McGraw-Hill Senior Vice President Jeff Livingston and Gregg Betheil of the New York City Department of Education Discuss College & Career Readiness Issues

NEW YORK, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- As educators prepare students to succeed in a 21st Century workforce, they must also provide a foundation for learning that will help students successfully navigate postsecondary academic and career training. Jeff Livingston, senior vice president of McGraw-Hill's Applied College and Career Readiness Learning Solutions Center, and Gregg Betheil, executive director, Office of Postsecondary Pathways and Planning with the New York City Department of Education, discuss these important issues in the latest edition of the District Leaders Podcast, the only national podcast created expressly for district and other educational leaders.

In this episode of the District Leaders Podcast, Mr. Betheil discusses what public schools in New York City are doing to prepare high school graduates to assume postsecondary education or specific careers in industry. Interviewed by Mr. Livingston, Mr. Betheil covers recent steps taken by the NYC Department of Education, including:

• Creating and maintaining a diverse portfolio of school options for students and families in New York City through a "New School Development" process
• Preparing individualized reports for public schools outlining the postsecondary paths of past graduates, including the type of schools they have enrolled in and the types of programs they are pursuing
• Entering partnerships with higher education institutions that result in innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) models

Mr. Betheil leads the New York City Department of Education's ongoing efforts to ensure that all graduates are ready for postsecondary success in two- and four-year colleges, apprenticeship programs and throughout their careers. His responsibilities include oversight of the NYCDOE-CUNY College Readiness & Success Initiative. In addition, he provides guidance to the city's school district to ensure that there is consistent and coherent information on postsecondary planning for students and families from kindergarten through graduation. This includes a portfolio of 30 Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools serving more than 30,000 students, and 345 CTE programs across the city, serving more than 110,000 students.

Mr. Livingston will serve as a recurring host of podcasts on this site related to college and career readiness.

About The District Leaders Podcast

The District Leader's Podcast team is passionate about education and deeply committed to student success. The site serves as a valuable tool for anyone interested in improving America's schools. District Leader's Podcast is sponsored by McGraw-Hill Education's Urban Advisory Resource comprising former education leaders and other experts with extensive experience in managing large school districts. It is produced by www.TeachersPodcast.org, a professional development resource for educators with an audience of more than 4.3 million listeners. The podcast is currently listed on iTunes as "New and Notable" for K-12 Education. Visit www.DistrictLeadersPodcast.com for more information.

About the McGraw-Hill ACCR Learning Solutions Center

In June 2009, McGraw-Hill Education introduced the Applied College & Career Readiness Center (ACCR) with the focus of preparing students for the workplace after high school, the adult education programs that help put people to work and advance careers, and the college readiness products and services designed to help high school students attain the skills needed to excel in higher education. Livingston, the former president and CEO of Achieva.com, the first comprehensive online college admissions and counseling service, leads ACCR. For more information, please visit http://www.MHSEGSolutions.com.

About McGraw-Hill Education

McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a leading innovator in the development of teaching and learning solutions for the 21st century. Through a comprehensive range of traditional and digital education content and tools, McGraw-Hill Education empowers and prepares professionals and students of all ages to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com.

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Education