by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman
In 1969, there was unrest in our country. We lost Martin Luther King, Jr., Jack and Bobby Kennedy. We needed to engage our kids in positive, meaningful ways.
A significant answer came from the business community. The first career academy, offering both academic and vocational education, was created in Philadelphia at Edison High School in collaboration with the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) and Bell of Pennsylvania.
Today, there are 2000 academies in high schools serving more than one million students in small learning communities, each with a college prep curriculum and a career theme, all adhering to national standards.
Architecture, business, computer technology, culinary arts, finance, health science and hospitality are among them. Studies have shown that academy students perform better, are more likely to continue into post secondary education and earn more than comparable students in the same schools.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first academy, the National Career Academy Coalition will hold its annual conference in Philadelphia, November 1st-3rd. Learn more about the movement and best practices. Visit NCACinc.com.
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