Latest news with #ShellieHanes
Business Wire
a day ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Personalized Learning in High School Helps Prepare Students for the Workforce
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Are employers settling for better-than-nothing applicants to fill their entry-level positions? In a recent J. Wallin Opinion survey of businesses large and small across the U.S., 43 percent said that they have lowered their hiring standards due to reduced skill levels – and of those, 57 percent feel it has negatively affected their business. 1 Since only 50 percent of high school seniors plan to go to a four-year college, high schools must prepare students for the workforce as well as post-secondary education Share 'We believe it's important that teens learn basic workplace skills to help them land and keep a job,' said Shellie Hanes, superintendent at Learn4Life, a network of public high schools that personalize learning to individual students' needs, strengths and goals. 'Since only 50 percent of high school seniors plan to go to a four-year college 2, high schools must prepare students for the workforce as well as post-secondary education.' While earning their diplomas, all Learn4Life students complete a 10-week professional skills course that has them exploring career goals and learning basic computing, resume preparation and interview etiquette. Once completed, students move on to workforce development activities with structured, hands-on experiences that allow them to discover career pathways, develop essential skills and transition smoothly into a career or higher education. August is Personal Learning Month, created to promote the idea of teaching students in the way each learns best, with opportunities to learn job and life skills that will serve them after high school. More than 90 percent of employers said that personalized learning would help produce better-prepared candidates for entry-level positions. 3 'Many students lacked organizational skills, struggled with grammar, had no idea how to fill out a job application, handle a job interview or understand the basics of appropriate work behavior,' Hanes added. 'We offer courses so teens can acquire the skills to succeed in whatever job they want to pursue. Plus, many graduate with industry-recognized certifications – saving them thousands of dollars and giving them an advantage over other recent grads.' Employers cite these basic skills that entry-level workers are least likely to have 4: Work ethic/dependability Time management Problem-solving skills People skills with other employees Interpersonal skills with clients Punctuality Leadership Hanes said Learn4Life addresses those skills and teaches students about workplace communication, career readiness, employability skills, leadership and even financial literacy. 'By developing a personalized learning plan for each student, we can help them grow in areas they are good at and spend a little extra time on the skills they're lacking,' she explained. 'Because they are regularly communicating directly with their teachers and school counselors, they become comfortable speaking with adults and responding to what is expected of them.' Students then can move on to a specific CTE pathway where they are introduced to workplace competencies and receive hands-on learning– with options like computer programming, foodservice, healthcare, construction, veterinary medicine, robotics, construction and cyber-security. They earn industry-recognized certifications so they can secure internships, apprenticeships or jobs. One student, Jackie R., had dropped out of school to take care of her two children. Fortunately, she found Learn4Life, where the flexibility and personalized support helped her catch up on credits. She started in a dual-enrollment certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, balancing hands-on clinicals, academic work and motherhood with the help of her teachers and a close-knit group of classmates. 'Before I came to this school, I never envisioned being anybody. And now I know I can be somebody,' Jackie said, smiling. Find out more about Learn4Life and its personalized learning model at If interested in additional insights from the national hiring survey, please contact Learn4Life. About Learn4Life Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public high schools that provide students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 64,000 students through a year-round program, we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit 1 From Friday, May 16, through Monday, June 2, 2025, J. Wallin Opinion Research conducted an online survey of employers nationwide, plus an oversample in California. 2,000 employers were interviewed nationwide, plus an oversample to equal 450 within California. A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-2.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval) nationwide, and +/-4.6 percent within California. 2 This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans — 1,000 parents of public high school students and 1,000 recent public high school graduates (ages 18 and 19) — was commissioned by Learn4Life between June 17 and June 27, 2024. It was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR). 3 From Friday, May 16, through Monday, June 2, 2025, J. Wallin Opinion Research conducted an online survey of employers nationwide, plus an oversample in California. 2,000 employers were interviewed nationwide, plus an oversample to equal 450 within California. A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-2.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval) nationwide, and +/-4.6 percent within California. 4 From Friday, May 16, through Monday, June 2, 2025, J. Wallin Opinion Research conducted an online survey of employers nationwide, plus an oversample in California. 2,000 employers were interviewed nationwide, plus an oversample to equal 450 within California. A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-2.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval) nationwide, and +/-4.6 percent within California.
Business Wire
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Wire
When Politics Get in the Way of the Students: Charter Educators Challenge Sacramento Priorities
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California lawmakers say they want what's best for students, but the recent passage of AB 84 in the state assembly suggests otherwise, say educators at Learn4Life High Schools, a network of 80+ public schools that serve students who have struggled in a traditional setting. Through its personalized learning model with a flexible schedule, Learn4Life students reengage in their education and graduate high school. 'California youth deserve an education system that prioritizes flexibility and innovation, not excessive policies that limit opportunity.' Share Learn4Life Superintendent Shellie Hanes points out that Learn4Life assesses each student's learning style, strengths and weaknesses, and develops a personalized learning plan. Free tutoring, life skills and job training help prepare them for adulthood. This model works well with teens who need extra attention, and is successful with students who were lost in traditional high schools, including: Students with disabilities who require special education (SPED) Those with mental health needs Students in foster care Teens who have already dropped out Pregnant and parenting teens Students experiencing homelessness 18- to 20-year-olds who have aged out of traditional school The model isn't just innovative; it's effective. A 2023 report by the California Department of Education found that students in personalized learning charter schools had graduation rates up to 15% higher than their peers in traditional schools, particularly among historically underserved groups. Yet California legislators would have the public believe that charter schools are taking money away from district schools and stealing all the good kids. That's untrue. And once again, they're proposing a new law that claims to add more oversight to charter schools but instead will divert student funding to government bureaucracy. Now in the State Senate, the bill is based on the erroneous belief that learning can only happen when a student sits in a classroom all day. California families disagree. Almost three-quarters support a flexible education model and 89 percent say it is important to structure school to serve individual students, rather than forcing a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. 1 'There is a double standard that exists for charter schools and ignores equal accountability for traditional school districts,' said Hanes. 'Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools must prove their very existence every five years to continue operating.' There have been numerous instances of fraud, misuse of funds and conflicts of interest by California school districts – yet those never prompted legislators to respond with bills that cut funding and increase oversight. Hanes questions if California charter schools need to divert more funds from serving student outcomes to bureaucracy when sufficient oversight already exists. 'California youth deserve an education system that prioritizes flexibility and innovation, not excessive policies that limit opportunity,' said Hanes. 'We call on our elected leaders to join in our dedication to provide all students options and flexibility to succeed.' For more information, visit About Learn4Life Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public high schools that provide students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 64,000 students through a year-round program, we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit ______________________ 1 From Friday, March 19 through Wednesday, March 31, 2021, J. Wallin Opinion Research conducted a telephone survey of voters who are parents of one or more high-school-aged youths throughout the state of California. Eight hundred interviews were completed (plus an oversample of 71 additional African American respondents to equal 100 total of that demographic). A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-3.7 percent (95 percent confidence interval). Expand
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Can High School CTE Classes Save Families Money?
Educators have long understood the benefits of Career Technical Education (CTE) classes in high school – preparing students for high-wage, high-demand jobs, helping them develop problem-solving skills and even improving graduation completion rates among at-risk students. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: A Learn4Life student in the CTE Certified Nursing Assistant program practices essential patient care skills in a simulated hospital setting (Photo: Business Wire) Shellie Hanes, superintendent at Learn4Life —a network of 80+ public charter high schools—explains how CTE pathways can help families save money in numerous ways. 'Many CTE programs offer dual enrollment at a nearby community college, so students can earn as many as 30 college credits and the high school covers the costs,' she said. 'Learn4Life pays for the state testing and certificates to work in a given field, which can be significant.' Certifications like nursing, intro to dental assistant, intro to emergency medical technician, child development and safe food handling can range from $500 to $4,500 – all covered in the high school courses. Upon graduation, these students can step into a higher paying job and continue their vocational training for far less than if they did it on their own. Hanes points out that even for those teens who aspire to go to a four-year college, taking a CTE class keeps them engaged and makes coming to school more fun. Often it can help with college admissions, demonstrating that a student has a diverse set of skills. 'Students learn about different industries and take away skills that will benefit them for a lifetime,' she added. 'Learn4Life has an array of CTE offerings, with classes in culinary, construction, nursing and dental assistants, information technology, veterinary technician, 3-D printing, media arts, robotics and more.' Learn4Life partners with companies to provide students with on-the-job training as part of their CTE curriculum. 'We work with American Medical Response and local fire departments for those enrolled in the introductory EMT course,' she said. 'And the Dalrada Career Institute has helped dozens of students complete the Certified Nursing Assistant program with 80 percent of them already working in the field.' Ann Abajian, Learn4Life (559) 903-7893 SOURCE: Learn4Life Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 02/11/2025 10:22 AM/DISC: 02/11/2025 10:22 AM
