Greater Cleveland Career Consortium expanding career exploration program to 10 more school districts

Originally published December 5, 2022 by Crain’s Cleveland Business, Rachel Abbey McCafferty

The Greater Cleveland Career Consortium is expanding its network to include 10 more school districts in Cuyahoga County.

The consortium has been supporting the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Planning and Career Exploration, or PACE, implementation since its launch in March of 2022, a news release stated. PACE helps students in grades 6 through 12 learn about careers through curriculum, advising and out-of-school activities. The consortium is composed of public and private organizations, as well as those in education and nonprofits.

This expansion will grow participation from about 19,000 students served in just CMSD to about 33,000 across the 11 districts, the release said. The first cohort being added in fall of 2023 will include the Cleveland Heights/University Heights, East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights and Warrensville Heights school districts. The second cohort will be added in 2024 and will include districts in Bedford, Brooklyn, Fairview Park, Richmond Heights and Shaker Heights.

Funding for the consortium's work, including this expansion, comes from Cuyahoga County, the Cleveland Foundation, the Deaconess Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, according to the release.