CAREER FORWARD TASK FORCE ’ S DEFINITION OF A CAREER-READY STUDENT
“ In Tennessee , career-ready students are those who graduate K-12 education with the knowledge , abilities , and habits to enter and complete postsecondary education without remediation and to seamlessly move into a career that affords them the opportunity to live , work , and sustain a living wage .”
In spring 2016 , Commissioner McQueen assembled a task force bringing together state business , education , and community leaders to explore ways to better engage students in their academic preparation , personal and social development , and workplace readiness . 56 In December 2016 , the Career Forward Task Force released its definition of a career-ready student and key recommendations for graduation requirements , early postsecondary opportunities , career exposure and experience , school counseling , and accountability . These recommendations will inform the work going forward to provide stronger early postsecondary and career opportunities , and align these opportunities to students ’ future career aspirations .
Pathways Tennessee sparks community-based , innovative strategies between the public and private sectors to improve student readiness . Across six regions , Pathways engages government , chambers of commerce , industry partners , middle and high schools , and postsecondary institutions to :
CAREER READINESS . While Tennessee students ’ academic performance is improving , significant innovation holds promise to change the current state of postsecondary and career readiness . Tennessee ’ s high school graduation rate has climbed to a new high , but less than 60 percent of Tennessee ’ s graduates go on to enroll in a postsecondary institution . 54 Three out of four students who enroll in community college in Tennessee do not complete a degree . Although the number of students needing remediation has declined by 16 percentage points in recent years , over half of Tennessee community college students still require remediation . 55
• Promote active business and industry involvement in student exploration and on-the-job learning
• Integrate student supports , interventions , and counseling
• Use early warning indicators and remediation strategies
• Promote EPSOs
• Improve transfer of EPSO credits between high school and postsecondary
PG . 42