1Designating November 13, 2013, as "Pennsylvania Career
2Development Day" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, In today's economy, all students must graduate high
4school well informed of the vast array of career choices
5available to them, and knowing how to pursue their aspirations
6in order to successfully participate in Pennsylvania's
7workforce; and

8WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Department of Education has adopted
9Career Education and Work Standards that require all high school
10graduates to demonstrate their competency in the areas of career
11awareness and preparation, career acquisition (getting a job),
12career retention and advancement and entrepreneurship as a
13requirement for graduation; and

14WHEREAS, Research predicts that within the next ten years,
1563% of all jobs in the nation will require some postsecondary
16education and that 90% of new jobs in growing industries with
17high wages will require some postsecondary education; and

1WHEREAS, There is a gap between students' aspirations to
2pursue postsecondary education or training and their
3preparedness for such opportunities; and

4WHEREAS, Students who graduate from high school having
5experienced meaningful career planning and development have the
6knowledge, skills and attitudes sought by employers, are
7qualified for high-paying, in-demand jobs, and are better
8prepared to contribute to a stable, world class work force for
9Pennsylvania; and

10WHEREAS, Underserved groups, such as minorities, students
11with low socioeconomic status, those who are the first in their
12families to attend college, those who have physical and academic
13challenges, and those seeking careers that do not require a four
14year college degree often require additional support; and

15WHEREAS, The Capital Region Partnership for Career
16Development collaborates with many businesses, organizations and
17State agencies to provide students with career exploration
18experiences, programs and resources that help them become
19knowledgeable about traditional, nontraditional and emerging
20postsecondary educational opportunities and career paths; and

21WHEREAS, Schools and educators need support from the Capital
22Region Partnership for Career Development and other
23organizations to maintain adequate and effective career
24development programs, as well as support for employer networking
25and teacher training to expand their knowledge of evolving
26career opportunities for students; and

27WHEREAS, The Capital Region Partnership for Career
28Development recognizes the critical need for schools, employers,
29postsecondary institutions and various community and government
30agencies to collaborate on workforce development to ensure

1career success for the youth of Pennsylvania; therefore be it

2RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania designate November
313, 2013, as "Pennsylvania Career Development Day" in
4Pennsylvania.