Community Update

September 2024

2024 ACT Workforce Summit

We are thrilled to attend the 2024 ACT Workforce Summit this week in Atlanta. Be sure to catch our Thursday, 10/3 session at 11 am: "Building a Credential Portfolio: Mastering Quality and Transparency for Career Advancement."

In today’s dynamic and competitive landscape, choosing high-quality, credible, and transparent credentials is more crucial than ever. Organizations need to ensure that the credentials they offer or endorse are well-recognized and respected and align with learners’ career aspirations and industry standards. This session will walk attendees through identifying and evaluating top-tier credentials. We’ll dive into essential factors like accreditation, industry recognition, verification processes, and the transparency of credentialing processes. More details here.

Previewing the Future of Manufacturing at IMTS 2024

Earlier this month, MSSC Marketing Team members Tyler Kennedy and Meghan Maurer had the opportunity to attend the 2024 IMTS Conference in Chicago as part of the Smartforce Student Summit. With nearly 90,000 attendees, IMTS was a dynamic six days filled with innovation, insightful discussions, and a glimpse into the future of manufacturing. We would like to extend our gratitude to FANUC for inviting MSSC to be part of such a robust event. Revisit the 2024 IMTS Conference here.

ED Proposes Changes to Perkins V State Plans and Reporting

U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) published two new proposals that would significantly impact state and local implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act (Perkins V). These new changes to Perkins V state plan requirements and related annual data collections seek to standardize the way in which states and local Perkins V recipients collect and report information related to CTE student performance. Separately, these proposals would increase the broader information gathered by ED via state Perkins V state plans. These changes will require every state and territory to submit new or substantially amended four-year Perkins V plans by 2026—an effort and wider process states and territories just completed this year.

Indiana’s Industry Leaders Unveil Statewide Apprenticeship Plan

A coalition of nearly 200 Indiana leaders released a new statewide education pathway that seeks to create additional classroom and work-based learning opportunities, especially in the form of apprenticeships, for high school students. Known as CEMETS iLab Indiana, the coalition said the strategic plan, detailed in a new report, is meant to address Indiana’s talent shortages by supplementing the traditional high school-to-college pathway. It ultimately will prepare students for in-demand careers while simultaneously developing a new talent pipeline for employers. The new pathway will welcome students in at least one occupation starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The iLab’s goal is that a statewide youth apprenticeship pathway will serve a cumulative total of 50,000 students by 2034. That equates to almost half of expected new job growth in the next decade. Read more here.

Commerce Launches SCALE Tool

Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center unveiled a first-of-its kind diagnostic supply chain risk assessment tool—known as SCALE—which utilizes a comprehensive set of indicators to assess structural supply chain risk across the U.S. economy. The SCALE tool, coupled with the I&A’s deep industry expertise, will enable the U.S. Government to be more proactive and strategic in addressing supply chain risk. The tool compares risks across industries and provides an in-depth assessment of what is driving those risks. SCALE will inform U.S. government decision-making and can facilitate data-driven conversations with industry on risks, opportunities, and actions that can advance supply chain resilience. More info here.

Lightcast Releases The Rising Storm

Lightcast's economists reviewed thousands of data points and uncovered insights that will challenge what you know about the labor market. The Rising Storm is part of Lightcast's ongoing "Demographic Drought" series that analyzes how changing workforce trends are shaping our future. And while past reports have shown there’s disruption ahead, The Rising Storm does the math, showing more clearly when the storm will hit and who will be affected. Check it out here.

Impactful and Collaborative Practices to Effectively Communicate Career Pathway Initiatives

New resource from Advance CTE with strategies, recommendations, and guiding structures to create impactful and collaborative structures that communicate progress and impact for cross-sector career pathway endeavors of all sizes, including large-scale, cross-sector initiatives.

The Power Your Future Challenge

This is a CTE Momentum challenge to advance clean energy solutions. The U.S. Department of Education invites teams to submit action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities. By participating, teachers and students will get hands-on experience envisioning and designing clean energy solutions that can make a real-world impact. The challenge will also connect CTE students to the vast career opportunities in clean energy and other vital infrastructure industries.

Submissions will close on November 19, 2024. The U.S. Department of Education anticipates announcing winning teams in February 2025. Learn more.

Administration Announces Grants to Recruit Diverse Workforce

U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced over $28 million in newly awarded funds through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program. This latest grant round aims to recruit, prepare, develop, and retain a diverse educator workforce nationwide. The TQP program funds teacher preparation programs in high-need communities for learners at colleges and universities and in teacher residency programs and aims to encourage more people to pursue careers in teaching through Grow Your Own programs.