CAREER PREP
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For a quarter century, CFEP has supported students in preparing for, and succeeding in, higher education.
What comes next? In recent years, and in an attempt to address larger economic inequities and quality of life for local communities, CFEP has bolstered its programs and partnerships that focus on career exposure and development. “The CFEP is moving beyond traditional academic preparation to more meaningfully connect students in high school and college to career exposure, skills, mentorship and internship to support their post-graduation employment success,” said Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio, assistant vice chancellor, educational partnerships. ”Low-income students often miss the networking and social capital that positions more privileged students for career success in post-college life. By tying academic work to career interests and goals, we can help students envision their future and better prepare for it.” |
Students from Santa Ana High School work in a UCI anatomy lab to gain exposure to health careers.
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“Students today are often not satisfied with a vague notion of how going to college will lead to a better life,” Reyes-Tuccio added. “They want to understand how it will help them do something specific and meaningful in the world that is tied to their own interest and passion.”
According to the 2020 Orange County Business Council Workforce Indicators Report, collaborations between educational institutions and the private sector will “become even more important as technology further transforms nearly every industry in Orange County.” The report also calls for “an additional focus [to] be placed on programs in the K-12 environment.”
“America is at a crossroads – we know we’re undergoing a lot of transition in terms of jobs and careers, and the challenge before us is to truly prepare young people for this uncertain world,” said Michael Matsuda, superintendent, Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD).
CFEP and AUHSD – along with North Orange County Community College District (NOCCD), California State University, Fullerton and the City of Anaheim – in 2017 entered into the Anaheim Pledge. The pledge is a commitment to provide all students with an intentional, comprehensive support system that integrates their families and is designed to ensure access to opportunities and services that prepares them to successfully complete their college and career goals.
According to the 2020 Orange County Business Council Workforce Indicators Report, collaborations between educational institutions and the private sector will “become even more important as technology further transforms nearly every industry in Orange County.” The report also calls for “an additional focus [to] be placed on programs in the K-12 environment.”
“America is at a crossroads – we know we’re undergoing a lot of transition in terms of jobs and careers, and the challenge before us is to truly prepare young people for this uncertain world,” said Michael Matsuda, superintendent, Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD).
CFEP and AUHSD – along with North Orange County Community College District (NOCCD), California State University, Fullerton and the City of Anaheim – in 2017 entered into the Anaheim Pledge. The pledge is a commitment to provide all students with an intentional, comprehensive support system that integrates their families and is designed to ensure access to opportunities and services that prepares them to successfully complete their college and career goals.
“We’re working hard to bring together counties, schools, and the nonprofit and private sectors – it comes down to the community,” Matsuda said. “UCI’s recognition of the importance of the community is vital to building a new type of K-16 model. The CFEP Is positioning our young people to solve our problems.”
CFEP and AUHSD are working with UCI’s Cybersecurity Policy & Research Institute and Cypress College to create a pathway that exposes students to the necessary skills and opportunities for a career in cybersecurity.
The program has, in four years, served more than 2,000 students and produced a wide range of impressive results. Students have obtained employment in cybersecurity directly out of high school, while some students have gone on to attend MIT and Princeton.
CFEP and AUHSD are working with UCI’s Cybersecurity Policy & Research Institute and Cypress College to create a pathway that exposes students to the necessary skills and opportunities for a career in cybersecurity.
The program has, in four years, served more than 2,000 students and produced a wide range of impressive results. Students have obtained employment in cybersecurity directly out of high school, while some students have gone on to attend MIT and Princeton.
“Partnerships such as this have to be universal – they can't stop at elementary schools, at middle schools, or at high schools; they have to go on through university and into industry,” said Henry Hua, dean of Business, Computer Information Systems and Computer Science, Cypress College. “With the CFEP, we’re working to make sure that we’re designing programs that make student participants attractive to college admissions. We’re very fortunate to have the CFEP and UCI as a partner in this work.”
Working with the High School Inc. Academies Foundation in Santa Ana, CFEP has engaged in several projects that study the efficacy of the foundation’s innovative workforce development initiatives. Research found that the programs are more helpful in assisting students in achieving both their career and college goals than students who did not have those same experiences. Building on these findings, the HSI Foundation immediately began developing a plan to expand the core college and career experiences for the participation and benefit of more students at its partner, Valley High School.
Working with the High School Inc. Academies Foundation in Santa Ana, CFEP has engaged in several projects that study the efficacy of the foundation’s innovative workforce development initiatives. Research found that the programs are more helpful in assisting students in achieving both their career and college goals than students who did not have those same experiences. Building on these findings, the HSI Foundation immediately began developing a plan to expand the core college and career experiences for the participation and benefit of more students at its partner, Valley High School.
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Partnerships such as this have to be universal – they can't stop at elementary schools, at middle schools, or at high schools; they have to go on through university and into industry. With the CFEP, we’re working to make sure that we’re designing programs that make student participants attractive to college admissions. We’re very fortunate to have the CFEP and UCI as a partner in this work.
Dean, Business, Computer Information Systems and Computer Science, Cypress College |
“CFEP and UCI have demonstrated the importance of a relationship of business and industry with the educational community through research-based studies and projects,” said Mark McLoughlin, board president of the High School Inc. Academies Foundation. “CFEP has been extremely helpful in assisting in the development, implementation and evaluation of the HSI program effectiveness at Valley High School, and has done an excellent job in bringing the ‘issue’ of rapid change in our society and the importance of technical skills to the attention of leaders and decision makers.”
“CFEP provides quantitative and qualitative research, along with foundational leadership,” said Donald Isbell, director of Career Technical Education, Santa Ana Unified School District. “That research helps drive our work in different directions, and elevates our work as well.” “CFEP legitimizes the work we do, and we need the leadership of the CFEP and UCI to make people across the county and state aware,” said Jack Oakes, board secretary, High School Inc. Academies Foundation. Ultimately, building a talented K-12 student population with in-demand skills can help enhance, diversify and grow a region’s industry. |
“While Orange County continues to be the economic engine within a worldwide economy, employers increasingly struggle to fill certain occupations with qualified individuals,” McLoughlin said. “By bolstering workforce readiness and introducing CTE programs in K-12 schools, we are aligning the students’ learning with the jobs of tomorrow. Adding pathway and industry standards to K-12 curricula prepares students to be career ready 10, 20, and 30 years from now.”
“Orange County is a great county in terms of its wealth, and CFEP is investing in a population that many would have, in the past, written off,” Matsuda said. “I’ve had conversations with CEOs who have moved from a deficit-view of certain populations to an asset-view, and that’s a huge epiphany. If we can get more corporate leaders to see that, we can capture our county’s intellectual capital and diversity. CFEP recognizes that.”
“Orange County is a great county in terms of its wealth, and CFEP is investing in a population that many would have, in the past, written off,” Matsuda said. “I’ve had conversations with CEOs who have moved from a deficit-view of certain populations to an asset-view, and that’s a huge epiphany. If we can get more corporate leaders to see that, we can capture our county’s intellectual capital and diversity. CFEP recognizes that.”
The preceding story is part of the "CFEP: 25 Years of Impact" series, honoring the people, programs and partnerships that have helped impact millions of students, teachers and families over the past quarter century. View the entire series here.
