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Black Hawk Region Pathways

Leadership Community

Black Hawk Region Pathways is dedicated to expanding community-wide systems that ensure equitable access to career exploration and post-secondary opportunities for all students. By actively engaging businesses and agencies, we aim to meet local needs and bolster regional economic development. Our commitment includes fostering work-based learning experiences that bridge the gap between education and the workforce, promoting inclusive growth and long-term success for every student.

Led By

Black Hawk College

Areas of Expertise

  • Dual Credit Programs: Enabling students to earn college credits while still in high school, ensuring a smoother transition to higher education and reducing the time and cost to degree completion.
  • Career Exploration: Providing comprehensive career guidance and resources, helping students identify their interests and strengths, and aligning them with viable career paths.
  • Apprenticeships and Internships: Establishing robust apprenticeship and internship programs that offer hands-on experience, skill development, and direct pathways to employment.
  • Regional Collaboration and Commitment: Promoting a cohesive regional strategy that involves collaboration with educational institutions, businesses, and economic development agencies to address workforce needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

By leveraging these areas of expertise, Black Hawk Region Pathways seeks to attract more business partners and economic development agencies. This collaboration will strengthen our existing initiatives and expand our reach and impact, creating a sustainable and dynamic ecosystem for student success and regional prosperity.

Prioritized Focus Areas

  • Automotive Services
  • Health Sciences
  • Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, and Trades
  • Information Technology
  • Finance and Business Services

Key Successes

  • Developed Comprehensive College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPEs): Partnered with K-12 educational institutions to develop and implement multiple College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPEs), providing students with clear and actionable routes to post-secondary education and career success.
  • Transitioned to Xello for Enhanced Career Planning: The Quad City Career and Technical Consortium successfully transitioned the region from Career Cruising to Xello, significantly expanding capabilities for students and educators in career planning and exploration, thereby enhancing the overall educational experience and preparedness of our students.

2-Year Goals

  • Expand Employer Partnerships:
    • Objective: Increase the number of employer partners to provide a wider array of work-based learning and internship opportunities.
    • Action Plan: Employ a Business Relations Coordinator and develop targeted outreach strategies.
  • Enhance Equitable Access to Work-Based Learning:
    • Objective: Ensure that at least 50% of students from underrepresented groups participate in apprenticeships and internships.
    • Action Plan: Implement targeted recruitment initiatives, provide additional support services, and collaborate with community organizations to remove barriers to participation.
  • Monitor and Evaluate Program Impact:
    • Objective: Implement a comprehensive evaluation system to measure the success of work-based learning programs and make data-driven improvements.
    • Action Plan: Develop key performance indicators, conduct annual surveys of students and employers, and publish impact reports to share progress and outcomes with stakeholders.
  • Map all Pathways with High School Partners:
    • Objective: Create brochures, flyers, and websites highlighting career pathways beginning with specific high school dual credit courses and ending with careers or transfer options to universities.
    • Action Plan: Hire a Pathway Designer to work with Program Directors, High Schools, and Dual Credit Coordinators.

Leadership Community Updates

727 Students from Leadership Communities Receive College and Career Pathway Endorsements

Congratulations to all the school districts who awarded College and Career Pathway Endorsements to 1,072 students in the Class of 2023. We’re thrilled to share...

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