READYCT INC

FOR THE 2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR, READYCT OPERATED 17 CAREER PATHWAYS IN 11 SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN FIVE MUNICIPALITIES, WITH TEAM MEMBERS MANAGING AND/OR OFFERING WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATION ACROSS 18 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAMS (CPP). READYCT ALSO SUPPORTED A PROJECT IN EASTERN CT FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING YOUTH MANUFACTURING AND HEALTHCARE PIPELINES, REACHING NEARLY 20 SCHOOLS. ALL CPP FOCUSES ON BRINGING BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS INTO THE SCHOOL IN WAYS THAT COMPLEMENT THEMED COURSEWORK AND HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM. AS WELL, THE CPP EXPERIENCE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THEY PURSUE CONTINUED EDUCATION/TRAINING OR GO DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE. READYCT CPP IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ALIGN WITH CONNECTICUT'S HIGH-GROWTH, HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES. CURRENT THEMES INCLUDE BUSINESS/FINANCIAL SERVICES, COMPUTER SCIENCE, ENGINEERING/GREEN TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INSURANCE/FINANCIAL SERVICES, MANUFACTURING, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.A CORE COMPONENT OF PROGRAMMING IS STUDENTS' CAREER PREPARATION EXPERIENCE, SO CPP ALSO INCLUDES A WORK-READINESS CURRICULUM THAT HELPS STUDENTS LEARN AND APPLY SKILLS SUCH AS TIME MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, PERSONAL BRANDING, WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE, RESUME WRITING, AND INTERVIEWING. FOR MANY STUDENTS, THE CPP EXPERIENCE CULMINATES WITH A PAID INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE ALIGNED WITH THEIR CAREER PATHWAY THEME. SOME OF THE STATE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS HOST READYCT INTERNS, INCLUDING HARTFORD HEALTHCARE, TRAVELERS, PRATT & WHITNEY, AND EY. AS WELL, MID-SIZED AND SMALLER, FAMILY-OWNED COMPANIES WELCOME READYCT INTERNS, YEAR AFTER YEAR. FOR 2023-24, OVER 600 STUDENTS HAD HIGH-QUALITY PAID INTERNSHIPS WITH READYCT AS A RESULT OF THEIR CAREER READINESS TRAINING.OTHER READYCT PROGRAMMING ALIGNED WITH CAREER READINESS FOR YOUTH INCLUDE STUDENT 5.0 (FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATING WITHOUT A POSTSECONDARY PLAN); FIRST ROBOTICS (TO SUPPORT ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO ROBOTICS PROGRAMMING STATEWIDE); THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'SCOMPUTING CHALLENGE; G.R.I.T. (AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNGER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS); AND F.R.Y.A. (A FIRST RESPONDERS PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM).READYCT PROGRAMMING FOCUSES CHIEFLY ON UNDERSERVED STUDENTS, TYPICALLY LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED BY STUDENTS OF COLOR. A LARGE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS IN READYCT PROGRAMMING REPORT NAVIGATING ADVERSITY, INCLUDING FOOD INSECURITY, UNSTABLE HOUSING, POVERTY, AND DOMESTIC AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. AS A RESULT, READYCT SERVES AS A STABLE AND POSITIVE PRESENCE, HELPING STUDENTS ENVISION WHAT THEY WANT TO BECOME AND HOW TO GET THERE.

READYCT'S MOST RECENT POLICY WORK HAS BEEN AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL. THE WORK INCLUDES ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S WORKFORCE COUNCIL EDUCATION + TRAINING AND WORK-BASED LEARNING COMMITTEES, CHARGED WITH BETTER ALIGNING THE STATE'S PUBILC EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH CONNECTICUT'S WORKFORCE NEEDS.