1. PAWS 4 Page 5

2.  No! Career/Technical Pathway programs offer a broad range of training for a wide variety of career pathways and many aspects of a broad range of industries. This is an important departure from vocational education done in the past, which has focused on preparation for specific entry-level jobs.

3.  Career/Technical Pathway programs incorporate occupational skills into the broader knowledge and competencies necessary for long-term success in many industries or career post-secondary programs.

4.  Absolutely not! In traditional education, academic and career/technical instruction were artificially divided, to the disadvantage of students and teachers. One of the chief aims of Career/Technical Pathways education is to integrate academic and technical preparation.

5.  Pathways also put content to be learned in the context of work and career preparation, with a contextual approach. Students acquire the background and skills they need for the workplace or for further education.

6.  Academic success and integrated technical coursework are important components of Career/ Technical Pathway programs.

7.  Yes! All students must consistently pursue more rigorous course work and fulfill their maximum potential.  Students who focus on achievement and concentrate their effort in career-related coursework will be prepared for success in their education beyond high school.

8.  Remember: The total number of jobs in America has remained relatively consistent for the last 50 years.  However, the number of unskilled jobs has dwindled considerably. More importantly, the number of jobs requiring specific skills and training has grown considerably and will continue to grow as the skilled workforce ages and retires.

9.  Students today have many important decisions to make in their lives. One of the most important decisions students will make is a career choice. High School is a critical time to begin the process of identifying career interests based on personal choices and preferences.

10.  High School is also a good place for students to get actual training and experience with areas of career interest to help them make informed choices about their future.

11.  Locating education and training needs for possible career choices will prove to be a course of action that needs to be well planned.

12.  It is also important to consider employment trends. Students who pursue 4-year degrees in college majors that have few employment opportunities may be saddled with college debt and no skills for becoming employed. This makes career exploration more important so that the student networks and connects with resources and experiences like internships, job shadowing, and part-time or seasonal employment.

13.  What is the REAL GOAL? A college diploma or a successful career that will sustain and support oneself as an adult?  Is a four-year degree the ONLY path toward success?  What are options other than a four-year college degree?

14.  Do jobs requiring a four-year degree always pay higher wages than jobs that require less education? Are there high wage careers that do not require a four-year college degree?  Are successful adults mostly college graduates?  What determines success for you?

15.  Do most students who are admitted to college actually graduate?  Do most college students graduate in four years?  Do most college graduates find work in their chosen field of study?

16.  Do most occupations require good communication and math skills?  Why are employers so anxious to hire employees that can demonstrate good attendance and good work ethics?  How much college debt is reasonable to assume in a job market that requires trade and technical training?

18.  Get the facts first. What is the wage difference between High School Dropouts and High School Graduates?  High School dropouts are 72% more likely to be unemployed and earn 27% less than high school graduates.

19.  Occupations that typically need some type of training beyond high school for entry are projected to grow the fastest during the 2010-20 decade. Of the 30 detailed occupations projected to have the fastest employment growth, 17 typically need some type of postsecondary education.

20.  1950: 60%--unskilled 20%--skilled 20%-- professional  1991: 35%--unskilled 45%--skilled 20%-- professional  2010 20%--unskilled 57%--skilled 23%-- professional

21.  What predicted percentages of the total labor force will each of the following job skill categories comprise in the next two decades: unskilled, skilled, and professional?  15%--unskilled 65%--skilled 20%-- professional

22.  Less than 30% of students who attend a four-year college complete a BA/BS degree in five years or less.

23.  In 2010, almost 62% of the jobs required at least a two-year or four-year college degree.  The trend is toward more education, particularly toward technical and occupational training.  In 2000, 25% of all jobs required a degree; by 2020, more than 75% will.

24.  TRUE. Having an education doesn't guarantee you a job. But the unemployment rate is higher for the less educated. College and vocational school graduates have the lowest unemployment rates.

25.  Studies of young workers show the average person changes jobs at least six times from age 18 to 27. You will change jobs as you gain new responsibilities or as your interests change.  Also, employers will be changing the way they do things because of economic conditions, new technology, or improved management operations.

26.  Community College $1,374 to $1,964  Technical College $1,202 to $1,446 (HOPE Grant covers cost)  Private Technical School $1,900 to $12,779  State College $4,222 to $6,044  University $6,130 to $8,356  Private Colleges/University $9,205 to $33,700

27.  Consider this question: What is the average amount of college debt accumulated by a student at the end of 4 years in college?  Answer: Students who graduated from college in 2010 with student loans owed an average of $25,250, up 5 percent from the previous year. (NY Times, Nov 2011)

28.  Also note: Tuition increased nationwide 8.3% over the past year. (ABC News, October 2011)  REMEMBER: HOPE GRANT AND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP COVERS A PERCENTAGE OF TUITION ONLY FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

29.  Take the time to examine these links for more data to help you make good decisions about your educational and career future:  GACollege411: https://secure.gacollege411.org  The Technical College System of Georgia: https://tcsg.edu/  The University System of Georgia: http://www.usg.edu/  Go Build Georgia: http://gobuildgeorgia.com/why/