Education Minister exploring innovative career training in northwestern U.S.
Edmonton … Education Minister Ron Liepert is exploring innovative new approaches to career programming during a one-day tour of facilities in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington on September 17.
"One of my primary goals as Education Minister is to ensure that our students can access the best education opportunities available," said Liepert. "Learning more about these creative strategies to career programming, including the use of government, community and industry partnerships, will help us find new ways to strengthen our own programs."
During the information gathering trip, Liepert will tour two high school facilities. Portland's Benson Polytechnic High School provides students with career training while they are working towards their high school diploma. Students receive on-the-job experience in their chosen field by working in local business, health and industry environments. This approach has been successful, with 94 per cent of last year's graduates planning to transition from high school to post-secondary education.
Vancouver's Clark County Skills Center is cooperatively owned by 10 school districts in the surrounding area. The Center was designed to develop partnerships between the education and business sectors to ensure students are trained in technical career areas too expensive for a single district to fund. This collaborative approach has created opportunities for both students and business, with the center being recognized as one of the top six vocational schools in the nation.
"We already have programming in place that prepares our students to enter the workforce after they finish high school," said Liepert. "Touring these sites will give us a different perspective as we examine our Career and Technology Studies programming."
Alberta's Career and Technology Studies program helps students move through school towards further education and work. Course options can include everything from digital design to mechanics or cosmetology. This career training is part of government's plan to improve high school completion rates.
The estimated cost of the trip including travel and meals for Minister Liepert and his Executive Assistant is $5,010.
Providing quality learning opportunities is one key initiative under Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to build a stronger Alberta. Other priorities for the government are to: govern with integrity and transparency, manage growth pressures, improve Albertans' quality of life and provide safe and secure communities.
Backgrounder
September 17
5:30 a.m. (Edmonton time) | Depart Edmonton |
6:30 a.m. (Portland time) | Arrive in Portland, Oregon |
9 a.m. | Site tour at Benson Polytechnic High School |
11:45 a.m. | Working lunch with education officials:
|
1 p.m. | Depart Portland to Vancouver, Washington |
1:30 p.m. | Site tour at Clark County Skills Center |
4 p.m. | Depart Portland for return to Edmonton |
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.
