1 SkillsUSA Champions at Work

SkillsUSA Preparing students for career opportunities through CTSO involvement The Challenge The Facts The Solution

Framework – What is SkillsUSA? Founded in 1965 SkillsUSA is a not-for-profit national association More than 300,000 member students and educators partnering with business and industry to ensure that America has a well- prepared skilled workforce.

SkillsUSA’s Vision SkillsUSA is recognized as the organization that empowers students to become global leaders of America’s skilled workforce, ready for continuous career success. Our partner network benefits all members as well as educators and industry. Every eligible student is involved and every life we touch is improved.

Technicians and skilled trade workers are two of the top three jobs employers are having trouble filling globally. (Manpower Group, Talent Shortage Survey Results, 2011) Middle-skill jobs (those jobs that generally require some significant education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree) will account for about 45 percent of all job openings projected through (BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Edition) Challenge Facing America

Facts One quarter of America’s workforce – that’s 31 million people – are employed in one of the 130 occupational titles served by SkillsUSA. [Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures. Total workforce is 124 million] Students in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs have a higher-than-average high school graduation rate. The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 90% compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 74.9%. [U.S. Department of Education. “Concentrator = three or more classes”]

Facts In the academic year, SkillsUSA’s membership was composed of 255,331 high school students 12,736 professionals (educators) from the High School Division 34,995 College/Postsecondary students 2,903 professionals (educators) from the C/PS Division 27,641 registered Alumni 287,443 total students 15,639 total professionals 330,703 TOTAL MEMBERS (including registered Alumni)

Facts Student Demographics Gender 57% maleDivision 43% female89% Secondary Ethnicity11% Postsecondary 64% White 18% Hispanic/Latino 14% Black 1% American Indian 1% Asian 2% Other SkillsUSA has at least a thousand member students in 14 of the 16 Career Clusters  defined by the State Directors of Career and Technical Education, including 62,000 in Construction trades curricula 24,000 in Communications Technology 22,000 in Health sciences 16,000 in Hospitality & tourism in Human services 13,000 in Information Technology 13,000 in Public safety 14,000 in Manufacturing 11,000 in STEM 49,000 in Transportation technologies

The Solution – SkillsUSA Mission SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. 9

Why SkillsUSA? 10

What does research say? In a November 2012 survey of SkillsUSA advisors, 77% believed that involvement with SkillsUSA made them a better teacher. 74% believed that engagement with SkillsUSA had a positive effect on the academic performance of most of their students. 88% believed that their program advisory committees had influenced their classroom/lab curriculum.

WHAT MAKES A SkillsUSA STUDENT UNIQUE? Extremely Valuable Employees Who: Rely on intelligence, imagination and skills Identify and solve complex problems that are not well defined Stay in school – impacting future retention Use creativity to reach practical outcomes Are crucial to the profitability and success of the organization 12

THE SkillsUSA EXPERIENCE National Research Shows Career and Technical Education has a direct impact on a number of important psychosocial and behavioral characteristics of youth: 1.Belief in their abilities 2.Engagement 3.Attendance 4.Aspirations 5.Achievement 6.Transition to post secondary education 7.Training and employability 13

Integration of SkillsUSA Into Pathways Integrate SkillsUSA activities into ongoing classroom activities and lessons. Integrate SkillsUSA employability activities using the Professional Development Program. Prepare students for competition in the SkillsUSA Championships through study and practice. 14

Three Levels to Creating Success Technical Skills Work-based Skills Personal Skills It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. It emphasizes total quality at work- high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, pride in the dignity of work and promotes involvement in community service.

SkillsUSA benefits students by: Teaching teamwork and leadership Reinforcing employability skills Nationally recognized contest program Providing ways to serve the local community Offering over 1 million in scholarships Helping students meet potential employees 16

SkillsUSA benefits teachers by: Enhancing the technical curriculum Helping improve class attitudes Giving students a way to test their skills Providing avenues for local industry support Helping to showcase CTE pathways Gaining greater administrative support Providing opportunities to network 17

SkillsUSA benefits schools by: Showcase the school to the community Helping teachers meet educational standards Improving the quality for CTE pathways Providing opportunities for recognition Helping to produce more qualified graduates Assisting with recruitment and enrollments 18

Membership More than 330,000 students and instructors join SkillsUSA annually. SkillsUSA has served more than 10.6 million students since Membership runs from Sept. 1st - August 31st

Use Your Resources to Get Started SkillsUSA web site provides tools and resources to establish a chapter and engage students members Free on-line training modules /change2.shtml 20

Getting Started: Meet with School Administrator and request permission to start a chapter Request Membership Kit from state or national office Identify other teachers to help lead the chapter Gain support and involve students from other programs Involve Industry Advisory Committees 21

22 Membership Recruitment

Students Take Ownership 23

Program of Work An active Chapter builds membership and allows students to grow! Students lead – Advisor facilitates 24

25 7 Major Goals of Program of Work Professional Development Community Service Employment Ways and Means SkillsUSA Championships Public Relations Social Activities

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