New summer workforce training is coming to Wake high schools

The WakeEd Partnership announced Thursday it’s starting a career accelerator program for juniors and seniors that will include new skills training and help students prepare for applying for jobs.

“Every day you hear about another investment here in Raleigh, and the Triangle about jobs,” said Keith Poston, WakeEd Partnership’s executive director. “There are a lot of kids that go to school that just don't know, ‘How do I get there?’”

It’s the latest announcement related to workforce education as education leaders throughout North Carolina and the nation continue to emphasize preparing more students for the workforce or college while they’re still in secondary school.

Leaders contend many employers can’t find enough people to hire with the necessary skills that students can learn while in high school or in college.

Improved workforce and college readiness is also part of a court-ordered plan at the center of a long-running lawsuit on adequate school funding in North Carolina.

The summer programs will be open to all Wake County juniors and seniors, and they’ll take place at a school in each of the nine school board districts.

WakeEd Partnership anticipates having applications for the programs and serving about 1,000 students this summer.

Business that would like to be involved in skills training or job preparation — or other programs — can still reach out to WakeEd Partnership before the summer. Poston said the program will require about 40 companies.

Epic Games is one company that’s already signed on to work with students.

Holly Hurlburt, the Assistant Dean for NC State's Academic enrichment program says she's noticed first and second year college students have had a hard time transitioning. She says this program can help with that- choosing a major, and even employment.

"Students, for obvious reasons, haven't had the opportunity visit college or have had the same way to engage with colleges," said Hurlburt. "It's incredibly important to be thinking about getting students ready for the workplace as well as for college and there is a lot of overlap."

Skills training could include coding, and job application training could include work on resumes and keeping social media posts from harming the application process.

Poston especially wants to reach students who are underrepresented in certain fields, such as girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, to expose them to career opportunities in those fields.

WakeEd Partnership also announced a fall program in career exploration for 7th grade students. That program will give students a “short burst immersive experience” directly in workforce training and allow students to ask questions of employers.

The programs are partially funded by community partners and a grant the Wake County Public School System received via COVID-19 stimulus money.

WakeEd Partnership has existing career-focused programs for students and educators, including a summer program that trains teachers to use project-based learning in STEM classes.

WakeEd Partnership is a nonprofit comprised of business and community leaders and works with the Wake County Public School System.