These strategies are designed to better align our education system with the needs of our employers. This provides a diverse but workforce-ready population on hand to take jobs. This is especially important as more of our current workforce begins to retire. This will make for a resilient and self-sustaining job environment ready for expansion.
Action 1: Collect and review workforce forecast data to identify careers most in-demand. Share data with education and social service partners, parents, and students.
  • Timeline: Complete by spring of 2018
  • Cost: Cost already included in ICR IOWA budget
  • Responsible Parties: Kirkwood and ICR IOWA
Action 2: Create a coalition of educators, employers, and career-connect learning partners to develop strategies to support career-connected learning for middle and high school students in alignment with the region’s most critically needed careers.
  • Timeline: Coalition formed and projects confirmed by spring of 2018.
  • Cost: Cost already included in ICR IOWA budget
  • Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA
Action 3: Develop an online hub to serve as the central resource for career development and resource information for ICR educators, parents, students, and employers.
  •  Timeline: Hub to be launched by fall of 2018
  • Cost: $10,000
  • Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA 
Action 4: Increase the number of high school job shadow and internship opportunities completed by students, especially in the critical career pathways.
  • Timeline: Annual goals will be established beginning in 2019
  • Cost: NA
  • Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA, Kirkwood Community College – Workplace Learning Connection
Action 5: Support regional school districts in the development of career pathway curriculum.
  • Timeline: Pilot to begin by spring of 2018
  • Cost: NA
  • Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA, Kirkwood Community College, Grantwood AEA 
Several metrics will be used to measure success in this area; including: number of school districts who adopt pathway curriculum, number of students who decide to pursue a critical career path, number of students who achieve a post-secondary certification or degree in a critical career path. These metrics will continue to be measured by economic development stakeholders over the next five years.