Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL) is a specific program that helps young people, mainly high school students, prepare for college, career and post-graduate life.
In Macomb County, two school districts are using Ford NGL programs in their schools – Center Line Public Schools and Romeo School District.
We spoke with Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Senior Outreach Specialist Jennifer Weot about the program and how it is being used in Macomb County schools.
How does Ford Next Generation Learning support college and career readiness in Macomb County?
“Ford Next Generation Learning is a unique way of preparing students for life after high school, whether it be college readiness, career readiness or job readiness,” says Weot.
The industries that partner with the schools for Ford NGL are based on location. For our two districts, manufacturing is huge because that’s what Macomb County is, but Nashville Public Schools which is also a Ford NGL district, is strongly focused on the music and entertainment industry.
The 9th grade students in Romeo and Center Line start with career exploration in their seminar classes so they can figure out what career fields best match their interests. One way business professionals support the 9th grade students for these two districts is they will visit classrooms to discuss what they do. They will tell students what they like about their jobs, what they dislike about their jobs, how they became who they are and any other relevant information. She explains how the companies are very transparent with the students.
How can students in Romeo and Center Line use Ford NGL to prepare for their future?
“At the end of ninth grade, these students will choose an Academy they would like to join and within the Academy, a pathway to pursue in 10th, 11th and 12th grade,” says Weot. “It is as if they are choosing a specific college and a college major.”
For Ford NGL, every student is allowed to participate in the program no matter their grade point average.
How Does ‘Fueling the Talent Pipeline’ help Macomb students prepare for college and career?
Although Fueling the Talent Pipeline (FTTP) goes hand-in-hand with Ford NGL, FTTP is technnically here to support all 21 schools districts with industry connections. Probably the biggest difference between the two Ford NGL districts and the remaining 19 is that Romeo and Center Line depend on industry partners in order to complete the goals they have in place for their students.
For Ford NGL districts, all students have guaranteed experiences as they go through 10th, 11th and 12th grad. In 10th grade, students will do an industry tour at a local business to see what a particular career is like. If the student decides they want to continue pursuing that type of career, they will then do a job shadow in 11th grade and the ultimate goal is an internship in 12th grade.
“FTTP supports all 21 school districts,” says Weot. “If Fraser or Utica schools were to contact me, asking for industry support, I would do my best to connect that school district with business partners to support whatever event or initiative they have. Our two Ford NGL districts have business partners at their campuses almost every day.
How can businesses in Macomb County get involved?
“We are always looking for businesses to help support our 21 school districts,” says Weot. She discusses how she connects with the business and together decides what would be best for the business to get involved in.
The two Ford NGL districts have partnership walls at their high schools.
“If you’re a business that is willing to commit to a minimum of two events or experiences at either of these schools, your logo is displayed on the partnership wall where students meet and eat lunch every day for three years.” says Weot. “The students will see your logo every day they are in school.”
If you’re a business that’s interested in partnering with Macomb County for Fueling the Talent Pipeline as well as the Ford NGL districts, fill out this form on their website. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Jennifer Weot at Jennifer.Weot@macombgov.org.
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
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