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Program Title: Career Pathways
Goals/Objectives: To provide an effective means to make career planning activities available to all students.
Brief Description of Program: Support for the program was built through education. Support from the business community was promoted through Chamber of Commerce activities as well as our School-to-Career-Stakeholders committee. Some of these activities included mock interviews, speaker symposiums and job shadowing.
A Career Pathways Vision Statement was developed.
After the Pathways were identified, the following steps were taken for each Pathway:
- Clarified by definition and identified focus areas
- Assigned descriptors
- Identified possible jobs within Pathway (cross referenced with PA High Priority Occupations) by entry level, technical/skilled level, and professional level
- Outlined a core required subject grid that identifies suggested course levels and sequences by grade level that a student should be taking for the level of occupation they are planning to pursue
- Identified recommended electives and activities for Pathway by subject area
After the program was developed and approved, training was completed through in-service training. All staff received a Career Pathway manual along with training on the use of the Career Pathway program, career software, and career activities.
Students choose a career pathway beginning with their 9th grade year to assist them in choosing elective courses for their high school course plan. However, all career-related activities for K-12 are related to the Career Pathway program, i.e. career month activities and elementary career camp.
Results of Activity: A Career Pathways manual was developed that not only identified the individual Career Pathways, but also included other career planning activities available to all students. Included in the manual are career enhancement opportunities (academic, clubs & activities, music opportunities, intramural sports, and team sports); postsecondary opportunities (Career Center, testing opportunities, career information and exploration opportunities, curriculum opportunities); and financial aid information.
The Career Pathways program assists students by:
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Providing direction and assistance in scheduling
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Assisting counselors and teachers in identifying those students for specific career-related activities
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Giving parents a guideline and a tool to use when discussing career planning with their son/daughter
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Helping to make class scheduling and activity participation more relevant for students
Resources and Other Related Information: Initially a committee was formed which represented counseling staff and administration. Research was conducted on other school districts that had implemented Career Pathways programs. A review of the State National Career Clusters was considered.
Contact Information:
Paul Foreman
Altoona Area School District
1415 Sixth Avenue
Altoona, PA 166022427
Phone 814-946-8277
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