Career and Technical Education In Baltimore: A Tale of Two Studies

Join us for an in-depth conversation regarding two recent reports focused on career pathways and readiness for Baltimore City students.  Our guests include:

• Kathleen Mathers, Director, Education Strategy Group (ESG) - “Preparing All Students for Economic & Career Success: An External Assessment of Career Readiness Priorities, Practices and Programs in Baltimore City Schools.”  Baltimore City Public Schools, with support from the Abell Foundation, commissioned a study by Education Strategy Group to examine its current career readiness programming and identify opportunities to strengthen and scale-high quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for all students. Kathleen Mathers, Director at ESG will present findings of their  mixed method analysis, including a data analysis of existing career program performance; stakeholder interviews with Baltimore’s education and workforce leaders; and focus groups and surveys of students, teachers and counselors
• Roger Schulman, President and CEO, The Fund for Educational Excellence - Broken Pathways: The Cracks in Career and Technical Education in Baltimore City Public Schools (2019), the most recent report from the Fund for Educational Excellence, gives voice to more than 140 former CTE students who were promised, “a leg up toward an in-demand, well-paid career.” Students’ experiences too often do not align with that promise. Their report reveals an inflexible program lacking hands-on experiences and career advising and makes practical recommendations for restructuring CTE to better support students.  

The conversation will be moderated by Bonnie Legro, Senior Program Officer-Education, Abell Foundation.  Rachel Pfeifer, Director of College and Career, Baltimore City Schools will be available for questions and answers. Rachel Pfeifer will return for a more in-depth City Schools response and follow-up program for the information shared.  

This program is for Maryland Philanthropy Network members only.