As automation and artificial intelligence continue to change the way all industries operate, students planning for college and careers face a unique challenge – securing educational opportunities that will serve them in a world where employment needs often change faster than the time it takes to earn a post-secondary degree or job training. Our Ready in the 603 video series highlights how New Hampshire students are taking advantage of innovative opportunities to prepare themselves for college, careers, and service after graduation. It also provides insight into this challenge.
The series is the result of hundreds of student interviews we conducted across the state last spring to learn about the impact of programs such as Career Technical Education (CTE), Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO), Running Start, and others. We took what we heard and identified the common threads to produce the series.
Check out our Ready in the 603 project at www.reachinghighernh.org/readyingthe603/ We encourage you to vote for the video that you find most compelling and share what programs you would like to see more of in your schools. Participation in the project helps us continue our work in telling the stories of NH public education from the student perspective.
Many of the stories we heard were so inspiring, we found ourselves watching the videos over and over. It was an amazing opportunity to listen to, and learn from, the young people we are working daily to support.
The videos bring to light important opportunities for students in NH. Families should know how these programs can take learning to the next level. In some cases, high school students are earning up to 20 college credits and professional certifications through programs like those featured in the video series.
Many of the students interviewed shed light on the evolution of CTE (Career Technical Education). What was once exclusively a vocational program, now covers careers such as engineering, biotech, and business.
These are rigorous academic models where students apply what they learn in the field. Post-secondary education is expensive and highly competitive. Having high school students in the field before graduation empowers them to make informed decisions about their future, allows them to establish mentors, and provides them with a competitive advantage in pursuing whatever they want after high school.
These programs are for every student, from those that excel in the classroom to those that learn better in a hands-on environment. These are deep and meaningful learning experiences.
Take a look at Ready in the 603 and let us know what you think!
