City and Chicago Public Schools officials yesterday announced changes aimed at giving students more access to better career and technical training programs.
The changes consolidate 250 CPS programs in topics like culinary arts, business and cosmetology into 80 college and career academies.
The college and career academies will operate at 35 high schools across the city, according to a news release.
Officials say the biggest change involves offering students access to programs outside of their neighborhood attendance areas.
“In the competition for the jobs of tomorrow, which are key to Chicago's future, nothing is more important than continuing to improve each and every school in our city,” Mayor Richard M. Daley says in the release. “In today's economy, it is essential that we graduate students with the skills they need to go directly into a good job and a long term career."
The goal of the academies is to prepare students for work in a changing economy, where 45 percent of jobs in the United States will be middle-skill occupations, or jobs that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree, according to the release.
The academies will offer certification opportunities, as well as internships, job shadows and summer employment.
For example, the Chicago Building Trades Council partnered with the school district to offer students access to 30 construction site visits, 100 job-shadow opportunities, 100 spring break internships and 100 summer jobs.
Career academy teachers will have to be certified and have work experience in their field of expertise, too, according to the release.
“Our goal is to provide students with a jump-start to success in their chosen
career. To do that we need to provide classes, internships and a clear career
path that will help them gain the skills they need to compete in the global job
market,” says CPS chief Ron Huberman.
The first high schools to host the new academies are Schurz, Sullivan, Harper, Fenger, Harlan, Washington, Manley, Crane, Wells, Dunbar and Orr.
CPS has already began renovating career labs, kitchens and other facilities at five of the schools. The rest of the academies will be set up throughout the summer, according to the release.