Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) announced yesterday that they will be partnering with HACC, Central PA’s Community College and offering an emergency medical technician (EMT) program to CCA students. Upon completion, students will be eligible to complete their EMT certification exams.
CCA President and CEO Thomas D. Longenecker said the primary responsibility of public schools is to ensure students are prepared for the workforce following graduation, providing them hands-on training experiences in a variety of fields is important, both to CCA and the future of Pennsylvania.
This new course of study is in line with the CCAWorks initiative, which was designed to create pathways for students K-12 to explore a variety of job sectors. It allows them the option to complete internships, pre-apprenticeships, job shadowing, etc. all before graduation. See the full release below:
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 7, 2021
Commonwealth Charter Academy Students Begin EMT Training Program as Part of Their K through 12 Education, Prepare for Future Careers
CCAWorks focuses on preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow
HARRISBURG – In alignment with the CCAWorks initiative, which is focused on preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow, Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), Pennsylvania’s largest public cyber charter school, today kicked off its partnership with HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, by offering an emergency medical technician (EMT) program to several CCA students.
“The primary responsibility of public schools is to ensure students are well prepared and adequately trained to enter the workforce following high school graduation,” said CCA President and CEO Thomas D. Longenecker. “Providing students with hands-on training and experience in a variety of career fields is of critical importance to CCA as well as to the future of Pennsylvania.”
According to the state Senate Resolution 6 Commission’s 2018 Final Report, the commonwealth is dealing with a “significant exodus of [emergency medical services] members and the inability to effectively recruit personnel.”
CCA’s career-focused vision is to partner with the state’s business community to retain students in Pennsylvania to grow the economy and secure the commonwealth’s future.
The CCAWorks initiative was designed to create career pathways for K through 12 students to explore a variety of job sectors, such as medicine, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity. Students have the option to complete internships, pre-apprenticeships, job shadowing, mock interviews, career mentoring, and workplace tours, all prior to graduating with a high school diploma.
“We have heard from the business community that students across the state are graduating high school without the skills needed by employers,” Longenecker said. “CCA is breaking down barriers, partnering with business, and preparing students for post-high school success. CCA’s model is to ensure that our students can seamlessly transition to the workforce into high-paying, family sustaining jobs.”
Upon successful completion of the HACC EMT program, CCA students will be eligible to complete their EMT certification exams.
Media Contact: Tim Eller, 717-710-3335, teller@ccaeducate.me
Editor’s Note: Photos from the event are attached.
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ABOUT COMMONWEALTH CHARTER ACADEMY
Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) is Pennsylvania’s largest public cyber charter school serving nearly 19,000 students in grades K through 12. With nearly 20 years of experience in delivering online education, CCA provides flexible, personalized, and student-focused education programs and services. CCA is a family service organization that creates an educational experience and social learning opportunities for the entire family, including more than 700 educational field trips, hands-on workshops, community events, and more.