Horizons, presented by Jobs for the Future, is the premier national platform for ideas and action to drive equitable economic advancement for all.
During this year’s conference, American Student Assistance (ASA), Getting Smart, and Jobs for the Future (JFF), have collaborated to curate a career readiness learning track to elevate high school intentional pathways, as well as change the mindset about diverse postsecondary pathways that include non-degree options. At present, there isn’t a single national industry event that focuses on high school intentional pathways and brings together 6-12 stakeholders with employers and workforce advocates. Together, at this year’s conference, we will provide a forum for how these two groups can work collaboratively to make high school students workforce and postsecondary education ready.
Watch the highly engaging and informative panel presentations below that focus on the topics of “Disrupting the Status Quo: Redesigning Our Education-to-Workforce Approach”; “The Crossroads of the Future of Education, the Future of Higher Ed, and the Future of Workforce Development: Where Are We Headed?”; “New Models Blend High School, Higher Ed, and Workforce Development”; “Employers Leading the Way in High School Work-based Learning”; and “Verifying Skill Competency: Non-traditional Learning Paths.”
Verifying Skill Competency: Non-traditional Learning Paths
58% of Gen Z believe that companies should hire more high school graduates who have pursued non-degree education pathways. (And about 68% of employers agree.) For the learners who head down a non-degree path, how do they validate–and communicate–the mastery of skills acquired outside the traditional learning setting? If not a degree, what signals of quality will ensure that future employees are workforce ready? Digital credentials and learner records capture accelerated skill development with project-based, work-based and competency-based learning. Join panelists as they discuss the future of validating skill mastery and learn what each sector is contributing to the future of education and workforce development.
Moderated By:
- Shawnee Caruthers, Vice President of Advocacy, Getting Smart
Panelists Include:
- Tim Taylor, America Succeeds
- Amanda Winters, Program Director, Post Secondary Education, National Governors Association
- Scott Cheney, CEO, Credential Engine
- Shad Ahmed, COO, Opportunity at Work
Disrupting the Status Quo: Redesigning Our Education-to-Workforce Approach
65% of high school graduates do not feel prepared to make college or career decisions. Only 2% have had a critical work-based learning experience and over 50% say they don’t plan to follow the traditional college degree path.
Significantly resetting how kids Learn about careers and prepare for the workforce is a multi-faceted challenge that touches all education systems and every employer, community, and learner. Today’s solutions are not universal, nor cohesive and upending one system or set of solutions will only partially solve the problem–but it won’t meet the needs of Gen Z and Gen Alpha who are craving faster, less expensive, more applicable learning paths to good paying careers.
What’s needed is a vision–without limits–that reimagines how education systems, business leaders, investors, legislators, and communities come together to create a new paradigm to better prepare learners for life. It’s time to bring the future into focus for millions of students and ask, “What if…?”
Moderated By:
- Linsey Davis, ABC News Live Anchor
Panelists Include:
- Cheryl A. Oldham, Vice President of Education Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Tequilla Brownie, Chief Executive Officer, TNTP
- Roberto Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education
- Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President and CEO of College Futures Foundation
The Crossroads of the Future of K12 Education, Higher Ed, and Workforce Development
Over 65% of GenZ said high school did little to prepare them to make education and career decisions. To compound matters, 79% of high schoolers say they want a work-based learning experience to help them test & try before the stakes are too high; yet only 2% have completed any type of real-world learning experiences. And, as the degree as a signal for workforce readiness continues to be scrutinized, over 50% of GenZ stay they are not going the degree route and 74% say they prefer to learn skills that prepare them for jobs that will be in demand in the future. Lastly, employers are seeking to expand their candidate pools; yet, if not a degree, how do they evaluate credentials and skills? We are at an unprecedented crossroad. The pandemic response, new pathways and AI Everywhere is forcing us to consider what’s next in learning. The solution calls for both secondary and postsecondary educators plus employers, and civic leaders to come together to significantly reset the learning continuum to better prepare our young people for the ever-changing workforce. Join panelists to learn more about the shifting trends in education and how we each play a role in solving these challenges.
Moderated By:
- Tom VanderArk, CEO, Getting Smart
Panelists Include:
- Jason A. Tyszko, Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education
- Dana Brinson, Senior Director, Spark NC
- Rob Magliaro, Education Lead, Grow with Google
New Models Blend High School, Higher Ed, and Workforce Development
Promising models are gaining traction and giving learners a new way to prepare for the workforce. CTE, early college, P-TECH, and other blended high school/college programs have seen an all time level of popularity as learners are searching for new paths to develop skills for future jobs. Enter stage right: blended pathways of the next generation – an emerging model that starts in high school and incorporates real-world experiences, college credit, and industry credentials to create paths to financial freedom. Join panelists as they discuss how secondary educators, postsecondary educators, and employers are approaching a reset of the paradigm.
Moderated By:
- Lauren Barack, Contributor, K12 Dive
Panelists Include:
- Jonathan Johnson, Rooted School Foundation
- Sylvia Symonds, PhD, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Corey Mohn, President and CEO, CAPS Network
- Aaron Frumin, Founder/Executive Director, Uncommon Construction
Employers Leading the Way in High School Work-based Learning
Working-to-learn experiences help learners build skills employers need and provide businesses with an expanded pipeline of talent. When 79% of high school students say they are interested in a work-based learning experience, why have only 2% completed an internship? Join panelists on a discussion on the barriers facing high school learners and 6-12 educators in implementing a WBL program and how employers, who are interested in expanding their candidate pipelines, can overcome challenges and expand working-to-learn opportunities.
Moderated By:
- Julie Lammers, SVP of Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility, American Student Assistance
Panelists Include:
- Stephanie Reisner, President, GPS Education
- Jacqueline Olliges, Head of Partnerships, Amazon Future Engineer
- Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education
- Mandy Hildenbrand, Chief Services Officer, Genesys Works