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FutureForce Nebraska
Strategy & Design Session - Executive Summary
1/18/2008
On December 12th and 13th, 2007 80 people representing a broad group of stakeholders in the future of Nebraska’s economy and workforce gathered in Lincoln for the FutureForce Nebraska Strategy & Design Session. Participants represented state and local workforce development, the Department of Labor, Department of Economic Development, Department of Education, K-12 educators, postsecondary education and a cross section of employers around the state.
Participants spent two days evaluating the overall purpose of FutureForce and the four major initiatives managed by FutureForce Nebraska. The four initiatives include The Talent Pipeline, Think! Nebraska Scholars Program, Nebraska Career Connections and Partnerships for Innovation. The targeted outcomes of this work were to identify key priorities, create goals and develop action plans. A summary of major goals and strategies determined by the participants is included in this summary.
FutureForce Nebraska
Goal 1: Create sustainability plan for FutureForce Nebraska
Strategies:
Identify major source/s of funding to provide a minimum of 2 years support for operational expenses
Coordinate with four FutureForce initiatives to identify sources of funding that match each initiatives purpose and needs
Develop and submit funding proposals to identified sources
Develop funding proposal for presentation to state Legislature that is endorsed by business and industry
Coordinate with Nebraska Career Connections to create a marketing plan to generate revenue for FutureForce Nebraska
Goal 2: Create a Marketing and Communication (Marcom) plan to promote the work of FutureForce Nebraska
Strategies:
Clearly define the FutureForce message
What is it FutureForce Nebraska has to offer?
Define the target audience
Establish communications objectives
What is expected to happen as the result of the marcom plan?
Select communication vehicles to convey the FutureForce message
Develop a budget and schedule for marcom plan
Establish communication plan within FutureForce organization
Develop and strengthen connections between business, secondary and postsecondary education, workforce and economic development through use of webinars and other virtual methods
Create awareness of FutureForce in Nebraska Legislature
Goal 3: Engage all stakeholders in FutureForce work
Strategies:
Provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to have a meaningful role in FutureForce Nebraska
Broaden diversity of stakeholders involved in FutureForce
Goal 4: Identify and address barriers to success for each of the FutureForce Initiatives
Strategies:
Develop evaluation plan that involves steering committees of each initiative and use of focus groups
Develop plan to address obstacles identified through evaluation plan
Goal 5: Eliminate duplication and combine efforts throughout Nebraska which are related to developing a well educated, highly skilled workforce
Strategies:
Inform all stakeholders in workforce development of FutureForce Nebraska efforts
Provide forum for organizations to work together and combine efforts where possible
The Talent Pipeline
Goal 1: Develop and Implement an Effective System of Operation for Talent Pipeline Initiative
Strategies:
Create and implement uniform system of operation for career pathway committees that includes a Talent Pipeline template
Expand partnerships
Identify “Industry Champions” for each pathway committee
Develop a marketing and communication program to promote career education and career awareness for students and adults
Create a “Citizen Ambassadors” program to promote career awareness and planning
Goal 2: Expand Nebraska’s Talent Pool
Strategies:
Identify existing and potential growth industries in Nebraska with high wage/high demand needs
Identify current initiatives that address shortages in high wage/high demand careers in Nebraska and coordinate with those efforts where appropriate
Create a plan to develop multiple entry points into the talent pipeline for immigrants, drop-outs and non-college bound individuals
Support and develop activities that assist career changers in retooling necessary skills
Develop engaging, experiential activities that promote career awareness for middle school and high school students
Goal 3: Develop educational tools and programs for secondary and postsecondary students to enhance relevance and real world experience while developing career skills and promoting awareness of career opportunities in Nebraska
Validate knowledge and skill statements related to targeted Nebraska career pathways
Identify or create curriculum that provides career awareness and develops skills related to targeted pathways. Should contain following elements:
Enhances relevance and real world experience through problem/application/project based learning
Builds on individual strengths and interests that engage and excite learners
Builds on foundational skills that all schools can support
Helps students focus on long term career goals rather than just getting a job
Explore opportunities to develop additional dual credit courses (Courses that count for both college and high school credit)
Develop quality internship programs for students.
Develop job shadowing and internship programs for teachers in targeted career pathways
Coordinate with Think! Nebraska Scholars on internship and job shadowing opportunities
Think! Nebraska Scholars
Key Components: Increase the college and workforce readiness of all Nebraska high school graduates by:
Increasing rigor & relevance in courses of study for all students
Increasing the number of students who receive associate’s and bachelor’s degrees or complete rigorous apprenticeship requirements
Decreasing the drop-out rate
Increasing literacy, math, science, and employability skills
Increasing student ability to apply knowledge to real world situations
Addressing student’s individual strengths/interests
Combing academic/career education & dual credit classes
Providing opportunities for students to qualify for the Academic Competitiveness Grants
Suggested Course of Study for Think! Nebraska Scholars Program:
Four years of English, three years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics), three years of science including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry or physics, three years of social studies, and one year of a language other than English.
A minimum of nine college credit hours transferable to a Nebraska postsecondary institution. Credit hours may be linked to core academic and/or career education classes.
A minimum of 2 semesters of career education coursework.
Think! Nebraska scholars must receive employability certification. (Certification is based on skills related to the Foundation and Knowledge Skills that are core to the Nebraska Career Education Model)
Think! Nebraska scholars must complete 320 hours of job shadowing and/or internship experience by graduation from high school. 100 hours of total must be spent in one career area.
Each participating student must have a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) that provides a map for achieving minimum requirements and will support a successful transition from secondary to postsecondary and career opportunities. The PLP will be completed by the 8th grade year, implemented in 9th grade and renewed annually through high school. Personal Learning Plans will follow students through at least grade 14. (Note grade 14 can include associates degree and/or professional certification)
Goal 1: Increase effectiveness of Think! Nebraska Scholars by enhancing program components and applications:
Strategies:
Define what it means to be a “State Scholar” and identify benefits of this designation
Create rigorous and relevant course of study that provides more than one path to becoming a Think! Nebraska Scholar and prepares students for entry into postsecondary education and the world of work.
Establish Personal Learning Plans for each student as a core component of the Think! Nebraska Scholars program
Develop and Implement financial incentive program to encourage participation.
Scholarships – state and local level
Tuition reduction at Nebraska institutions
Tuition and college loan reimbursement by employers
Hiring bonuses for scholars
Develop recognition program for scholars – suggestions include
Graduation recognition (medals, certificates, official designation on diploma)
Governor’s certificate of scholarship
Recognition in local news media
Recognition on FutureForce Website
Goal 2: Create a sustainability plan for Think! Nebraska Scholars
Strategies:
Promote the Think! Nebraska Scholars Program to middle & high school students
Coordinate efforts with other initiatives such as P-16 and EducationQuest
Provide opportunities for business to financially support Think! Nebraska Scholars
Seek out endowments and foundations, on local and state levels, that have missions which support education and student achievement.
Seek state support by developing a funding proposal for the Nebraska Legislature, endorsed and presented by business partners.
Goal 3: Coordinate with Partnerships in Innovation to create a professional development program for secondary and postsecondary instructors.
Strategies:
Professional development program will provide training in:
Student engagement strategies
Problem/project/application based education
Developing challenging and relevant course work
Develop course work with direct application to the business world
Nebraska Career Connections
Goal 1: Create sustainability plan that supports Nebraska Career Connections and provides revenue to other FutureForce initiatives
Strategies:
Identify value of Nebraska Career Connections (NCC) to business community
Create business plan for promotion and management of NCC
Develop and Implement a marketing plan for NCC
Integrate NCC into Nebraska teacher preparation programs
Create a “Youth Focus” group to determine if NCC appeals to young people and attracts them to the website
Goal 2: Continue development, enhancement and expansion of website to serve a broader audience
Develop component for adult job seekers
Develop links to internship and career opportunities
Add Nebraska Quality of Life Component to promote Nebraska as a place to learn, earn and live
Add component that students and adults can explore skills required in each of the career pathways
Partnership For Innovation (Note: Strategies and action plan will be determined by the PFI Leadership Council)
Goal 1: Successful secondary to postsecondary transitions for students
Goal 2: Student technical skill assessment
Goal 3: Professional development for secondary and post-secondary educators
Goal 4: Development of curriculum in emerging areas
Goal 5: Improved data and reporting systems
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