New Project Pathways program to lead students to possible career path after high school
Partnership with Broken Arrow Chamber to provide career exploration, hometown workforce development
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBroken Arrow Public Schools is launching a new program for its students called Project Pathways, which will connect students to a possible career path based on their personal interests, abilities and strengths as early as elementary school.
This program is operated in conjunction with the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce and the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation.
“There are various components that make up the entirety of our Project Pathways program. These components include career exploration at the elementary level, college and career planning at the secondary level, various career pathways, internships, earning college credit in high school and our portrait of a graduate,” said Broken Arrow Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Janet Dunlop. “We have a profound responsibility to ensure our students are college ready, career ready and life ready. This program not only extends the classroom into the community, but it increases learning through meaningful, real-world experiences.”
The ultimate goal of the program is to graduate every student with more than a high school diploma and that each has completed an internship in an area of interest.
Beginning in elementary school, students are introduced to different careers through guest readers, speakers, career days, interest assessments and more. At the secondary level, all Broken Arrow students engage in an Individual Career Academic Plan (ICAP). This student-driven process takes places throughout the rest of their high school career and enables them to understand their values and learning styles and create a vision of future career goals. Exposing students to broad career fields will help them make informed decisions about high school course selections and the various career pathways.
Aligned with Career Tech and higher education degree programs, Broken Arrow Public Schools career pathways are an integrated collection of curriculum and programs that provide students with a roadmap for future success and an easy-to-read plan of study. Research proves that students who are dialed into a career pathway are more likely to succeed beyond high school and easily transition to post-secondary education or the workforce.
“Students are never stuck in a single pathway,” Dunlop said. “Career pathways are simple roadmaps to provide students with choices and time to discover what interests them. Students can redirect their path at any time during their high school career.”
Broken Arrow Public Schools is currently partnered with more than 20 local businesses that are providing students with internship or apprenticeship opportunities.
“The number one issue we hear from businesses is they don’t have the talent they need,” Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jennifer Conway said. “When a business partners with education, they are crafting the curriculum and training the future workforce they need. What we are doing is groundbreaking, for the region and for Oklahoma.”
For more information about Project Pathways, please visit www.baschools.org/ProjectPathways.