-eight jobs were found to have the most potential growth in the state in the next five years.
Industry members, superintendents, principals, community college personnel, and former state board members were consulted during the original development of the Mississippi Career Pathways.
What are the MS Career Pathways? What courses of study will be involved in each MS Career Pathway?
The Office of Vocational Education and Workforce Development and the Research and Curriculum used research to determine the seven Mississippi Career Pathways that are listed below. These pathways are not finalized. Please see question 4 for more details.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Courses:
Building & Grounds
Farming, Fishing, & Forestry
HealthCare
Courses:
Health Care
Personal Health
ConstructionandManufacturing
Courses:
Construction
Installation
Manufacturing Plastics
Manufacturing Metal
Transportation
Courses:
Auto Body
Auto Service
Diesel
BusinessManagementandMarketing
Courses:
Finance & Economics
Marketing
Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math
Courses:
Arts (Design)
Arts (Graphics)
Architecture & Engineering
Networking and Programming
Note: The Arts (Design) course may be moved to the Human Services Career Pathway.
Human Services, Fine Arts, and Humanities
Courses:
Early Childhood Education
Food Preparation and Services
Are the MS Career Pathways finalized?
No. In the spring of 2007, the current job market in Mississippi will be re-analyzed to determine what courses should be developed to provide industry with highly skilled workers. The Department of Labor information for Mississippi and other qualitative and quantitative research will be used to determine what industry-specific credentials, knowledge, and skills are needed for work entry, community college entry, and IHL entry in Mississippi. Mississippi Career Pathways and courses may be changed based on this research.
In the spring of 2006, an Advisory Committee for each pathway will be developed. This Advisory Committee will consist of industry members, Community College administration and faculty, Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) administration and faculty, secondary administrators, and secondary academic and vocational teachers. Data from the Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Manufacturing Association, nomination forms, and other resources will be used to develop this committee. Information from each member will be collected documenting proof of their expertise. Advisory Committees will consist of:
- Industry Representatives
- Instructor from the Related Community College Program
- Instructor from the Related IHL Program
- Secondary Vocational Instructor(s)
- Secondary Academic Instructor
- Secondary Vocational Director
- Secondary Academic Administrator
- Program Coordinator
- Instructional Design Specialist
- Curriculum Project Manager
- Curriculum Coordinator
- RCU Director
What will be included in the Career Pathway curricula?
The research- and standards-based Mississippi Career Pathway curricula will be based on industry-specific standards, Mississippi Curriculum Academic Standards, National Educational Technology Standards for Students, and 21 st Century Skills standards.
How will the MS Career Pathway curricula be developed?
Career Pathway Advisory Committees will work to develop a list of industry-specific competencies and objectives needed for each big cluster and then for each pathway. Also, the committee will discuss articulation and dual enrollment options. The committee will determine equipment needs for each course, keeping in mind options available through the Mississippi Virtual Public School.
High school academic and vocational instructors will then meet to develop research- and standards-based teaching and assessment strategies, as well as rubrics for competencies, and to recommend reference materials.
How will Mississippi Career Pathways be implemented?
The Mississippi Department of Education will ask the state legislature for funding over a 5-year period. The timeline of implementing the Mississippi Career Pathways will depend on the amount of funding from the state legislature.
How will Career Pathways be delivered?
Curricula for the 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th grade courses will be based on hours of instruction.
How will Career Pathways affect traditional vocational courses? How will Career Pathways affect Vocational Education Skills Programs?
Forty-nine 2-year secondary vocational programs will be streamlined to approximately 10 introductory courses as well as approximately twenty 2-year vocational programs as outlined in question #3 above.
Transportation Pathway:
The transportation pathway will consist of a 10 th grade introductory course that may include topics related to employability skills, safety, tools, measurement, basic theory, and other basic units related to the pathway. As they currently do, students may then complete a more specific 2-year program of study related to automotive body, automotive service, or diesel service. For example, the automotive service course may include topics such as electrical systems, brakes, engines, and steering and suspension. These programs of study will prepare students to be able to complete industry certifications.
Construction and Manufacturing Pathway:
The construction and manufacturing pathway will consist of a 10 th grade introductory course that may include topics related to employability skills, safety, tools, measurement, basic theory, and other basic units related to the pathway. As they currently do, students may then complete a more specific 2-year program of study related to construction, installation and service, or manufacturing. For example, the construction course may include topics such as carpentry, electrical, masonry, and plumbing. These programs of study will prepare students to be able to complete industry certifications.
How will Career Pathways affect vocational teachers?
All vocational teachers will need retraining in order to effectively deliver the high-level MS Career Pathway curriculum content. Requests for funding will be made during the 2007 – 2012 legislative sessions. Funding for retraining all MS vocational education personnel (administrators, teachers, staff, counselors, and career center technicians) will be included in this request.
What funding will be appropriated from the state level when implementing Career Pathways?
A request for funding will be made during the 2007 – 2012 legislative sessions. The following will be included in the:
Lab/Classroom/Equipment Upgrades
- ICT I Courses
- ICT II Courses
- STEM Applications Courses
- Vocational Courses
- WE WORK Career Centers
Curriculum & CPAS Development
- Secondary Vocational Courses
- WE WORK Career Centers
- Special Populations Programs
- Postsecondary Vocational Courses
Professional Development
- ICT Educators
- STEM Applications Educators
- Vocational Course Educators
- WE WORK Career Center Technicians
- Academic and Vocational Counselors
- Special Populations Educators
- Academic and Vocational Administrators
Increased Teacher Units
How will Career Pathways affect regular students?
MS Career Pathways will raise the level of student expectation in vocational courses in order to prepare students to be productive citizens and members of Mississippi’s workforce. Students will be challenged with rigorous, problem-based, and real-world scenarios that prepare them to work in occupations that are expected to experience growth in Mississippi in the future. All MS Career Pathway courses will include a strong academic component to help prepare students to keep up with the ever-changing demands on them as members of a vibrant and global workforce. Academic, dual credit, and articulation options will be researched and developed during the curriculum writing process to ease the transition to related programs in community colleges and universities.
How will Career Pathways affect special education students?
Special education students will not be forgotten or overlooked. Vocational education instructors will continue to utilize the differentiated instructional suggestions listed on each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) to deliver instruction. The Special Populations instructor will continue to be available for remediation.
Will programs be closed when Career Pathways are implemented?
Some programs will be converted to meet industry needs and to prepare students for the Mississippi job market. Current programs will be converted into the approximately 20 pathway courses. Instructors from these programs will have the opportunity to be retrained to effectively teach programs converted into Mississippi Career Pathways. More information will be available to all stakeholders after research is compiled in the spring of 2007.
Is school district participation in Career Pathways optional or mandatory? Should a district elect not to participate in Career Pathways, will funding be provided to support and maintain current programs?
All 2-year vocational courses will be converted to a Mississippi Career Pathway. Perkins IV states that schools must offer one Career Pathway. If schools do not offer Career Pathways, they will not be eligible to receive federal funding.
How much funding to date has been expended in creation of Redesign? What is the source of this funding?
A limited amount of funding has been spent in the creation of Redesign. The Research and Curriculum Unit staff has researched this initiative.
Redesign seems to be focused on career/technical programs. What changes will occur in academic?
Academic courses will increase rigor and relevance. Each pathway consists of different exit points (GED, Industry, Community College, and IHL). Each exit point contains a Curriculum Map, otherwise known as a program of study. Mississippi Career Pathways is an educational initiative that will affect academic education, vocational education, administrators, and counselors.
Components of Redesign are already in place through the Tech Prep Initiative. How is the Redesign approach different?
Many of the components of Redesign are in place. The Tech Prep of 1995 is not the Tech Prep of 2006 and beyond. All components will be examined and will include an increase of rigor, current workplace skills, academic benchmarks, and industry-specific skills.
The Mississippi Career Pathway curriculum frameworks will be developed based on Mississippi industry research.
Students will have the opportunity to select from different high school exit points (GED, Industry, Community College, and IHL). Also, students will have more opportunities for dual enrollment. Finally, every Mississippi Career Pathway curriculum framework will be accompanied by an articulation agreement.
Mississippi Career Pathways are different from other states because of the focus on self-esteem and dropout prevention strategies that will be incorporated in every component of this initiative.
What can I do to help my teachers make the transition from traditional vocational education courses to Mississippi Career Pathways?
Encourage teachers to attend professional development opportunities that will expand their knowledge and skills related to teaching:
- occupation-specific skills related to the appropriate pathway course, especially for teachers who currently teach only a narrow set of skills
- general workplace readiness, such as time management, safety, and ethical behavior
- integrated math, science, and communication skills
Begin offering in-house technology literacy training to all staff members.
How many other states have adopted Career Pathways? What data are available to substantiate an increase in student achievement and dropout rates as a result of Career Pathways?
Career Pathways is a requirement of Perkins IV. All states will be required to adopt Career Pathways. Maryland, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona were examined during the development of Mississippi’s initiative. Many other states are going to implement Career Pathways in a district by district format, which would not effectively meet Mississippi’s needs for dropout prevention.
What is the WE WORK Center?
The purpose of the WE WORK Career Centers is to serve as an extension of the high school guidance counselor’s office. A media center technician will facilitate and proctor online courses from the Mississippi Virtual High School. The WE WORK Career Center will be available to students. Money will be requested for Mississippi school districts that will fund a total of 30 computers with Internet access in each WE WORK Career Center. Furthermore, administrators, counselors, and Career Center technicians will have professional development opportunities related to grant writing, assisting with scheduling, and mentoring. Many technology and community center grants could be utilized to fund this component of the Workforce Readiness Plan.
How can my school become a pilot site for the ICT courses?
School districts will have the opportunity to submit a Pilot Site application. On this application, districts must show strong administration, teacher, and facility support for the program. More information regarding pilot sites will be sent to district superintendents.
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