Major Areas of Focus for FutureForce Nebraska Initiatives
Talent Pipeline Development

Identification of Industry Pathways

1. Work with Departments of Economic Development and Labor to determine appropriate pathways for either targeted industry growth or recruitment to Nebraska and/or documented labor shortage areas in existing industries.
2. Establish industry leaders in proposed pathways to assist in development of needed strategies and materials for pipeline development in the pathway.
3. Establish appropriate steering committee within each approved pathway comprised of employers, K-20 educators and economic/workforce development personnel to guide the work of the pathway development.
4. Seek funding for development activities within the pathways

Training/Curriculum Alignment within Approved Pathways

1. Identification and validation of necessary career skills
2. Identification of existing training programs/curriculum to provide these skills
3. Development of new or updating of curriculum if needed
4. Development of new or re-energize training programs to address skill development needed in pathways.
5. Link curriculum to Think Nebraska! standards (when developed) if appropriate
6. Provide resources to integrate curriculum into schools/colleges/worker training programs

Career Awareness Resources

1. Identification of current & future careers within pathway area, including education required and earning potential
2. Identification and/or development of career awareness activities for schools/colleges
3. Provide awareness of career opportunities to job seekers
4. Link career awareness to Nebraska CareerConnections.org
5. Identify target markets for promotion of careers (parents, students, workers from other states, etc.)
6. Promote targeted Nebraska industries through the media

Identify Model for Think Nebraska! Implementation

1. Identify appropriate Nebraska Standards to use as model for Scholar designation
2. FutureForce pathway curriculum aligned with Think Nebraska!

Develop Resources to Roll Out Think Nebraska! to Schools
      1.  Develop incentive and recognition programs to encourage student participation.
      2.  Secure business/college supported incentives, internships, scholarships, etc.
      3.  Develop promotional materials

Continue Development of Website

1. Develop workforce and economic development connectivity targeted at adult population.
2. Develop postsecondary education component
3. Strengthen parent information on career exploration including information on career pathways, employment opportunities, and educational options to prepare for employment
4. Develop site to use for incumbent workers to explore options for training and education to advance or seek new career options

Promote Use of Website

1. Provide information on site to Nebraska schools and postsecondary institutions, workforce partners, economic development partners, etc.
2. Train educators/users in potential of site
3. Ensure accessibility for all Nebraskans

Enhance and Connect Resources to Site

1. Link/integrate partners and compatible sites into CareerConnections:

1. FFN Career Pathway Committees
2. Advanced Learning Partner Work
3. Business & Industry
4. Educational partners
5. Workforce Development resources
6. Economic Development resources

PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION

Professional Development

1. Create master multi-year plan for professional development to include educators, workforce development and economic development personnel as appropriate
2. Plan and conduct professional development with appropriate partners (ESU’s, postsecondary staff, workforce development and economic development personnel, etc.)
3. Provide training on creating engaging learning environments through improved teaching strategies.
4. Focus on target industries and worker recruitment – educate teachers for their role in economic and workforce development
5. Conduct leadership development training
6. Training for special populations, nontraditional employees and equity

Secondary-Postsecondary Connections

1. Invite all 2- and 4- year institutions to participate in offering articulated/dual credit courses and developing statewide articulation agreements
2. Identify and eliminate transition barriers between secondary and postsecondary education
3. Coordinate dual credit options for high school courses offered in conjunction with postsecondary institutions.
4. Articulation of seamless transition from high school to postsecondary, from two year to four year institutions.
5. Improve academic integration in career education

Technical Skill Assessment

1. Partner with employers to determine appropriate skills to assess.
2. Develop meaningful assessments for 21st Century Skills and workplace readiness skills
3. Develop assessment system for requirement in Perkins IV for technical skill assessment
4. Use skill assessment to assist in placement when transition in the education system and placement in workplace
5. Work with industry to offer skill development and assessment programs for worker training and placement and for incumbent workers looking for advancement, new skill development.

Data and Accountability

1. Create statewide systems to ease burden of data collection
2. Increase reliability of data by integrating data systems (UI record matching, Clearinghouse Data, etc.)
3. Design system for tracking articulation/dual credit, etc
4. Explore statewide licenses for data systems
5. Integrate data from education, workforce development and economic development
6. Make workforce and economic data easily available for educators to use and understand
7. Use Labor Market Information and Economic Development data to drive program development and continuation.

What Next?

While important work is being done, it is only the beginning.  Nebraska faces significant challenges.  To meet those challenges, we must address and understand the following:

• A graying workforce that will continue to shrink unless we systematically change how we think about education, business, the global economy and linkages between them.

• Understanding Nebraska’s role in a global economy.

• School is not a building, it is a process.  21st century learning is different than in the past.

• Learning is a lifetime activity, it never stops.

• Combining efforts of all stakeholders towards creating viable 21st century careers.

FutureForce Nebraska will continue to be a catalyst in meeting these challenges.