LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 20, 2016) — Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) today announced the launch of Manufacturing Technology: High School Career Pathways in Kentucky. Doss High School, in collaboration with manufacturers and government leaders, will offer a career pathways program providing students with on-the-job training experience, employability skills and technical training.
“Approximately one quarter of the more than 32,000 manufacturing jobs posted in Kentucky in 2015 were for skilled trade positions specializing in machining and industrial technology, so demand is great and growing,” said Larry Brown, executive director, LIFT. “The combination of employability training with technical training will help launch students into successful, in-demand careers.”
Expected to launch in August 2016, the innovative, Doss High School Manufacturing Technology career pathway program will provide students with:
• A four-course major in manufacturing
• Work-based learning experience with local employers
• Certifications including the National Career Readiness Certification
(NCRC) and the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council – Certified Production Technician (MSSC-CPT)
“In an effort to develop more local talent, training and certification expansion are vitally needed in high schools,” said Emily DeRocco, education and workforce director, LIFT. “The advancement and training opportunities provided in this program will engage students in a work-and-learn environment that will provide significant manufacturing career opportunities.”
The Manufacturing Technology: High School Career Pathways initiative will be led by Jefferson County Public Schools and Doss High School and is part of a
regional plan that involves adjacent communities to develop talent for the jobs available in local manufacturing companies. Other partners in this effort include Amatrol, GE Appliances, Ford – Louisville Assembly Plant, local Ford UAW members, KentuckianaWorks, and the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center.
“At JCPS our core mission is to prepare students to graduate college and career ready, and this partnership offers an exciting new opportunity to make that goal a reality,” said Dr. Donna Hargens, JCPS Superintendent. “Combining national certifications with local, work-based learning experience and regional partnerships will prepare tomorrow’s workforce for the high-skilled, high-tech lucrative manufacturing careers of the 21st century.”
For more information about the High School Machining Program in Kentucky and other LIFT education and workforce development initiatives, please visit www.lift.technology or contact LIFT Education & Workforce Director Emily DeRocco at [email protected].
ABOUT LIFT
Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT) is a public-private partnership that will develop and deploy advanced lightweight materials manufacturing technologies and programs to prepare the workforce. The LIFT region includes 5 states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
LIFT is operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII) and was selected through a competitive process led by the U.S. Department of Defense under the Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation (LM3I) solicitation issued by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research. LIFT is one of the founding institutes in the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, a federal initiative to create regional hubs to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (JCPS)
Educating more than 100,600 students a year, Jefferson County Public Schools is the largest school district in Kentucky and the 27th largest school system in the United States. The district boasts 18 magnet schools and 52 magnet programs at all levels, offers Advanced Placement classes at every school, and is home to 15 Five Star career- themed high schools, with the goal of creating community leaders who graduate college and career ready.
Add Comment