Earlier this week, business, education, and government leaders signed a joint resolution pushing for career readiness. The Peoria Pathways to Prosperity Initiative seeks to ensure that many more youth complete high school and more high school graduates are college and career ready. The joint resolution is a partnership between the City of Peoria, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, FFCI Workforce Alliance, CEO Council, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, Peoria Public Schools, Peoria Federation of Teachers, and Illinois Central College. This resolution will facilitate greater collaboration and communication among the Peoria Pathways to Prosperity Stakeholders.
Source: Joint Resolution, June 1, 2014 – June 30, 2014
The Peoria Pathways to Prosperity (PP2P) Initiative seeks to ensure that many more youth complete high school and more high school graduates are college and career ready. Before the City of Peoria can reach its community and economic development goals it needs high school graduates to place into college-level courses and/or attain a postsecondary credential that is recognized by local employers. To maintain regional and global competitiveness, businesses need the Peoria talent pipeline to supply employers with talented and credentialed individuals. To respond to the demands from the City, area businesses, and higher education, the Peoria Public School system requires communities who value education. The community includes parents and guardians who are accountable for getting their children to school every day and prepared for the day’s lessons, transportation systems which deliver children to and from school and secure systems that maintain their safety throughout the day; and employers who are ready to provide work-based learning and on-the-job training experiences to teachers and students. The teachers implementing improvements in their day require the support of the District 150 administration, business partners, and higher education colleagues. Students attending Peoria Public Schools need to understand that the coursework they take will prepare them to achieve their personal career goals either immediately upon high school graduation or after completing a postsecondary program of study. To these ends, Peoria Public School District 150 (PPS), City of Peoria, Peoria Federation of Teachers (PFT), Local 780, Illinois Central College (ICC), Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC), CEO Council (CEOC), Central Illinois Workforce Alliance (CIWA), and Jobs for the Future (JFF) are developing a six-year, grade 9-14, career pathways for students from high school through community college, and into the workforce.
