Cleveland schools, Cleveland Foundation launch new career program for students

Crain’s Cleveland Business

November 15, 2021 12:52 PM

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Cleveland Foundation have launched a new initiative to help students discover what career path they want to take after graduation.

The Planning and Career Exploration, or PACE, initiative, will offer all students in sixth to 12th grade "quality in-school lessons, career advising and relevant out-of-school experiences" to help them explore different careers and occupations, a news release said.

"Creating this pipeline will benefit both our graduates and the region," district CEO Eric Gordon said in the release. "We want all of our students, whether they go to college or not, to find and thrive in living-wage careers that match their strengths and interests. And employers need qualified candidates to fill in-demand jobs."

The planning process for the new program involved "more than 100 individuals, 40 organizations and 70 employers" over two years, the release said. There are six organizations working closely with the district this academic year to roll out the program: Neighborhood Leadership Institute (True2U), Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland, College Now Greater Cleveland, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, the Greater Cleveland Partnership and The Fund for Our Economic Future.

In June, the Cleveland Foundation's board approved a $950,000 grant to the district and those supporting organizations for the program's implementation, the release said.