Establishes a career explorations class to integrate academic and vocational education, link secondary and post-secondary education and provide learning activities and mentoring at the work site

BILL NUMBER:S2519

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a career explorations class

Purpose

The proposed legislation will require the Department of Education to create a curriculum that provides career development and basic professional skills to high school students. There will be two main outcomes at the conclusion of these classes (1) the students will have acquired basic knowledge to search, apply and secure an internship and (2) the students will be able to set higher academic and career goals.

Summary of specific provision

Section 1: Empowers the Commissioner to establish a career explorations class, two parts, to integrate academic and vocational education. The Department shall develop a system of performance reporting to define measures of student, school and employer participation in career awareness, exposure, exploration and work-based learning activities.

The department has one year from the effective date of this section to assemble a curriculum. The class will be phased in by city such that the largest cities in the state with the largest school districts shall first implement the course and four years after the effective date, every school district in the state shall implement the career explorations course.

Funds shall come from the division of lottery

Section 2: This act shall take place one year after it becomes law, with provisions.

Justification

Each year there are an increasing number of high school students that do not graduate from high school, enter the working world unprepared to be successful or are admitted to higher education institutions lacking basic skills needed to excel in an intellectual environment. Studies have shown that school based career guidance have Positive influences on students in the long run. This bill will provide students with a fair chance to be thoroughly prepared for necessary examinations needed to graduate.

The career explorations classes will include but not be limited to:

1. Career workshops: to provide information on how to search for jobs or internships in your industry of interest.

2. Guest speakers: professionals from various industries to give alorief synopsis of what an average work day is like as we}1 as what type of employees their company looks for.

3. Resume and cover letter writing: to teach students how to write a competitive resume and cover letter.

4. Thank you letters: to teach students how to write and send proper thank you notes after an interview.

5. Mock interviews: a series of Phone and face-to-face interviews simulating the actual event.

6. Workplace etiquette: to teach the basic principles of a professional environment in reference to mutual respect, appropriate attire, language and behavior.

Career Explorations part two: will focus on SAT prep, college application and acceptance process. For outside internships every student should participate in either one summer internship or at least 5 job shadow days in order to pass part two of the class.

Prior legislative history

2013-2014: S.4864A - Amend and Recommit to Education

Effective date

This act shall take effect one year after it shall become law, with a four-year phase in period; provided, however, that any rules or regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act shall be promulgated on or before such date.