Educators have effectively impressed upon students and parents the value of education by creating a “college for all” culture. School conversations, procedures and artifacts all showcase college as the “holy grail.” Anything less is failure!  Schools provide extra support for students in their college applications and celebrate college acceptance. However, recent school reform makes reference to having students both college AND career ready. In response, some states have just redefined test score cut points for “college ready” to now encompass “ college and career ready.”  We can only wish that declaring career readiness was that easy.

Educators have a pretty good notion of what it means to be college ready, but less of a clear picture about what it means to be career ready and very little understanding of what it takes to create a school culture that actually prepares students both for college AND career. The “college for all culture” is so ingrained in schools it will take a concerted effort to introduce a balanced approach to college AND career. 

For some educators, the notion of career readiness is simply an alternative program for some students, such as enrolling in a career and technical education program or providing an optional pathway in high school. In reality, career readiness is a K-12 initiative that introduces to students  to the importance of education related to career goals and helping students explore their talents and interests in setting future goals. This does not mean selecting a career and following a  narrow vocational preparation. It means showing students the relevance of their education tied to career choices and for them to begin to match their strengths and interest to their future goals. Career readiness is not an alternative education, but an integrated approach that prepares students for life success. Career readiness has several unique dimensions and does overlap college preparation. There are many  common skills and knowledge that make students both college and career ready.  But, a myopic “college for all” culture tends to overshadow the introduction of careers.

In an effort to assist schools to examine their current school system in regard to career readiness the Career Readiness Institute(CRI) has developed a self-assessment process. This process enables the school leadership team to take a more thoughtful approach to examining student learning, school culture, and instructional career ready practices.

In the area of learning results, it is essential for schools to move beyond evaluating their success by the limited state measures such as state assessments and graduation rate. Schools need to use a more comprehensive approach of multiple data sources that directly relate to describing students as career ready. Many of these indicators are difficult to measure, but important nonetheless. Schools decry that state tests only measure a thin slice of learning.  It is time to put actions behind those words and define locally broader measures of student learning. A useful starting point is the Learning Criteria for College and Career Readiness.

Enhancing student career readiness is not simply adding a new program or course within the curriculum. It requires a significant change in school culture. The culture checklists, as part of the self-assessment process, help schools take a closer reflection of the behaviors of administrators, staff, and students in order to examine the obstacles that exist within the current culture that must be changed in order to embrace an honest college and career ready culture.

There are many positive instructional practices such as formative feedback and student centered instruction which contribute to more student engagement and achievement student. In particular, there are a number of essential career ready instructional practices that are essential. These include incorporation of Life/Career Abilities, providing personal pathways through instruction, relevant instruction, a sound counseling system and community partnerships.

An opportunity to learn about the Career Readiness self-assessment process is available in a free webinar on April 2 sponsored by the Career Readiness Institute or viewing this podcast.