Align Career-Connected Experiences with Education and Workforce Standards

Career-connected education experiences will look different depending on the learners’ grade level, program of study, and career interests. Examples of high-quality, career-connected education include apprenticeships, internships, and career and technical education (CTE). Examples that may be appropriate for younger students but are not considered as meaningful for older learners are career days, career fairs, and job shadowing. Learners may also work on specific projects or challenges sponsored by industry partners.

The Commission heard from employers that they would like to see career-related content and skills taught in schools, and it heard from teachers and administrators that they do not have expertise across a wide swath of professions. Career-connected education should be aligned with related instruction and with advising that can help learners understand the appropriate course sequence and further career-connected experiences that would advance their opportunities in a given field. Employers should partner with educators to align career-connected educational experiences with current industry standards, especially for high-need occupations.

Genesys Works in Tulsa, Oklahoma, not only provides high school students with paid internships but sets them up for success with skills training before they enter a workplace and with aligned advising throughout their experience.1 Launched in 2023, the Tulsa program has built partnerships with twelve local employers and serves a majority of low-income learners who go on to be first-generation college goers.

Historically, high school education has been arbitrarily separated into either college preparation or vocational training. However, this traditional bifurcation has been breaking down, particularly with the growth of CTE course offerings in website design and digital media and the integration of degree apprenticeships at colleges and universities. Participating in CTE should not preclude learners from meeting college admissions requirements. Accelerating pathways to college and career for CTE participants can include connecting to apprenticeship pathways and earning college credit through dual enrollment.2 Educators and local employers can collaborate to align CTE coursework with industry standards so that learners graduate with both the durable and technical skills highly valued by colleges and employers.