Connecting High School Students to Trade Careers: Pearson’s Connections Academy and Home Depot’s Path to Pro Program Join Forces

Introduction:

Pearson and Connections Academy have partnered with The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program to introduce high school students to careers in the trade industry. Through this partnership, students will have access to on-demand courses and the opportunity to connect with trade professionals. This initiative aims to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the construction industry. This partnership is the first of its kind for The Home Depot and offers students innovative college and career readiness opportunities.

Full Article: Connecting High School Students to Trade Careers: Pearson’s Connections Academy and Home Depot’s Path to Pro Program Join Forces

Pearson Partners with The Home Depot to Introduce High School Students to Trade Careers

In an exciting collaboration, Pearson and its fully online public school program, Connections Academy, have announced a partnership with The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program. This partnership aims to introduce high school students to careers in the trade industry.

Connecting Students to Trade-based Careers

Through the partnership, Connections Academy will connect high school students, their families, and recent graduates to The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program. The program offers on-demand courses designed to prepare participants for six trade-based careers, including electrical, drywall, paint, plumbing, HVAC, and general construction.

Interested students have the opportunity to explore free programs developed by industry experts. Once eligible, they can build a free profile in the Path to Pro Network to showcase their skills, upload a resume, apply for over 2,500 jobs, and connect with millions of Home Depot Pro customers in search of skilled workers.

Meeting the Growing Demand in the Construction Industry

The construction industry in the United States annually needs to fill nearly three-quarters of a million jobs due to retirements, job changes, and turnover, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In less than a decade, the sector is projected to grow by another 250,000 jobs. To address this demand, Connections Academy and The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program aim to:

• Introduce students to rewarding careers in the trades
• Provide valuable training and education for these careers
• Connect students with trade professionals looking to hire early talent

An Innovative Partnership

The partnership between Pearson’s Connections Academy and The Home Depot is the first of its kind with a learning company for The Home Depot. It is also the first corporate employer partnership in Connections Academy’s expanded slate of college and career readiness offerings.

The programs offered through this partnership take an innovative tri-credit approach, allowing students to earn high school credits, industry-recognized micro-credentials, and eligibility for college credits towards over 150 U.S. bachelor’s degree programs.

Pearson Virtual Schools VP for Careers, Casey Welch, expressed the importance of providing students with alternative pathways to employment and the need to build a new generation of trade professionals. He believes that The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program is a great fit for this mission.

A Positive Outlook for the Future

The Path to Pro Skills program has already enrolled nearly 9,000 individuals, and the Path to Pro Network has connected over 13,800 people. Connections Academy plans to share the Path to Pro program with 4,000 students and families this school year, with future plans to expand nationwide.

About Pearson

Pearson is the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries. Their mission is to provide vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. With a dedicated team of 20,000 employees, Pearson offers digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data to support lifelong learning.

Summary: Connecting High School Students to Trade Careers: Pearson’s Connections Academy and Home Depot’s Path to Pro Program Join Forces

Pearson’s Connections Academy has partnered with The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program to introduce high school students to careers in the trade industry. Through this partnership, students can explore free programs, receive training, and connect with trade professionals for potential job opportunities. The collaboration aims to address the growing need for skilled workers in the construction industry.