Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, announced today that Connections Academy, its K-12 online school program will expand its slate of college and career readiness initiatives for middle and high school students. The initiatives feature partnerships with Coursera, the global online learning platform, Acadeum, the largest course sharing network in higher education, e-Dynamic Learning, a provider of Career Technical Education for middle and high school students, and Credly, a global leader in digital credentialing.
The career readiness initiatives for high school students will offer an innovative new tri-credit approach where courses can deliver:
High school credit from Connections Academy Industry-recognized micro-credentials on Coursera, and Eligibility for college credit toward over 150 bachelor’s degree programs in the U.S. via the Coursera/Acadeum college and university partner network. The industry credentials available can help qualify high school students for careers in fields like data analytics, UX design, software development, and cybersecurity, while also allowing them to earn eligible credit and cost savings toward a college degree.
In addition, a new Connections Academy Career Pathways program for middle and high school students will deliver curated learning experiences in the fields of IT, Business, and Healthcare. Students can connect with employers, internships, clubs and take advantage of specialized classes from e-Dynamic Learning that transition seamlessly to higher education and/or nationally recognized, industry certifications.
Connections Academy high school students also have free access to Credly to help them earn digital badges to enhance their career options. Credly is a Pearson business.
“We’re making the college and career prep experience for high school students more meaningful with new learning opportunities that set them up for post-secondary success–whether that means planning for two- or four-year college upon graduation or opting to earn job-ready credentials while in high school, or both. This is about connecting students to their unique interests and giving them the support they need to be confident about their next steps,” said SVP of Business Development at Pearson Virtual Schools, Nik Osborne.
“With this tri-credit initiative, we’re creating multiple pathways for high school students to unlock opportunity in the digital economy, whether they want to break into an in-demand career right away or pursue a college degree,” said Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. “We’re thrilled to partner with Pearson and Acadeum to equip the next generation of talent with the industry skills and micro-credentials they need to navigate a fast-changing labor market.”
The new and expanded career readiness programs will launch in select Connections Academy schools in the 2023-24 school year, rolling out nationwide in the following years.