A reminder that Google Career Certificate scholarships expire December 2023.

If your district is interested in continuing to offer the Google Career Certificates to your students beyond December 2024, please contact Stacie Isenberg at sisenberg@iu28.org or 724.463.5300 x1216 for pricing information.

AIU3 is offering professional learning sessions for Code.org this summer. Click the link below for dates and registration information.

Contact the Technology & Entrepreneurship Center for more details.

For more information on Educators Rising please see the recent news release from PDE.

Agriculture and Youth Direct Grants

ARIN IU 28 recently received an Agriculture and Youth Direct Grant from the PA Department of Agriculture. The program provides youth organizations direct, non-matching grants to defray costs for education or workforce development seminars or field trips; agricultural safety training programs; and capital projects or equipment.

ARIN IU28 will work in conjunction with Career TRACK to place local high school students on paid internships on local farms for the 2023-24 school year. Internships will be paid through the Career TRACK program and grant funds will be used as a stipend for farms.

If you have students in your high school who may be interested in this opportunity, please contact Stacie Isenberg 724.463.5300 x1216 or sisenberg@iu28.org.

Please share this information with secondary principals and counselors in your district.

Interested in robotics, creative design, drones, and exoskeletons?

We've got an amazing experience for you at IUP from June 19-23, 2023. Students will get to use the IUP STEAMSHOP facility to design, laser cut, and 3D print parts to build your own simple mobile robot. You will also get to learn about operating drones, simulating with virtual reality, and collecting safety and ergonomic data. You'll add digital sensors and program controls for your mobile robot.

The final day mission combines your drone skills with operating your mobile robot. Are you up to the challenge? We are seeking students passionate about science, technology, and design-- is this you?

Camp runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (drop-off starts at 8:30 AM; pick up by 4PM). Students must commit to attending all 5 days. Students need to bring their own packed lunch. Camp activities, materials and instruction are supported though the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative-Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Students will work with faculty and staff from across the campus in a truly interdisciplinary effort spanning departments of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Geography, Art and Design, and Safety Science (all staff have background checks and clearances to work with students).

If you are interested in the camp, fill out the survey below. We'll review your information and email your teacher for a reference. We'll let you know in few weeks who is selected.

Students in grades 4-12 can register for a Summer Aviation Experience at the Jimmy Stewart Airport. Groups are organized by grade: 4/5, 6-8, and 9-12. Click the attachment below for grade level fliers.

Details and registration can be found here.

The ABC of Western PA is excited to announce approval from the PA Apprenticeship & Training Office to begin operating a Pre-Registered Apprenticeship (Pre-RA) Program. The branded name of our Pre-Registered Apprenticeship Program is “Pathway 2 Build”.

The addition of this Pre-Registered Apprenticeship program provides more opportunities for individuals to receive training in the construction trades. The increased opportunities result in a more robust supply of skilled labor to support the construction communities of Western PA. The ABC of Western “Pathway 2 Build” program, through partnerships with school districts, CareerLink offices, and community organizations provides pathways to construction training and education supporting the sustainability and growth of the industry in its entirety.

Click the attachment below for additional details. Please contact Matthew Waltman, Director of Education and Workforce Development, ABC Western PA for more information.

Snap-on has launched a new certification in collaboration with National Coalition of Certification Centers – “Hand Tool Identification, Safety and Usage” that fulfills Act 158 and Future Ready PA Index Industry Credentials requirements. The audience for this evidence based credential is all students, both secondary (including middle school) and post-secondary. This program engages students at an earlier age to use their hands, but also a life skill around common tooling to include safety, properly identifying, and usage.

For more information, please contact your liaison or direct to:

Robert Rose, Snap-on Industrial Business Manager

Robert.f.rose@snapon.com

724-825-3530

Green jobs represent one of the fastest growing and changing segments of the global economy. At the same time, today’s youth are seeking rewarding careers that help us move towards more sustainable lifestyles and greener economies. The next generation wants to work with purpose. They want to find a job they can be proud of; they want to feel like they are making a difference in the world. The PA Department of Agriculture was awarded grant funds to distribute Project Learning Tree’s Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers guide to Pennsylvania educators. Project Learning Tree is a program of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. If you are interested in receiving a free copy of this resource please complete this survey. For more information about this resource please see the attached fact sheet or visit the Project Learning Tree website.

There is an updated section in the Act 158 Toolkit in the SAS portal titled "New and Noteworthy". Included in this section are:

• The most recent updates (2 score Keystone Composite, COVID extenuating circumstances waiver) regarding the requirements;

• An updated Pennsylvania Pathways to Graduation graphic;

• A Graduation Trail (Student's Journey) Graphic;

• And a FAQ document developed from July 2022.

There is also a new document under the "Act 158 Pathways to Graduation Toolkit" tab, "Comparison of Student Evidence: College & Career Readiness and Statewide Graduation". The chart compares student evidence common to both College & Career Readiness (as reflected in the Future Ready PA Index) and the Pennsylvania Pathways to Graduation, highlighting similarities/differences to assist schools in identifying student experience applicability.

Finally, a section titled "Assessment Data Sources" has been added to the toolkit and includes a Data Sources FAQ document.

There is a fall webinar coming up on September 20, 2022 and Act 158 office hours available on September 27th. Click here to see the document with connection links.

Effective 2018-19 and beyond, there are career plan and portfolio requirements:

• Grade 5 Benchmark — 6 pieces of evidence between grades K-5

• Grade 8 Benchmark — 6 pieces of evidence between grades 6-8, including individualized career plan

• Grade 11 Benchmark — 8 pieces of evidence between grades 9-11, including 2 pieces of evidence that demonstrate career plan implementation

The "minimum two per year" language is included as a guideline for districts to make decisions in the cases of extended absenteeism, transfer, external placement, home or online education, or other enrollment issues. An LEA providing instruction to a student is responsible for collecting two pieces of evidence for each full or mostly full year the student receives instruction, and one piece of evidence for any partial year of instruction.

Enrollment prior to January 1st constitutes full year enrollment; enrollment after January 1st constitutes partial year enrollment. If artifacts follow a transfer student to a receiving district, they should be included in the student's portfolio, but students should not complete assignments from earlier grade bands.

Career Readiness Indicator for the Future Ready PA Index and ESSA Accountability: Guidelines for Evidence Collection

Career Ready PA Coalition

PA Career Ready Skills