Transforming Allen County’s Technical Education Ecosystem

The Don Wood Foundation

The Don Wood Foundation, in collaboration with Ambassador Enterprises and TPMA, sought to revolutionize the technical education (CTE) ecosystem in Allen County, Indiana. With a mission to empower a diverse, skilled workforce, the foundation recognized the need for strategic improvements to align education with economic demands and workforce opportunities.

Technical Education Study

In 2023, Don Wood and Ambassador Enterprises commissioned a comprehensive study to assess the state of the technical education ecosystem. The goal was to identify its successes, challenges, and key opportunities for strategic funding. TPMA spearheaded this in-depth evaluation, employing a methodology that:

Analyzed CTE data across four public school districts and private institutions.
Conducted in-depth interviews with stakeholders, including employers, educators, and students, to capture diverse perspectives.

Group,Of,Young,People,In,Technical,Vocational,Training,With,Teacher

Thinking,,Warehouse,And,Woman,On,Tablet,For,Inspection,,Inventory,And

Key Findings

TPMA identified several programs as innovative while also highlighting significant challenges that hindered the effectiveness and reach of CTE initiatives.

Innovative Learning Programs

Amp Lab: Empowered students with hands-on collaboration opportunities to solve real-world challenges in partnership with local businesses.
Junior Achievement 3DE: Transformed high school education by focusing on practical, hands-on, career-focused curricula, fostering higher graduation rates and increased college enrollment.

Areas of Opportunity

Labor Market Misalignment: Students were enrolling and completing CTE courses that did not align with the county’s high growth industries.
Capacity Constraints: The Fort Wayne Career Academy, a vital resource, could accommodate only 6% of the county’s high school students, creating barriers to access.
Equity Gaps: Economically disadvantaged students were underrepresented, with only 2.2% of CTE participants living at or below the federal poverty level, compared to 45% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Perception Issues: A disconnect between the perceived value of college credits earned through CTE courses and the actual benefits in the job market undermined student and employer confidence.

Actionable Recommendations

TPMA devised a strategic roadmap to address these challenges. Key components of the solution included:

Expand Capacity: Increase CTE program enrollment capacity, particularly at the Fort Wayne Career Academy, to meet rising demand.

Enhance Alignment: Shift program focus from college credit accumulation to industry-recognized certifications that directly enhance employability.

Strengthen Partnerships: Model future collaborations after the successful partnership with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 166, integrating employer needs with educational offerings.

Introduce Apprenticeships: Establish youth apprenticeship programs modeled on successful initiatives in nearby regions, combining classroom learning with real-world experience.

Boost Accessibility: Implement targeted outreach and support mechanisms to engage economically disadvantaged students in CTE pathways.

Conclusion

TPMA’s comprehensive assessment and targeted solutions are driving a transformation of Allen County’s technical education landscape. By aligning educational programs with local labor market demands, expanding equitable access, and fostering innovative partnerships, the initiative is creating a future-ready workforce. This effort positions Allen County as a national model for collaborative, results-oriented approaches to workforce and education development, ensuring its economy remains resilient and its students are prepared to thrive in the evolving job market.

For more information on how we support CTE initiatives, contact us here.