Pathways to Prosperity

The problem statement highlights a critical workforce gap in Orange County’s rapidly growing sectors of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Biotechnology, and Automation, where high-paying jobs remain unfilled due to a shortage of qualified candidates, especially among underrepresented student populations. Despite strong regional demand and competitive wages—such as $130,418 average annual salaries in ICT and substantial middle-skill wages in biotech—many high school students lack awareness and access to these career pathways. Coastline ROP’s Pathways to Prosperity project seeks to address these challenges by expanding foundational courses into comprehensive, industry-aligned pathways with capstone courses, work-based learning, early college credit, and certifications. The initiative prioritizes equity by targeting underserved students, including English Learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities, providing enhanced academic supports and innovative delivery models. Through partnerships with community colleges and regional employers, Coastline ROP aims to build sustainable, accessible career pathways that close equity gaps, meet labor market needs, and prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers in emerging tech and biotech industries.

The work plan for the K14 Pathway Quality Strategies focuses on developing and expanding three new regional career pathways in Automation/AI, Biotechnology, and Cybersecurity by summer 2025, each culminating in 300-hour capstone courses that incorporate industry certifications, early college credit, and meaningful work-based learning experiences such as internships. These pathways aim to increase access and completion rates for disproportionately impacted students—including English Learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, foster, disabled, and homeless youth—through targeted recruitment, enhanced ELD supports integrated into CTE curricula, and robust academic and career guidance. The plan leverages partnerships with community colleges, industry leaders, and third-party organizations to provide mentoring, career exploration activities, and alignment with local labor market demands. Additional flexible course delivery models, including asynchronous and summer offerings, are designed to overcome scheduling barriers, while marketing and outreach efforts will raise awareness among students, families, and educators. Together, these coordinated efforts seek to increase enrollment and completion by 15% among underserved populations and ensure sustainable pathways that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers aligned with regional workforce needs.