Emphasizing career education in public schools is an increasing concern among policy makers. Not only do students benefit academically when they connect classroom learning with job options, career education also plays a critical role in workforce development.

The Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators (PACTA) will focus on the link between career learning and the workforce at its 20th annual symposium February 16th and 17th in Hershey, PA.

As part of the symposium, The Consortium for Public Education’s career exploration program, The Future Is Mine, has been invited to discuss how it has supported thousands of students in examining career possibilities through projects and experiences that also build skills needed in virtually any workplace.

“We’re delighted to have this opportunity,” said The Consortium’s Associate Executive Director, Steve Seliy, who oversees TFIM. “A program evaluation that we commissioned last year showed that TFIM is helping students reach milestones that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has emphasized in the area of career learning and work readiness. We’re marking TFIM’s 10th anniversary this year and through the PACTA symposium, we not only can share our experience, we can find ways to improve what we’re doing.”