Building Bridges Announces UcanB Program exceeds Career Education and Work Standards
Building Bridges for Business’ Education Department provides career education and job placement to thousands of Western Pennsylvania’s middle and high school students via its UcanB Program.
UcanB began this programming with 1 school (Keystone Oaks High School) and 20 students in 2013. The program now partners with 30 school districts and thousands of students who rely heavily on the services, resources and education provided by UcanB. This project and partnerships with many local foundations and companies allow 6th – 12th grade students to see what life is like after high school or college.
UcanB’s provision of these services is critical to student development and the needs of every school district in the State of Pennsylvania. In 2017, Pennsylvania’s Department of Education instituted its Career Education and Workplace (CEW) Standards, which require all school districts to provide education in the areas of career awareness, career exploration and job readiness. Pennsylvania school districts now must document and report CEW Standards classroom activities for all 5th, 8th and 11th grade students. UcanB makes this easy for its educational partners because this is exactly the type of career education the UcanB Program has been providing for four years. Schools across the region call UcanB team members to be able to meet and exceed these standards.
For example, all of UcanB’s 8th grade students receive digital career portfolio’s that are developed with the guidance of a UcanB instructor and a classroom teacher designated by the individual school. The portfolios house all student documents related to career education such as Copies of Career Assessments, Documentation of Career Research, Resumes, Letter of Reference, Test Scores & Grades, Extra Curricular Activities and a College Tracker list, that allows students to follow colleges and universities for info, open house announcements and scholarship opportunities. At the time of audit, school teachers and administrators can go directly to student’s portfolios and download all documents that demonstrate CEW Standards have been met.
The Pittsburgh Community has rallied around the UcanB Career Education Program in support of this effort. A vast array of organizations and individuals contribute to help educate youth in Western Pennsylvania. More than 50 local groups participate in Opportunity Fairs hosted by UcanB students and parents and guardians. This allows UcanB the opportunity to expose students to a multitude of career paths and job opportunities. Students also meet with a diverse group of businesses representing government, retail, IT, entrepreneurship, military, media, advanced manufacturing and more! This provides realistic exposure to high-demand career paths, opportunities for mentorship and a ‘live’, active learning environment which immerses students in the study of career education.
