Louisiana is one of the 10 states selected to participate in New Skills for Youth (NSFY), an initiative enhancing state efforts to increase the number of learners across the country who are prepared for success in both college and career. NSFY is a $75 million national initiative developed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers, Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group.
In the first two years of the initiative, the Louisiana NSFY team built upon Jump Start, the state’s industry-driven framework for Career Technical Education (CTE), to establish and scale high-quality career pathways for students. Key actions included engaging industry leaders to promote work-based learning and other opportunities for employer-student engagement and launching a new program called Jump Start Summers to connect learners with paid employment and industry-based credentials.
In 2018, priority strategies for the Louisiana NSFY team were:
- Aligning incentives within the state accountability system to promote in-demand industry-based credentials: Drawing on lessons learned from early implementation of the Jump Start initiative, Louisiana aimed to adjust the state accountability system to encourage learners to earn credentials relevant to high-growth industries.
- Implementing the CTE Leadership Academy: The first cohort of current and aspiring CTE leaders began the CTE Leadership Academy in July 2018.
- Piloting work-based learning programs for students with disabilities: A pilot of a new program in Bossier Parish provided access to work-based learning and mentorship opportunities to students with disabilities.
To read more about the 10 New Skills for Youth states, visit the 2018 NSFY Snapshots series page.
