7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mobile Learning Tour

• Visit T-Stem Academy

• Visit Alamo Colleges Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Networking Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Session I:

Defining Current & Future U.S. Workforce Needs

Latinos are an increasingly vital part of the national economy and the fastest growing segment of the United States population. Although, they have high participation rates in the labor force and enter the workforce at an early age, they tend to be employed in jobs that pay low wages and provide low economic mobility. Since many Latinos lack the education and work experience that brings about better paying opportunities, focusing on an education and workforce policy agenda that will enhance their technical and academic skills is a national priority. This session will present a snapshot of the current and future workforce needs necessary to enhance the competitiveness of America’s workforce.

• Mr. David Crouch, Vice President of Administration, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc.

• Mr. David E. Marquez, Executive Director, Bexar County Economic Development Department, Texas
PRESENTATION

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Session II:

Policy & Practice:  The Role of Apprenticeships in Developing a Highly Skilled Workforce

Projections of employment opportunities show great need for skilled workers in the United States. Organizations, labor, and governments alike are working together to address the skills labor gap in public K-12 education and higher education by promoting apprenticeships as a model to meet the current changes in the workforce. Students have become engaged in these apprenticeships by being assured of a secure future and a good standard of living since their training will be in job sectors and markets where their skills will be in high demand. Participants in this session will have an opportunity to identify effective policies and system wide initiatives that promote the successful development of apprenticeships with an emphasis on hands-on learning and an increase in student engagement, interest, and achievement.

• Mr. Steven D. Opitz, Regional Director, Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor
PRESENTATION

• Dr. Federico Zaragoza, Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development, Alamo Community College District

• Mr. James Morante, Talent Pipeline Development, Pacific Gas & Electric Company

3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Session III:

Addressing the Needs of the Non-traditional Student:  A Framework to Support our Current Workforce

Our current workforce is represented by unique population segments, such as military personnel and veterans, immigrant workers, independent contractors, in addition to individuals who are already in the workforce but who need to enroll in postsecondary or technical education programs to enhance their workforce development needs. Sectors of the workforce, in collaboration with communities and postsecondary institutions have been able to develop programs tailored to meet the needs and characteristics of these unique groups. This session will highlight policies and programs designed to facilitate the success of diverse workers in order to enhance their technical skills and to support their transition into increased training, certification, or attainment of market valuable postsecondary degrees.

• Ms. Margie McHugh, Director, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Center

• Mr. Gardner Carrick, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, The Manufacturing Institute

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Opening Reception

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Session IV:

The Evolution of STEM Education: Addressing the Next Generation Science Standards and College Readiness

If we are to develop a policy agenda to increase the number of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) graduates in college then we must reexamine how well students are prepared in math and science in K-12. Given that is has been nearly 15 years since most states have renewed their science standards, this session will provide an opportunity for participants to receive an overview of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Thereafter, policymakers will have an opportunity to hear innovative research from the state of Texas. E3 Alliance experts will present long term data on students’ course taking patterns in high school math and their academic outcomes once they began their postsecondary STEM majors. The math findings presented will underline how districts, higher education, and industry can work together to support students hoping to pursue STEM majors in college. Participants in this session will walk away with policy recommendations on how to improve access to rigorous math and science curriculum in K-12 to lay out a strong foundation for students who wish to pursue STEM degrees in postsecondary education.

• Mr. Matt Krehbiel, Associate Director of Science, Achieve

• Dr. Amy Wiseman, Director of Research Studies, E3 Alliance

• Ms. Christine Bailie, Director of High School, College & Career Success, E3 Alliance

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Session V:

Student Engagement: Igniting the Interest of Our Future Science Leaders

Although Latinos make up the second largest population group in the country, Latino students are significantly underrepresented in STEM majors as well as in completing STEM degrees. Careers in STEM have some of the fastest growing sectors in the United States, yet, it is estimated that a significant majority of these middle and high skilled jobs will be unfilled within the next decade given the lack of STEM talent developed domestically. This session will provide an overview for the need to focus on the academic success of Latino students in STEM in K-12 public education in order to ensure the long-term economic success of the country.

• Mr. Marcus Lingenfelter, Vice President, State & Federal Programs, National Math + Science Initiative (NMSI)

• Ms. Clarissa Ramon, Community Impact Manager, Google Fiber

• Dr. Laird Kramer, Founding Director, STEM Transformation Center, Florida International University
PRESENTATION

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Networking Lunch

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Session VI:

Gaining Traction with Innovative STEM Initiatives: Policy Lessons Learned

STEM Initiatives system wide and locally in United States K-12 public schools must be supported and enhanced in order to retain the country’s competitiveness in the global economy. To achieve these goals, policymakers will need to play a critical role in the development of the various factors that contribute to successful STEM initiatives. It is critical to highlight real time labor market needs to policymakers, employers, and institutions of education so that they may all work in tandem with the required information to better prepare students for stimulating career opportunities. This session will provide an overview of leading and rigorous STEM initiatives and programs used across the United States that have transformed how institutions of higher education and school districts to prepare students for STEM fields.

• Ms. Jennifer Dounay Zinth, Director of High School and STEM, Education Commission of the States
PRESENTATION

• Hon. Maria Machuca, President, Coachella Valley Unified School District

• Dr. Darryl Adams, Superintendent, Coachella Valley Unified School District

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Session VII:

Developing a New Blueprint for Postsecondary Education – Implications for Policymakers

Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) states are required to have workforce plans developed by 2016. Given the numerous stakeholders involved to ensure a skilled and sustainable workforce, it is important policymakers develop cross-jurisdictional and public-private partnerships and plans to achieve these goals. After learning about the current workforce needs and opportunities available for Latinos in STEM careers and in other economic sectors, this session will provide participants with an opportunity to discuss key policy drivers that will help stimulate the economic prosperity of their communities and states.

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Evaluations and Closing Remarks