YouthForce NOLA Tools Make Planning & Budgeting For Technical Training Easier for High Schools

YouthForce NOLA (YouthForce) has created a set of dynamic tools to assist educators in New Orleans high schools as they plan and budget for student technical training in the 2023-2024 school year. 

Launched Nov. 8, the YouthForce CTE Super App Companion for New Orleans Schools enables school leaders to plan for career-connected learning at the same time as they build their academic plans via the Louisiana Department of Education’s Super App. A second tool, YouthForce’s Technical Training Vendor Guide, supports this planning process by providing schools with the information they need to identify high-quality technical training pathways to include in their plans.

Both tools will help schools weave together various state, federal and private funding streams to deliver impactful programs that will give their students a competitive edge for their future careers. 

“Young people want career insights and real-world experiences now more than ever. Given this student interest, we need to build bridges between school and our region's great jobs,” said Cate Swinburn, co-founder and president of YouthForce NOLA. “The CTE Super App Companion and the Technical Training Vendor Guide enable schools to bring career-connected learning to the forefront of their planning.”

Several New Orleans school leaders who previewed the tools found them to be helpful. “These tools will help our leadership understand the academic return on investment when it comes to providing career-connected learning,” said Dr. Tomika Washington, principal at Edna Karr High School. “They also will help us plan for long-term investments in career training.”