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David G. Loomis, Ph.D.Professor of EconomicsIllinois State University

Lead Entity, Energy Learning Exchange

Illinois Energy Learning Exchange

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What is the Illinois Pathways Initiative?

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Goal: To create a new, innovative public-private education infrastructurethat can advance college and career readiness in STEM discipline bycoordinating statewide networks of P-20 education partners, business, labor, and other organizations based on career clusters.

IL Pathways Initiative

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“P-20 STEM Programs of Study are organized around a career cluster and feature a series of orientation and advanced pathway courses across education institutions that are accompanied by opportunities for students to enrich their learning through work-based learning experiences as well as demonstrate their understanding through assessments and the attaining of early college credit and industry-recognized credentials.”

P-20 STEM Programs of Study

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• Personalization – Education and career plan aligned to academic and career interests.

• Applied Learning – Access to work-based learning opportunities.• College & Career Readiness Assessments – Academic, Career, and

Technical.• Orientation Courses – Common foundational skills across clusters,

called “orientation” at high school and “bridge” for adults.• Shared Pathway Courses – Common pathways skills and reduced

switching costs.• Early college – Dual credit in “gateway” courses to improve transfer

and reduce costs• Diverse Delivery System – Build program capacity through academic

core, CTE courses, electives, regional centers, virtual courses, and college courses.

P-20 STEM Program Components

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• Grades P-6: Build STEM skills through authentic learning experiences.• Grades 7-8: Education and career plan development.

• Orientation level courses coordinated with adult bridge programs.• Common course infrastructure across multiple pathways.• Work-based learning as central part of program completion.

• Assessments that measure academic, employability, and technical skills.• Students begin college-level work in pathways levels courses.• Adult bridge program completers enter gateway courses.

• Transitions and credit articulation as part of pathway progression.• Portfolio developed through completing degree programs, attaining

credentials, and building lifelong and life-wide professional networks.

P-20 STEM Program Key Features

Elementary andMiddle School

Secondary Education

9th and 10th

Secondary Education

11th and 12th

Secondary Education

11th and 12th

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P-20 STEM Program On-Ramps

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What is a Learning Exchange?

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P-20 STEM Program Clusters

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• Public-private working groups developed statewide models for each of the nine P-20 STEM Programs of Study.

• These models establish a series of shared definitions that will support statewide networks and facilitate connections between public-private partners in each of the nine areas.

• Components of the reports include:– Career Profiles (Demand)– Baseline Analysis (Supply)– P-20 Course Sequence and Definition Model (Course Outline)

P-20 STEM Program Working Groups

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“STEM Learning Exchanges are a new, innovative public-private education partnership that is organized to support local implementation of P-20 STEM Programs of Study by coordinating and reducing the transaction cost among statewide networks of education partners, businesses, industry associations, labor organizations, and other organizations. Learning Exchanges are organized by career cluster and work to coordinate planning and investment, aggregate resources, and review talent supply-chain performance.”

STEM Learning Exchanges

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1. Provide curriculum resources.2. Expand access to classroom and laboratory space, equipment, and

related educational resources.3. Support student organizations and their major activities.4. Provide internships and other work-based learning opportunities.5. Sponsor challenges and provide project management resources.6. Provide professional development resources for teachers and school

administrators.7. Provide career development and outreach resources.8. Review P-20 Program of Study model and transitions to post-

secondary academic and training programs.9. Review talent pipeline performance.

Learning Exchange Functions

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Expanding access to statewide professional learning communities…

• Increased Access to Curricular and Instructional Supports- Standardized program framework enables resource sharing at economies of scale.- Improved ability to connect to a continuum of work-based learning opportunities.

• Reduced Transaction Cost in Accessing Professional Learning Communities - Statewide peer-to-peer networks and diverse partners are more easily coordinated- Access to industry relevant professional development opportunities.

• Improved College and Career Planning Systems and Guidance- Seamless transitions across P-20 programs with reduced switching costs.- Supports student portfolio development aligned to college and career readiness standards.

• Review Data for Continuous Improvement- Access to longitudinal and industry relevant data to support and inform program planning.- Enables performance-based review to identify and report on program effectiveness.

P-20 Education Value Proposition

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Improving education, workforce, and economic development coordination to build more effective talent pipelines…

• Co-Partner with Education Around Talent Pipelines- Multiple opportunities for businesses of all sizes to contribute based on their interests.- Improved ability to manage transitions between P-20 and workforce training systems.

• Increased Access to Training Supports Around Industry Sectors- Standardized, sector-based frameworks enable resource sharing across regions.- Expanded connections to a continuum of work experience opportunities.

• Improved Workforce Readiness Systems and Guidance- Supports portfolio assessments for academic and workforce readiness skills.- Infrastructure to identify and support sector pathway credentialing statewide.

• Review Data for Continuous Improvement- Access to education and workforce longitudinal data to support program planning.- Enables performance-based review to identify and report on program effectiveness.

Workforce Value Proposition

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Shifting from philanthropy to investment, improving industry partnerships with education…

• Increase Alignment of Existing Investments while Promoting Brand- Improved way of embedding investments as part of sustainable programs.- Maintain brand while working in collaboration with industry partners.

• Reduced Transaction Cost- Improved ability to connect with P-20 education partners organized around a sector.- Standardized program framework and definitions enable easy access across districts.

• Co-Partner with Education Around Talent Pipelines- Multiple opportunities for businesses of all sizes to contribute based on their interests.- Directly enables industry to impact the career readiness of their workforce pipeline.

• Review Data for Return on Investment - Can identify critical skills shortages by reviewing supply and projected demand data.- Access to data to review statewide talent pipeline performance by industry sector.

Industry Value Proposition

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Who is Part of theEnergy Learning Exchange?

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Colleges and Universities:

Energy Learning Exchange Members

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Schools :

Energy Learning Exchange Members

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Companies :

Energy Learning Exchange Members

Kestrel Development Company PROactive Strategies, Inc.

Robert M. Fletcher Company Sustainable Strategies

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Workforce Boards:

Energy Learning Exchange Members

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Workforce Related:

Energy Learning Exchange Members

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More:

Energy Learning Exchange Members

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National and State Resources

Illinois Energy Workforce Consortium

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Where are We Headed?

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Key Future Milestones

• Facilitating Illinois Energy Workforce Consortium

• Program of Study rollout at Urbana High School– NGSS Curriculum– SmartGrid for Schools– Renewable Energy for Schools

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Key Future Milestones

• Careers in Energy Week October, 2014• Energy Student Competition Challenges

– Illinois High School Research Symposium: April 25– FFA Conference: July, 2014

• Internships

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Questions?