1 Bridges to Opportunities Workforce Development for English Language Learners Conference LaGuardia Community College Career Pathways 101 By Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada

2 Defining Pathways A set of connected courses and programs which enables students to combine school and work and advance overtime to better jobs and higher levels of education and training, including four-year degrees. Dr. Davis Jenkins, UIC Career Pathways Primer and planning guide

3 A Practitioner’s Definition A clearly and structured set of academic bridges, courses and programs that articulated prepared students to meet the basic and technical skills and/or credentials needed to successfully enter to an specific level of an industry’s career ladder and to advance within it. Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada Program Director Instituto del Progreso Latino

4 Essential Components of an Effective Career Pathway Partnership / Collaborations. Defined Career Ladder ( skills needed and compensation). Bridges ( literacy, career, technical, degree ). Articulations. ( credit, teaching, resources, employers ). Contextualized curriculum. Project based assessments. Academic and none academic Support services. Financial aid available to participants

5 © Prepared by: Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada ADMISSIONS PROGRAM “As It Was In Fall 1999” 1600 applicants TABE ENG/MATH Review 6.0– Students

6 AN INCLUSIVE ADMISSIONS MODEL FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS © Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada

7 AN INCLUSIVE ADMISSIONS MODEL FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS Developed by Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada

8 FACILITATING ADVANCEMENT IN A CAREER PATHWAY THROUGH ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS VESL + Manufact + Career + Basic + Advance + AAS+ BA Bridge Bridge Cert. Cert. Technical Supervisor $ Sociallyvisible professional member of organizations & clubs, source of information to family and friends VESL + Manufact + Career + Basic + Advance + AAS Bridge Bridge Cert. Cert. Skilled Technician Journeymen $ Inspired to complete a professional degree, involved in community & school activities, member of school council VESL + Manufact + Career + Basic + Advance Bridge Bridge Cert. Cert. VESL + Manufact + Career + Basic Bridge Bridge Cert. Cert. VESL + Manufact + Career Bridge VESL + Manufact Bridge Contextual ESL 5– 6 ESL 3– 4 ESL 1– 2 Entry Level Technology Apprentice $ Entry Level Skilled Jobs $ 8.73 Semi-Skilled Jobs $ 7.00 Unskilled Labor & Jobs $ 6.00 Physical Work $ 5.45 Able to plan family and personal future, interested in initiating a career or its own business, file their own tax return, critical thinking Able to read and understand technical literature, complete work, school, and government forms, maintain a conversation on day to day topics, able to discuss news Good understanding of laws, rights and obligations, write short letters, good understanding of school system and careers Able to ask for directions, and use of short sentence, first communication in second language Remove fear of living in an unfamiliar environment Impacting Employability Impacting Social/Family (60 Credits in IAI) (17 Credits in Escrow) (10 Credits in Escrow) (GED Assessment TABE) (5 Credits in Escrow) © Prepared by Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada

9 NEED ASSESSMENT In Chicago, Latinos (25% of the population)* are virtually invisible at the LPN or RN level (less than 1%)*. Primary reasons behinds those numbers are low literacy levels, low English proficiency, and personal and family employment barriers. In order to move Latinos out of, what are for them, dead-end jobs, “Carreras En Salud” must begin their work with Latinos at the Certified Nurse Assistant skill Level. * Data source: Census’ Current Population Survey, 2000

10 ESL Health Context IDPL/HPVEC VESL CNA context IDPL CNA HPVEC Pre LPN A ENG 99 – MATH-PC2 Pre LPN B ENG 100 – MATH PC! LPN Wright College RN schools 16 weeks 12 months EKG, Phlebotomy “Carreras en Salud” Model Prepared by Dr. Ricardo A. Estrada, Project Coordinator 16 weeks BIO 226, Math 118 ENG 101, PSY weeks ENG Grade level Pre LPN-A or CNA ENG Grade level 8-10, CNA 16 weeks ESL Grade level 6th GED, Compass test PCT NCLEX-PN NCLEX_RN $9-12 $14-16 $20-27$32-36

11 More Information?? Institute for The Latin Progress Ricardo A. Estrada, MBA, Ed.D.