Workforce Development is a top priority for the Rogers Lowell Chamber in 2024. With over 9,000 open jobs across the NWA region, the Chamber works hard each day to help employers fill these positions and develop the workforce of tomorrow. April had four distinct workforce events devoted to showcasing career pathways to students and helping employers hire to fill jobs.

The focus of both short and long-term planning for the Rogers Public Schools CTE department is aligning Career & Technical Education programs with both current and projected employment data designed to meet local workforce demands.

Rogers Public Schools Career & Technical Education (CTE) has increased the number of partnerships with local businesses, industries, nonprofit and civic organizations significantly over the past several years.

Northwest Arkansas has experienced tremendous job and population growth over the past 20 years. Workforce education and skilled labor supply are key workforce development issues regionally and nationally. The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to fulfilling the workforce and talent pipeline needs for the region as part of its Economic Development mission-work.

Northwest Arkansas has experienced tremendous job and population growth over the past 20 years. Workforce education and skilled labor supply are key workforce development issues regionally and nationally. The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to fulfilling the workforce and talent pipeline needs for the region as part of its Economic Development mission-work.

Aligning career education programs with current and projected workforce demands remains the focus the Rogers Public Schools (RPS) Career and Technical Education (CTE) department. The district’s partnership with the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Arkansas Council is an essential part of developing career education programs that address employment trends and workforce demands within the Rogers community and the Northwest Arkansas region.

The natural endpoint of any educational opportunity has always been to make use of the developed skill set for the greater good of oneself and the larger community. One of the purposes for primary and secondary education has long been to prepare students to exercise learned abilities including (but not limited to) reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Arkansas Secretary of Education Johnny Key spoke to attendees November 19 as the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce hosted educators and industry professionals for its Large Industry Council (LIC) and K2J (Kindergarten to Job) Connect Program.

Extended Learning Programs offered in Rogers Public Schools will be expanded during the 2021-2022 school year with funding awarded by an Arkansas American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER III grant. 

The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is a nationally recognized certification that indicates an achievement level of essential workplace readiness skills. The ACT WorkKeys curriculum helps to prepare students for assessments relating to applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents. 

NWACC’s CRA program is geared towards individuals, such as career changers, displaced workers or those wishing to enhance their skill sets for an analyst role within the supplier or retailer community.

With companies competing on innovation and talent like never before, and labor markets becoming more dynamic and diverse, Workforce Development has become the one program that provides the most value to our membership. This program is integrated into each of our mission-work focus areas, especially Economic Development, Community Development, and Government Affairs. 

The 2021-2022 school year will open with a vigorous commitment to the ongoing improvement of Launch Career Programs offered within the Rogers School District.  One of the essential elements of continuous improvement is the purposeful cognizance of local and regional workforce demands, as well as the projected growth and replenishment of the current workforce needs within each industry sectors.

Organizations of all sizes have faced considerable challenges in every sector that cannot be addressed in a one-size fits all solution planning session.

The challenges of the ongoing pandemic have highlighted a significant gap in businesses having equitable access to technology and internet services.

Preparing students for successful careers is the goal of the Rogers Public Schools (RPS) Launch Career Programs.

Business partnerships are an essential component of career and technical education (CTE) programs.  These partnerships offer many opportunities to work collaboratively with local businesses and industries. They help make meaningful connections between the classroom and career opportunities with local companies for students in the Rogers Public Schools (RPS). Partnerships also help to prepare students for jobs that are needed to meet current and projected high demand workforce areas in Northwest Arkansas.

We connected early and often at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, and our Workforce and Development team has been weathering the challenges ahead to continue preparing like never before to engage with our students, customers and business partners throughout the state. Our team has taken advantage of working remotely and pivoted to becoming connoisseurs of Zoom and Microsoft Teams with much practice and light-hearted fanfare to ensure we stay connected so we can connect with you, our community.

The new Launch. Your Future name and logo for the Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs offered in Rogers Public Schools was introduced this year in August.

Upskill Arkansas is a dynamic workforce development and talent pipeline initiative backed by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The initiative enhances communication and collaboration between educators and industry leaders, facilitating the development of demand-driven, regional talent pipelines that fulfill both student’s career aspirations and local employer needs. Upskill Arkansas leverages the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s “Total Pipeline Management” methodologies, career readiness program best practices from across the country, and Rick Neal’s (retired Superintendent and initiative leader) personal experience launching a similar program in Pea Ridge.

Rogers Public Schools has partnered with local businesses and industries to provide authentic work-based learning experiences for 11th and 12th grade students.

In this episode of the Chamber Voice of Business Podcast, SVP of Economic Development Steve Cox sat down with Joe Rollins of the Northwest Arkansas Council. They discussed workforce development, apprenticeships and career opportunities in Northwest Arkansas along with the upcoming Northwest Arkansas Employment Showcase.

The Rogers Public Schools Career & Technical Education (CTE) department offers programs and courses that are rich in skills development and relevant work-based learning (WBL) experiences, both of which are integral to preparing students for the transition to post-secondary studies, technical training programs, or entrance into the workforce upon high school graduation. 

The connection between education and industry has become more evident and meaningful in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past five years, the Rogers Public Schools Career & Technical Education (CTE) department has increased the number of partnerships with local businesses, industries, non-profit and civic organizations. These business partnerships have ...

Governor Asa Hutchinson launched the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative in 2015 to help insure that K-12th grade students within Arkansas schools receive quality instruction and opportunities to participate in learning experiences designed to ...

Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) are an integral part of each Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Student organizations provide opportunities for students to gain leadership skills, participate in academic and technical ...

The opening of the 2017-2018 school year brings many new opportunities for students enrolled in Career & Technical Education programs in Rogers Public Schools. The newly renovated RPS Career Center classrooms and shop areas will welcome students ...

Aligning Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs with both current and projected employment data designed to meet local workforce demands is the focus of both short-term and long-term planning for the Rogers Public Schools CTE department. ...