MyBestBets Making Informed Choices about Postsecondary Options 2014 National Early College Conference Caesar Mickens Jr. and Sophie Besl Jobs for the Future

Visualize for a moment the process you went through from high school to earning a postsecondary credential to working in your field of choice. Think about all of the factors and challenges that influenced that path.

THE CHALLENGE 6.7 million 16- to 24-year-olds in America are not in school and not working (opportunity youth). 1.3 million students drop out of high school each year. 34% of all HS graduates do not enroll in postsecondary education; 46% of low-income HS graduates don’t enroll. The average high school guidance counselor works with students. *See Alliance for Excellent Education

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5 SOURCES:*U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 2012; **Charles River Associates, 2010; *** Sen. Harkin, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, Education Sector Loan default rates have risen sharply in recent years, relegating a growing number of students to years of financial hardship. This is particularly pronounced at some of the for-profits: ─ 57 percent of bachelor’s degree graduates from for-profit colleges owe at least $30,000 in student loans, compared to 25 percent of those at private non-profit colleges, and 12 percent at public colleges.* ─ Students who attended for-profit colleges are at least twice as likely to default on student loans as students at public and non- profit colleges.** ─ 42% of students attending for-profit two-year colleges take out private student loans. 5% of students at community colleges and 18% at private not-for-profit two-year colleges do.*** THE CHALLENGE

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Among types of credentials: Among 2- and 4-year institutions and District Technical Centers in Florida, graduates with an A.S. degree have median earnings = >$11,000 higher than graduates with bachelor’s degrees and almost $20,000 higher than graduates with A.A. degrees who are in the labor market. Among fields/programs of study: The median first-year earnings of an A.S. degree grad in child care provider/assistant are ~$25,000. An A.S. degree grad in nursing can expect twice as much, and A.S. degree grads in EMT-paramedic can expect even more (almost $60,000). 7 While access to postsecondary education is critical, choosing a path with a return on investment – either through high-return career and technical fields or through successful transfer to four-year colleges – is even more critical. SOURCE: *College Measures, Higher Education Pays: Measuring the Economic Security of Florida’s Postsecondary Graduates, THE CHALLENGE

WE NEED NEW SOLUTIONS

Localized Labor Market Analysis Postsecondary Program Analysis Analysis of Employer Needs MyBestBets leverages real-time labor market information to unpack and make clear the complex college and career development process for students and their counselors. THE MYBESTBETS DIFFERENCE Best Bet Criteria Automated information Self-assessment Student –led process Building professional networks Capturing student progress Organizing the process Customized Best Bet Profile Resiliency

Determine best bets –Review findings from the labor market, postsecondary programs, and employers against a set of best bet criteria –Even if a program is a best bet, it will not be the right fit for every student – consider what kind of students may or may not be well suited for each best bet Investigate postsecondary programs –What programs are offered in high- demand fields, and who offers them? –Are student persisting through the program? –What supports do students receive? –Are graduates employed in the field for which they trained? Learn the labor market –What entry-level jobs are in demand and offer a good starting wage? –What are employers seeking? –How can students get a foot in the door? Strengthen employer relationships –What education/training, skills, and experiences are needed for ‘in demand’ jobs with regional employers? –Which entry-level jobs offer the best career advancement opportunities? –How can training program curricula better meet employer needs? THE PROCESS

Entering and Succeeding in the Program Program Design and Structure Alignment with Employers Program Outcomes Are there minimum scores required on entry-level tests? Is there a waitlist and, if so, what can students do in the interim? What supports exist to ensure that students are successful? What will students learn as a result of completing the program? What is the program’s instructional approach (e.g., hands-on learning vs. lecture-based)? What is the cost of the program? Median student debt upon finishing the program? What job(s) does the program prepare graduates for? How does the program involve employers (e.g., design, internships, etc.)? Can ex-offenders work in the occupation/field? What are rates of persistence and completion in the program? What percentage of graduates get hired? Where do they typically go, and how much can they expect to earn? 11 POSTSECONDARY INFORMATION ANALYSIS

What is the best bet research process for a student? o Chooses an occupation from her “favorites” to research o Conducts research to capture key pieces of information on the career pathway, including postsecondary program and employer information o Inputs information into an online template, which also has automated data from the platform’s database about the chosen occupation o Analyzes the information with her coach and determines if the career pathway is a best bet for her What does this profile help the student do? o Capture important occupational information o Summarize what employers are looking for o Provide an overview of a postsecondary option o Identify career trajectory opportunities, including wage growth 12 HOW MYBESTBETS WORKS

KEY FEATURES OF MYBESTBETS For young people: Designed to be used as a mobile application Has a dashboard and other interactive features Requires strong connections to their guidance counselors and other supportive adults For guidance counselors and others who support students: Manage cohorts more effectively and efficiently Track student progress with ease Connect with students face-to-face and via mobile devices Support leveraging of resources

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BEST BET PROFILE Each profile : Captures important occupational information and employer preferences Provides an overview of an associated postsecondary program Identifies career trajectory opportunities, including wage growth

What are some of the challenges you face with career planning at your organization? (e.g., financial, human resources, lack of interest) What has your organization done to deal with those challenges? What solutions have you explored? To what extent are you connected to postsecondary program/training coordinators In your region? (or other programs to help promote student career experiences and pathways such as co-op/internship placement, career services, apprenticeship programs) Do you see MyBestBets being a value-add at your organization? DISCUSSION

For more information, if you have questions or to get involved with MyBestBets, please contact Clare Bertrand MyBestBets is a joint venture of Jobs for the Future and YouthBuild USA.