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Changes in the nation’s economic circumstances—good and bad—have turned our focus to one solution that, until recently, got far less attention than it deserves: short-term education and training programs. Such programs, including apprenticeships and licensure programs, lead to industry-recognized certificates and certifications—high-quality, workforce-relevant credentials that can boost careers and change lives.
This issue of Focus magazine shows that short-term credential programs—when done right—are a vibrant and vital tool for long-term prosperity. It features some promising programs in real-life stories from around the country that reflect the reality of today’s students. In this issue:
- You’ll meet Jake Taber of Traverse City, Mich., a young man whose affinity for video games—coupled with an early, relentless pursuit of IT credentials—is helping him forge a promising career in information technology. Along with the many industry-recognized certifications he’s already earned at age 21, Taber also has an associate degree, thanks to a program in which Michigan community colleges award academic credit for industry credentials.
- You’ll also get to know Jack Camp, a 40-year-old truck driver from Peoria, Ill., who left his troubled youth behind—and literally found a new road—because of the Illinois Workforce Equity Initiative. Camp, who grew up in poverty as the son of drug-addicted parents and was incarcerated himself for more than a decade, is now a focused and valued employee of a local delivery firm. The state-funded workforce program gave Camp a huge boost, allowing him to earn his commercial driver’s license in just six weeks—at no cost.
- Finally, you’ll meet Catiana “Cat” Beaver of Victorville, Calif., a torch-wielding 22-year-old who, with a little help from the state, has bonded fully with her career choice: welding. Beaver, who dropped out of community college because she felt she was “being pushed into a desk job,” now attends a short-term pre-apprenticeship program at Victor Valley College. She’s being aided by a grant from the California High Road Construction Careers program, a state-funded effort to direct more residents into construction jobs.