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APS presents Academies of Albuquerque plan emphasizing career-focused pathways and freshman academies
Summary
Albuquerque Public Schools leaders described a district initiative, the Academies of Albuquerque, to create community-connected career academies, freshman academies and career pathways supported by city and county partnerships.
Albuquerque Public Schools officials presented the Academies of Albuquerque plan to the Local Government Coordinating Commission on Oct. 16, describing a district effort to expand career-connected learning, deepen personalized instruction and strengthen college- and career-readiness.
Chief Academic Officer Sherry Jett and Assistant Superintendent Marco Harris said the Academies are intended as a community-connected initiative and not solely an APS program; business and civic partners will be asked to provide internships, job shadowing and other experiential learning opportunities.
APS leaders described a model that starts with exposure at the elementary level, exploratory experiences in middle school, a freshman-academy structure to create smaller learning communities and multi-course career pathways in grades 10–12 that culminate in a “completer” credential. Early trailblazer sites include Manzano, Highland and Cibola high schools.
“We want them to be in the community. We want them to be doing hands-on learning, doing things that reflect their interests, their choice, and their voice,” CAO Sherry Jett said, describing the profile-of-a-graduate work that underpins the academies.
APS described the pathway model with clusters such as hospitality and entrepreneurship, health, business and marketing, and others; a student who completes three sequential courses in a pathway would be considered a pathway “completer.” APS staff said tactical teams — including community partners convened by groups like United Way — will address barriers and operationalize internship and employer connections.
Members of the LGCC welcomed the focus on experiential learning and on providing supports for students at risk of disengagement. APS officials said small learning communities, weekly team meetings of teachers, and the district’s student-success system will identify students with attendance or academic issues and trigger wraparound interventions.
City and county leaders signaled readiness to partner. The city’s CAO Sam Single and Bernalillo County officials said government departments can offer job-shadowing and placement opportunities across many occupations, and Alex (identified in comments as City/County partner) said municipal/county employers can support internships and externships.
Ending: APS said it will host a convening Oct. 28 with community partners and stakeholders to develop tactical teams and begin implementing pathway and academy plans; LGCC members pledged continued coordination across city, county and school systems.
