An introduction to POAC’s Real-World Learning program

Young adults often measure their success by the level of education they have achieved. But nearly 80% of Americans will not earn a college degree, and the price of college tuition has outpaced both inflation and family income in recent decades. Post-secondary options are continuously expanding. A 2017 Georgetown University study found there are more than 30 million “good jobs” in the U.S that do not require a four-year degree.  

At POAC we believe it’s time to redefine what success means and give students the knowledge and opportunity to utilize these different pathways to achieve their goals, whether that be entering the workforce after high school or going to a four-year college or university. That’s what inspired us to create the Real-World Learning program. Below I’ll walk you through what the program looks like and the impact it has on both students and local businesses.    

How does the program work?  

We work to close the gap between injustice and equality for students of all backgrounds. Our goal is to collaborate with schools and businesses across the Kansas City Metro Area to provide students with the tools to succeed in the career fields and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. The Real-World Learning program runs in bi-weekly professional development sessions throughout the entire school year (August through May). The virtual or in-person sessions are broken up into six major units of focus: soft skills, business etiquette, job-seeking skills, financial health and wellness life skills, industry exposure and program expectations. Many of these skills are not taught to students in underserved communities, but by the end of the school year all students should have knowledge of possible post-secondary options and how to achieve them.    

POAC also offers learning opportunities outside the classroom by connecting students with local businesses to provide internships throughout the school year. Through these collaborations with local businesses, partners and school districts, POAC can provide students with the tools they need to achieve higher emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and technical education for the corporate world. The program allows students to test out career paths before deciding which they would like to move forward with after graduation, so they can make meaningful network connections or know ahead of time if a profession isn’t the right fit. Expanded career and technical education offered through the Real-World Learning Program will also prepare students with industry-based credentials, allowing them to compete for local and regional high-paying jobs.  

Why should my business participate in the program?  

A key component of the Real-World Learning mission is to provide access to resources, education and guidance that prepares students for post-secondary success immediately after graduation. Partnerships with businesses and professional leaders to offer high-quality training and hands-on career preparation integrates career-ready skill development into the classroom. Real-World Learning professional partners work with schools to offer either on-site or virtual teaching, coaching, mentoring and internship opportunities while providing industry subject matter expertise to help drive our mission for all students to succeed. POAC can provide a program outline for each business with clear program expectations.  

 As part of our desire to help grow future local leaders and respond to the increased need in Kansas City for access to a talent pipeline, we set out to grow our own diversified, talented, and career-ready workforce here at home. Through our partnerships, businesses will have the opportunity to help home grow local talent and gain access to the pipeline of successful future candidates.  

How are we measuring program outcomes?   

We aim to build a stronger, more diverse, well-rounded and more prepared workforce with higher emotional intelligence. To do that, the Real-World Learning program is evaluated by all participating school districts and local businesses to provide measurable data of its outcomes each year.  

School district outcomes:  

 POAC measures student outcomes in four categories: hours and activities completed, projects and performance tasks, assessments, and surveys. Students will be required to complete several hours on a program task or activity. The completion of tasks and total number of hours spent will be measured throughout the year. Their performance on learning actives or assessments developed by POAC to measure their career readiness will also be measured throughout the program. As the course wraps up, students will be asked to give feedback on the Real-World Learning activities and reflect on their learning in a formal survey.  

Business outcomes:  

 Over time POAC will capture quantitative metrics analyzing the number of graduates hired after college, including those brought on by community partners. We will also track the number of sustained and expanded partnerships and perform surveys to capture feedback on success and areas of improvement at the close of each program.    

We are currently seeking businesses to participate in the 2021-2022 Real-World Learning program. By giving your time, resources and expertise to young students, you can help curve the trends we see today as students leave high school with no clear path or way of earning a decent living. To join the movement to redefine learning in Kansas City, contact us today!