Career center helps kids get ready for future

From the BCCT

Career center helps kids get ready for future

By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS - Lombardi walked into the new career center at Harry S Truman High School last week not knowing what to do after he graduates.

Less than an hour later, the Truman senior left the center armed with a list of potential careers that might be a good fit for him. The list is based on the answers Jeremy gave during an online survey of his interests and goals. It includes graphic designer, landscaper and airport grounds crew member.

“It really helped me out with possible careers for after high school,” Jeremy, 19, said of the list. “It shows me I've got the world at my fingertips, basically.”

The Bristol Township school used Project 720 funds from the state to create the career center to help Truman students develop a post-high school plan, said Mark Kaye, a retired guidance counselor who oversees the facility.

It includes computers, online career strategy programs, an overhead video screen for presentations and a meeting area for students, counselors and college and trade representatives. Students can do online searches about colleges and universities, apply for free online to Bucks County Community College and make a reservation to take the SAT test at a neighboring high school.

“It's helping us with our future and it's great that we have a center to do that,” said Truman senior Samantha Kurfuss, 17, who plans to pursue a career in criminal justice, phlebotomy or forensic science.

Project 720, named for the number of days a student is in high school, was established a few years ago to provide students with personalized attention, tougher classes and a more rigorous senior year.

Gov. Ed Rendell pushed for the program because surveys suggest an estimated 40 percent of high school graduates are not ready for college and other grads entering the workforce often lack basic math and communication skills, state officials said.

The Morrisville and Palisades school districts were among the first in the state to receive Project 720 grants, which are awarded over a three-year period.

Morrisville used the $120,000 it received between 2005-08 to develop a high school curriculum that includes four years of required mathematics classes and other initiatives, including mentoring and apprenticeship programs, district officials said.

Palisades used the $150,000 during the same time period to expand summer reading programs, integrate technology into math classes and, like Truman, help students develop plans for their career paths.

Bristol Township's Project 720 grant for $217,119 is spread out in three installments between 2007-10.

Once all the Truman seniors have access to the center this year, counselors will arrange interviews with juniors and sophomores to get them thinking about their futures, Kaye said. Ninth-graders at the district's Benjamin Franklin Freshman Academy also are taking the career survey online to help them begin plotting a plan for the future, he said.

Matt Kohler, a Truman senior, had to ask where the center was when he received notice of an interview time. Now he's glad he found it.

“It helps so much. It gives kids so many opportunities,” said Matt, 17, who plans to be a social studies teacher. “It's probably the most important room in the school in my opinion, because it will help you determine where to go after school.”

Several area school districts are receiving Project 720 grants in three installments between 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 to better prepare their students for life after high school. In addition to Bristol Township, the districts are:

BRISTOL

$165,405 to establish a college and career center in the guidance office at Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School, provide more than 200 virtual online courses to students, establish a reading apprenticeship program and redesign the school's math program.

HATBORO-HORSHAM

$120,000 to establish student internships, integrate Pennsylvania career education and work standards into core academic courses, create a standalone course called Pathways Seminar for high school juniors to address transition planning and personal finance and establish a Student Success Center where students meet with college representatives and speakers from various professions and use numerous resources to develop a post-secondary plan.

LOWER MORELAND

The district is in the process of receiving Project 720 grant money totaling $90,000. The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching district officials Friday for information on how the money will be used.

NORTH PENN

$150,000 to bring in an academic intervention specialist to serve as a success coach and provide academic support for underachieving students. The money also is being used to support student incentive programs and curriculum enhancements, expand the high school's advanced placement program and increase after-school and Saturday academic support activities.

SOUDERTON

$196,770 to implement a more rigorous and relevant curriculum to help students focus their attention on their post-high school plans, and to enhance the high school's Career Pathways initiative.

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Education and local school districts