The primary assumption in PAI’s model is that we can significantly change life and economic outcomes for young people by motivating them to learn through their own interests and real-world, career-connected experiences and curriculum. Embedded in the model are three core activities – programming that motivates, the active development of networks with caring adults, and local advocacy at a policy level for instructional and structural changes in secondary education.
Our Role
PAI serves as an intermediary, bringing the financial and human resources of the business community into Philadelphia public schools, providing work and life readiness skills, making connections to internship experiences, and offering scholarships that provide a path toward a productive life.
We engage over 400 volunteers from the local business, labor, non-profit, and higher education communities in improving education and building 21st Century skills for Philadelphia public high school students.
Our Numbers
PAI serves over 4,500 students in 28 academy programs in 10 career areas. We work with 16 high schools.
An Environment for Learning
Each Academy program is housed in a large urban high school as a "school-within-a-school".
An Academy’s curriculum is centered around a career theme to motivate students, connect the schools to business and community partners, and give students practical applications related to their studies.
Academy enrollment should not exceed 250 students so that teachers have an opportunity to give adequate attention to the needs of each student.
A team of teachers is selected from among the school’s faculty and an "Academy Coordinator" is chosen to lead the program and be accountable to the Academies, Inc. for the delivery of education and career services to students.
Students are scheduled to attend classes together and are taught by a core group of teachers as part of their daily routine.
There is contiguous space provided to create a sense of a defined community within the school, which includes an Academy office complete with direct telephone access, fax machines and other items necessary to run the program effectively.
Links
If you want to know more about career academies, visit these websites.
