New Skills for Youth (NSFY) Summary of Early Implementation Artifacts for Delaware Pathways

Delaware Pathways has made substantial progress during phase one of NSFY. These accomplishments represent progress
towards enacting key policy and programmatic reforms across Delawares career preparation system and ensuring
sustainability.
Ensuring
Description
Sustainability
Delaware
In June 2016, the public comment period for the draft Delaware Pathways strategic plan closed. More
Pathways
than 800 comments were received through public forums and online feedback. Updates were made to
Strategic Plan the strategic plan and the final draft was presented to DE Workforce Board in September and the
Delaware Pathways Steering Committee in the October.
Evidence: Appendix 1, Delaware Pathways Strategic Plan (pages 46-61) & Sample Annual Report (pages
62-65)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
Delawares
In July 2016, the Delaware combined state plan under WIOA (which includes the Carl D. Perkins Act) was
Combined
approved. This work further coordinates workforce development, education, and human resource
State Plan
services in a seamless customer-focused delivery network. This includes enhanced access to programs
under the
and services for individuals to obtain employment, enabling employers to obtain qualified employees,
Workforce
and improving long-term employment outcomes for all Delawareans. Partners across the Departments of
Investment &
Labor, Education, and Health & Social Services, in addition to the Delaware Economic Development
Opportunity
Office, community organizations, and other state and federal programs that promote education and
Act (WIOA)
workforce development, have met routinely in consultation with the DE Workforce Board to develop and
submit the combined state plan. Please note that Delaware Pathways is goal one of the DE Workforce
Board strategic plan and goal three of the WIOA combined state plan.
Evidence: Appendix 2, Delaware WIOA Combined State Plan Executive Summary (pages 66-72)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 3. Career- Focused Accountability Systems; 5. Align Funding Streams; and 6. Ensure
Cross-Institutional Alignment
Executive
In August 2016, Governor Jack Markell signed Executive Order (EO) 61, which defines Delaware
Order 61 and
Pathways as a collaborative workforce partnership which will create a fluid relationship between our
the Delaware
public education system, post-secondary education, non-profit, and employer communities to ensure that
Pathways
the pathway to college and a well-paying job is accessible for every Delawarean and further establishes a
Steering
Steering Committee to: 1. Ensure the programs sustainability aligns to the needs of the workforce and
Committee
individuals who participate; and 2. Ensure that budgetary priorities are identified in a transparent and
collaborative manner. The Steering Committee consists of fourteen members, including the Secretaries of
Education, Labor, Economic Development, and Health & Social Services; the President of Delaware
Technical Community College; the Chair of the Delaware Workforce Development Board; the President of
the State Board of Education; two school system superintendents; two business representatives; and
three members of community organizations. Mark Brainard, President of Del Tech, has been appointed to
chair the Steering Committee.
Evidence: Appendix 3, Executive Order 61 (pages 73-76)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 3. Career- Focused Accountability Systems; 5. Align Funding Streams; and 6. Ensure
Cross-Institutional Alignment
Delaware Pathways has made progress across each of the six key objectives identified in NSFY and each of the core
priorities identified in the Delaware Pathways Strategic Plan. These accomplishments represent developed strategies to
support and sustain work.
Artifact
Description
1. Career Preparation System
CTE Course
In June 2016, the Dept. of Edu. transitioned CTE course codes to align with the national career cluster and
Code
pathway coding system. This design provides a taxonomic scheme to track, assess, and report data for CTE
Alignment
and career development activities. This includes mapping K-12 programs to postsecondary and
with
occupational training programs, sourcing labor market information through a course code to standard
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Artifact
Occupationa
l Data

CTE Teacher
Certification
Criteria

Policy &
Procedures
for CTE
Fiscal and
Accountabili
ty Routines

Teacher
Professional
Learning for
Regional
Pathways

New
Regional
Career
Pathways

Innovation
Grant to
Scale Career
Pathways

Delaware
Pathways
Award

Description
occupation code crosswalk, and benchmarking CTE performance data for accountability purposes. It also
allows for the Dept. of Edu. and institutions of higher education to review student transcript data to
determine course enrollment/completion patterns necessary for state/federal reporting and advanced
standing for early college credit.
Evidence: Please visit Dept. of Edu. website
Crosswalk to NSFY: 3. Career- Focused Accountability Systems
In June 2016, the Dept. of Edu., through action by the Delaware State Board of Education, revised
Regulation 1559 Skilled and Technical Science to provide additional opportunities for industry professionals
to enter the classroom. Additionally, the Dept. of Edu. developed the CTE Teacher Certification
Guidelines, which provide details for human resources staff at the school system level to hire and certify
CTE teachers. Further, regulation 1559 provides industry staff who enter the teaching profession with
additional compensation to offset the salary gap that typically exists between the public and private
sectors.
Evidence: Please visit Dept. of Edu. website
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality and 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
In July 2016, the Dept. of Edu. published guidelines for local school systems and postsecondary education
providers authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to facilitate financial and
programmatic accountability routines. This includes the use of federal/state funds to support rigorous
career pathways, criteria for local planning and performance management, data management and
reporting, and ensuring CTE programs of study meet criteria established in the Dept. of Edu. Policy &
Procedures for CTE Programs of Study (published in July 2015).
Evidence: Please visit Dept. of Edu. website
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality and 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
In July and August 2016, the Dept. of Edu., in partnership with Del Tech, Delaware State University, and the
University of Delaware, hosted teacher professional learning for the ten (10) existing Delaware Pathway
programs. School systems that adopt a Delaware Pathways program are required to send instructor(s) to
course specific professional learning (typically three to six courses per pathway) that is 40 to 80 hours in
duration each summer. Additionally, ongoing professional learning is required throughout the school year.
Teacher evaluations are mapped against Thomas Guskeys characteristics of effective professional learning
to ensure teacher change and student transfer.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality
In September 2016, the Dept. of Edu. released three new career pathways in environmental science,
nursing assistant, and K-12 teacher preparation. These model CTE pathways include opportunities for
students to earn early college credit (statewide articulation and dual enrollment), industry credentials, and
meaningful work experiences. Further, these pathways were developed in partnership with employers and
institutions of higher education and are available for regional school system adoption (comprehensive,
charter, and technical). Each pathway application includes corresponding labor market research and the
secondary to postsecondary course transfer matrix, which is posted on the Dept. of Edu. website.
Evidence: Appendix 4, Nursing Assistant Program of Study Application (pages 77-95)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality and 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
In September 2016, the Dept. of Edu. released the third CTE Innovation Grant request for proposals (RFP).
The RFP provides targeted funding ($400,000) to support the following priorities: 1. Support the
implementation of new Delaware Pathways; 2. Enhance existing Delaware Pathways programs; 3. Prepare
students for continuing education and career success; and 4. Provide professional learning for CTE teachers
and school counselors. Grant awards will be made in November 2016 for programming beginning in the
2017-18 school year.
Evidence: Please visit Dept. of Edu. website
Crosswalk to NSFY: 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
In September 2016, the National Council for Workforce Education awarded their Program Exemplary
Award to Del Tech for work in the Advanced Manufacturing pathway. Del Tech is one of two colleges to
receive this award nationally.
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Artifact

Description

Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality

2. Scale Work-Based Learning
Framework
In April 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu. and school system staff, hosted a series of
to Scale
virtual tours to showcase nationally recognized best practices in establishing and scaling WBL. Virtual tours
Work-Based were held with the Philadelphia Youth Network, the Boston Private Industry Council, Linked Learning in
Learning
California, and the Tennessee Department of Education. A series of two-page documents capturing best
(WBL)
practices were created along with a two-page framework to scale work-based learning in Delaware (across
the K-12 and postsecondary systems). The WBL framework will be used as a development tool to solicit
feedback from school system staff and postsecondary faculty to define the future of WBL in Delaware.
Evidence: Appendix 5, DE Work-Based Learning Framework (pages 96-97)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality
IntermedIn May 2016, staff from Del Tech developed position descriptions, salary scales, and infrastructure
iary Staff
needs/costs to staff the Workforce Intermediary, which includes the following positions: 1. Intermediary
Outline
Director; 2. School System Liaison; and 3. WBL Regional Coordinators. This work is essential to garner state
and private money necessary to fully staff this project, in addition to the development of
roles/responsibilities between Del Tech and partnering school system staff.
Evidence: See Career Readiness Plan #2.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
Legal
In June 2016, staff from Del Tech developed a series of legal tools that can be used to establish paid and
Contracts
unpaid WBL experiences with employers for secondary and postsecondary students. Standardizing these
for WBL
materials makes engagement with employers far easier and ensures that legal documentation for student
work placement meets state and federal labor laws. This work also helps to dispel myths about youth
employment.
Evidence: See Career Readiness Plan #2
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
Traditional
In August 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu., developed a template to source traditional
and Realand real-time labor market information for broader publication and future dashboard development. The
Time Labor
sample high-level report includes information on low-, middle-, and high-skill jobs in Delaware, wages,
Market
employee career trajectories, and workforce readiness. The sample industry report is sourced for the
Dashboards Computer and Information Systems industry and includes information on middle- and high-skill growth
occupations, wages, career trajectories, certifications, and active employerswhich is useful for pathway
design and improvement.
Evidence: Appendix 6, Sample High-Level LMI Report (pages 98-104) and Sample Industry Report (pages
105-112)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
Americas
In August 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu. and Department of Labor, submitted the US
Promise
DOL Americas Promise Grant. Grant funds would be used to expand postsecondary education programs in
Grant
high-demand areas and student enrollment would largely be sourced from secondary Delaware Pathway
graduates.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 5. Align Funding Streams
WBL Needs
In September 2016, Del Tech in partnership with the Dept. of Edu. released a WBL needs assessment survey
Assessment to secondary school system staff and postsecondary faculty. This will capture feedback on recommended
policy and procedural tools to scale WBL. Responses are due by November 2016.
Evidence: Please visit https://www.research.net/r/NP3QNVV
Crosswalk to NSFY: 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
3. Integrate Education and Workforce Efforts and Data Systems
Delaware
At its April 2016, meeting, the DE Workforce Board voted to establish Delaware Pathways as a standing subWorkforce
committee under the Board. Michael Watson, Chief Academic Officer, Department of Education, and Stacey
Developmen Laing, Director Employment & Training, Department of Labor, were appointed to co-chair the committee.
t Board (DE
Mr. Watson and Ms. Laing have since appointed members of the Delaware Pathways group and New Skills
Workforce
for Youth team to serve on the committee. The sub-committee is a cross-sector team that was charged with
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Artifact
Board) and
the
Delaware
Pathways
SubCommittee
WIOA
Partner
Showcase &
Convenings

Classifying
Middle- and
High Skill
Occupations

Youth with
Disabilities

Data Sharing

Expanding
Apprentices
hip Grant

Disability
Employment
Grant

Description
building a strategic plan for Delaware Pathways, seeking public comment on the strategic plan, and
establishing year-over-year performance goals and routines with the DE Workforce Board to present and
evaluate work product. This sub-committee is also responsible for staffing the Delaware Pathways Steering
Committee and ensuring coordination with the DE Workforce Board.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement; 5. Align Funding Streams; and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional
Alignment
In April 2016, the Dept. of Labor hosted a partner showcase to frame the statewide vision for the one-stop
system and to showcase required, core, and other partner programs under WIOA. More than 200 staff from
state agencies, community organizations, and other partners attended. Presentations were heard from
WIOA youth, adult, dislocated work programs, TANF, SNAP E&T, libraries, Wagner-Peyser, the Jobs for
Veterans State Grants program, vocational rehabilitation, Job Corps, unemployment insurance, Community
Service Block Grant, adult education, Delaware State Housing Authority, senior community service
employment programs, and financial literacy programs. Since April 2016, the Dept. of Labor has hosted
monthly convening meetings to dive deeper into partner programs and further vet the client referral
system under WIOA.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 5. Align Funding Streams and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
In May 2016, the Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Edu. developed a taxonomic structure to classify all Delaware
occupations into low-, middle-, and high-skill areas using Bureau of Labor & Statistics occupation data. The
structure is posted on the 2016 Delaware Occupation & Industry Projections. In July, 2016 both agencies
partnered to update the Economic Development and Employer Planning System (EDEPS) to include middleand high-skill designations (MS & HS). Through EDEPS, every Delaware occupation can be sorted using MS
and HS characteristics or by cluster/pathway, by occupation (SOC), by employment growth (%),
employment change (#), and average wage ($#). This data corresponds to Dept. of Edu. requirements to
conduct labor market research for career pathways.
Evidence: Please visit: EDEPS website
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
In June 2016, the public comment period for the draft Delaware Pathways strategic plan closed. The most
common piece of feedback was about the need to clearly define services for youth with disabilities. As a
result, staff from the Dept. of Labor, Division of Vocation Rehabilitation joined the Delaware Pathways
planning team and the work plan under priority three was revised to include a more robust strategy to
serve youth with disabilities.
Evidence: See Career Readiness Plan #3
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
In June 2016, the Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Edu. conducted the initial data run to match the 2014-15
exiting student cohort to employment and wage data provided through unemployment information. There
was a 40% match rate for secondary students. This work is based on a finalized an agreement to share
employment and wage data for federal workforce programs, which includes adult education, IDEA, and
Perkins.
Evidence: See Career Readiness Plan #3
Crosswalk to NSFY: 3. Career- Focused Accountability Systems and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
In June 2016, the Dept. of Labor received a grant to plan for the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship
(both apprentices and employer sponsors). In September 2016, the Dept. of Labor, in partnership with
postsecondary Perkins providers and the Dept. of Edu., submitted a proposal for the ApprenticeshipUSA
Expansion Grant. The state intends to build upon Delaware Pathways to link appropriate career pathways in
secondary schools to apprenticeship programs for related occupations.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 5. Align Funding Streams and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
In August 2016, the Dept. of Labor, in partnership with Del Tech, Dept. of Edu., and other community
organizations, submitted the US DOL Disability Employment Grant. Grant funds would support youth with
disabilities to enroll in and complete Delaware Pathways programs and create on-ramps for youth with
disabilities to access additional employment opportunities. Unfortunately, this grant was not awarded.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 5. Align Funding Streams and 6. Ensure Cross-Institutional Alignment
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Artifact
Description
4. Coordinate Financial Support
$720,000
In April 2016, Del Tech received a four-year $720,000 grant from Delmarva Power to create an energy
Grant from
career pathway and expand postsecondary education programming in the same occupational area. Del
Delmarva
Tech and Dept. of Edu. partnered with Delmarva Power and other employers to develop coursework for the
Power
energy pathway which will be piloted in the 2016-17 school year.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 5. Align Funding Streams
$250,000
In July 2016, the Dept. of Edu. and Del Tech received a two-year $250,000 grant to support the Readiness
Grant from
with a Purpose Project. The project provides support to CTE students who have not yet met English
USA Funds
Language Arts requirements through the creation of a series of just-in-time learning modules mapped to
PSAT/SAT diagnostic data and a Foundations of College English course.
Evidence: See Career Readiness Plan #1.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality and 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
$270,000
In July 2016, the Dept. of Edu. and Del Tech received a $270,000 grant for the Dept. of Labor to ensure atGrant from
risk youth enroll in and complete the Advanced Manufacturing Pathway. This grant ensures youth who are
Department economically disadvantaged or have another barrier to high school graduation can access a career pathway
of Labor
that provides multiple industry credentials, paid work experience, and fifteen (15) early college credits.
Funds also support career coaching for students.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 2. Rigor & Quality and 5. Align Funding Streams
$100,000
In September 2016, Del Tech received a one-year $100,000 grant to launch the workforce intermediary.
Grant from
These funds will be used to hire a Workforce Intermediary Director who will oversee WBL activities at the
Capital One
secondary and postsecondary levels.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
$50,000
In September 2016, the DE Business Roundtable received a one-year $50,000 grant from Bank of America
Grant from
to scale Delaware Pathways. This money will be used to enhance the $400,000 Innovation Grant sponsored
Bank of
by the Dept. of Edu. and will be granted directly to eligible school system(s).
America
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement, 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials, and 5. Align Funding
Streams
$75,000
In September 2016, DBREC provided a $50,000 grant to support the workforce intermediary for Delaware
Grant from
Pathways and a $25,000 grant to support the states continued membership in the national Pathways to
DBREC
Prosperity Network.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 1. Employer Engagement and 5. Align Funding Streams
5. Engage Employers, Educators, and Service Providers
Communicat In May 2016, the Delaware Pathways team and Strongpoint Marketing conducted a communications audit.
ions Audit
The process outlined effective Delaware Pathways outreach activities that engaged students, parents,
and Report
educators, and employers. Additionally, the process distilled communication priorities to include expansion
of the Delaware Pathways website, social media campaign, and a series of Delaware Pathways events.
Evidence: Appendix 7, Communications Audit (pages 113-129)
Crosswalk to NSFY: 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
Delaware
In August 2016, the Delaware Pathways team launched phase one of the communication plan. As a result,
Pathways
Strongpoint has completed: 1. Updates to the http://delawarepathways.org website; 2. Toolkits for
Communicat employers and parents with turn-key information about pathway programs and partnering schools; 3.
ion Plan and Materials for schools to promote Delaware Pathway programs; and 4. Launch of a social media campaign.
Website
Evidence: Please visit http://delawarepathways.org
Crosswalk to NSFY: 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials
Dual
In September 2016, 1,292 high school students are enrolled in Del Tech dual enrollment courses,
Enrollment
representing an increase of 126% since the fall of 2013. Further, 65% of students are enrolled through dual
Expansion
enrollment agreements, 32% are enrolled in the Academic Challenge program, and 3% are enrolled at
Delaware Tech attending classes on campus.
Crosswalk to NSFY: 4. Scale Pathways with Credentials

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