Rachel Steil
Educational Consultant
“Students who engage in intentional and thoughtful career and college planning through individual learning plans are more likely to have self-awareness about their interests and career aspirations. Personal or individual learning plans “… are increasingly understood to be the lynchpin tool for linking the twin goals of college readiness and career readiness.” Schools and districts can utilize the PLP to drive CCR efforts, as it includes the legislated minimum required elements for 9th through 12th grade students in Minnesota. The elements also serve as programming benchmarks for a robust CCR program.”
-According to a recent five-year research study by the National Collaboration on Workforce and Disability
For the past several decades, American education has been laser-focused on academic rigor, test scores, and college-for-all initiatives that were propelled by national legislation like No Child Left Behind and The Race to the Top. High schools across the country revamped their offerings to expand STEM and reduce electives like arts, FACTS, and in some cases physical education.
Over the past decade, we have slowly seen the pendulum shifting, especially as key industries like healthcare and trades and manufacturing are forecasting concerning labor shortages. It is no longer enough to push students through a core curriculum and send them off to college without any college and career readiness preparation. Students must also have a broader understanding of who they are, their strengths and assets, and how those match careers in the workforce.
College and career readiness programs should include: opportunities for students to explore who they are and what they are passionate about, rigorous pathways-aligned courses that include early college credits, and experiential learning opportunities related to collegiate programs and in-demand careers. High schools should design college and career readiness programs that include Four Domains and Competencies.
- Employability skills: These general skills are the “foundational skills” students will need upon joining the workforce: communication, technology, information literacy, strong work habits, creativity, and critical thinking.
- Mindsets and social awareness: These are the skills, habits, and beliefs that will lead to success in the workplace. These include strong relationship skills, self-management, decision making, growth mindset, and multicultural and global awareness.
- Career Development: Schools should provide a variety of experiential learning opportunities such as work-based learning, mentorships, internships, or job shadowing. This also includes building career awareness, academic and workplace learning options, career pathway knowledge and skills, participation in career and technical and rigorous course content, and guides students to develop a realistic plan for their future.
- Transitional Knowledge: Students need to possess knowledge and skills necessary to successfully adjust to work and a postsecondary education environment after graduation.
Instead of narrowly focusing on test scores or college-for-all, high schools should also begin rethinking college and career readiness to include programs that foster a culture of exploration, curiosity, and empowerment so students enter the workforce or postsecondary education successfully.
