Description: Focuses on the issues that typically face systems-involved students as they work towards graduating from high school and transitioning to college or career. Professionals who work in the K-12 system, postsecondary education, or other sectors whose work intersects with systems involved students and education may benefit from the course. Participants will learn about the barriers that frequently exist for systems-involved students at the national level, including an emphasis on equity, and then dig into data related to Iowa’s youth population. A landscape scan of various agencies and resources available to service providers and youth is included as well. The course focuses on issues and supports related to systems-involved students as they transition through care and high school. Additionally, participants engage with resources and strategies available for students planning to attend postsecondary education, and for those planning to enter the workforce. Finally, the course includes action planning to operationalize learning in the context of college and career readiness for systems-involved students. Definition of systems-involved youth/students: describes youth involved in the juvenile justice system, child welfare system, or both systems (i.e., crossover youth), with specific emphasis on youth who are incarcerated, in foster care, or youth exiting or having exited these systems. For our purposes, we will use the definition of college as found on the Iowa definition of College and Career Readiness: Post-secondary opportunities include two or four-year degree programs, certificate or licensure programs, apprenticeships, training programs in the military, on-the-job training, and industry-based certifications.
This course is offered in partnership with Iowa AEA Learning Online and the Bureau of Iowa College Aid and is
part of the Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy.