Career Pathways is a way for schools to organize classes and career information. Students learn best when the information revolves around a theme and when the content is of interest to the student. Career Pathways expands student opportunities for learning and career preparation.

The Career Pathways program is supported by the Berks Business Education Coalition and the schools of Berks County. For more information on the Career Pathways Program visit www.berkscareerpathways.com

Curriculum Pathways is an online product that provides a wealth of resources in all the core academic disciplines in grades 8-12. The product is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between teachers and technology experts who serve as resource partners in providing tools and support that assist teachers in

•  Teaching a standards-based curriculum

•  Preparing students for college-level learning

•  Instilling 21 st century skills

•  Meeting achievement and accountability criteria

The SAS inSchool Curriculum Pathways initiative is endorsed by the Berks Business Education Coalition as a significant strategy to improve student academic competency. Resources are provided to schools to assist schools in integrating the Curriculum Pathways program into their curriculum and instructional practices. For more information on the Curriculum Pathways program visit www.SASinSchool.com

The Berks Business Education is committed to assisting schools in increasing the number of their graduates who transition successfully from high school to further education. The Higher Education/Basic Education initiative has at it foundation the enhancement of communication between basic and higher education within Berks County. A standing committee comprised of representatives from higher and basic education meets frequently to discuss strategies that can be utilized to increase the participation of high school graduates in further education.

Programs that have developed from the initiative include facilitated entire class visits to college campuses in Berks County to introduce college life to students in grades 8 and 9, and to provide the necessary information for students to plan appropriately for entrance into college, and "How to Get to College" posters that describe the necessary preparatory steps students need to take to successfully enter college.

The Berks Business Education Coalition has been selected as the Intermediary Organization to facilitate the planning and implementation of a Regional Career Education Partnership in Berks County. The Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry have selected the Coalition as an experienced organization that can work with the local Workforce Investment Board and Youth Council to promote career preparation for students throughout the County, to partner with Project 720 high schools to address key career-related elements and to work with the Commonwealth on broad strategies that encourage employers to support Pennsylvania's vision for high school reform.

The Berks Business Education Coalition is listed as an educational improvement organization by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. This designation provides the opportunity for corporations to make tax credit donations to the Coalition to support school districts in school improvement initiatives including Career Pathways, SAS inSchool Curriculum Pathways and other strategies to improve student academic performance. The Coalition receives the donations from local corporations and administers the funds through grants to schools. The Coalition has received over $360,000 in tax credit donations from corporations in Berks County within the last year to support school improvement.