“Why don’t they bring back shop class?” Educators hear this question all the time because parents (and sometimes students) are not aware of the career and technical education (CTE) classes that schools offer. This gap in awareness can be costly to students and have significant financial implications. Therefore, many schools are looking for strategies to... Continue Reading →
CTE: Connecting Students with More Career Opportunities
Since the post-WWII era, students in the US have been encouraged to pursue a bachelor's degree. A four-year college education is considered by many to be the best route to a rewarding career and a secure financial future. Conventional wisdom holds that a college degree will lead to a middle-class lifestyle and a desired level... Continue Reading →
XAP Introduces New Component to Help Educators Scale Work-Based Learning
We’re excited to announce the launch of XAP’s new Work-Based Learning component, designed to help educators expose students to more opportunities and help them explore potential pathways, while increasing the quality of work-based learning outcomes. We conducted a survey at the 2021 ACTE Vision Conference to clearly define issues educators face within work-based learning management.... Continue Reading →
Leading Students in Search of Alternatives to College
Traditionally, school career and college planning programs emphasized college readiness, focusing primarily on academics and admission requirements. However, it’s clear that college is not the best fit for all students—or the current job market—as more than half of occupations in the US now require specialized training but not a bachelor's degree. “Career training has been... Continue Reading →
Getting Students Engaged with Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Companies across multiple industries report that they are having difficulty finding workers with the skills that their open positions require. While COVID-19-pandemic-related issues, such as lack of childcare and employee health concerns, have exacerbated the worker shortage, businesses have been challenged by a lack of skilled workers for several years. Companies such as Amazon and... Continue Reading →
The Costly Stigma around CTE Programs
Removing the stigma around career and technical education (CTE) benefits students, parents, and teachers. But to do so, districts must be mindful in creating a multi-faceted communication strategy. School districts can change the perception of CTE if they know how to address the misconceptions. When we look at other workforce stigmas, such as talking about... Continue Reading →
6 Tips for Better Career Planning and Development for Students
Career planning and development for students is a bit like building with Legos. You have a vision in mind of the goal: a glorious Harry Potter castle, a shiny BatMobile, or something made entirely from scratch. One brick at a time, the structure takes shape—but planning is required, the right “bricks” are needed, guidance is... Continue Reading →
Strengthening Your District’s Career Exploration Curriculum
The global COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions in education. Previously, graduation rates nationwide were steadily climbing, and while 2020 saw a decline of on-time high school graduations in several states, other states, including New York, Florida, and Utah, saw continued progress. While this is positive news, students need more than a diploma. They need a... Continue Reading →
Supporting Your District Career Development Plan for Students
Albert Einstein said, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” Implementing a career development plan for students throughout a district might sound simple but can be quite complex. The larger the school district, the more complicated it can be, but with the right tools, simplicity in planning for teachers, counselors,... Continue Reading →
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