HVAC installers, truck drivers, and computer support specialists are among the dozens of occupations that do not require a four-year college degree. These essential positions are in demand and often come with annual wages that exceed the national average. Yet, school career and college planning programs have historically focused on the needs of college-bound students.... Continue Reading →
What Really Matters in Planning for Student Success?
Career- and college-ready standards for all students, with a focus on high school graduates who choose to pursue paths other than a four-year college Schools can better ensure that every student completes high school and graduates with the skills that they need to succeed in their post-secondary educational pursuits and careers by focusing on two... Continue Reading →
Improving Student Career Planning to Increase Graduation Rates
Why student career planning needs to start early and embrace an inclusive approach to individual achievement Sixth grade is not too early to introduce age-appropriate exercises and have conversations about planning for the future. Making the connection between activities, courses, and social dynamics at school and learning how to navigate them in an intentional way... Continue Reading →
How to Improve Your Student Career Path Planning Program
Encouraging students to make mindful decisions and reflect on how they impact their personal goals and wellbeing is one of the best ways to engage them in their learning. This process requires encouragement and guidance, and school counselors are crucial to the process. Tools that support both school counselors and students to this end are... Continue Reading →
Battling Education Inequity in Your District on a Tight Budget
Students of color are less likely to be prepared for college or high-earning jobs after graduation. According to the Center for American Progress, "Black, Latinx and Indigenous people are currently underrepresented in high-wage jobs but overrepresented in low-wage work and among the unemployed." The reason for this, explains the organization, is that Black, Latinx, and... Continue Reading →
Equity and Access at the Forefront of Student Programming
While some students look forward to applying to colleges, others prefer not to go. Yet, most academic planning programs focus on shaping college-bound students. Learners who want to run businesses or go into fields that only need technical education or apprenticeship often lack equal access to resources. This issue makes it tricky for them to... Continue Reading →
Leading School District Programming with Student Equity
The post-World War II era saw America’s education system pivot away from the European models that favored the affluent. New federal programs emphasized student equity across economic, cultural, and religious divides. President Truman’s Commission on Higher Education reasoned that equal opportunity in education is necessary to support a growing economy and essential to a robust... Continue Reading →
Deploying Districtwide Student Success Strategies
School districts face challenges when deploying district wide student success strategies, but that doesn't negate the importance of student success. This blog post goes over how to identify and address the importance and challenges of these strategies and how tech plays a role in streamlining the process. The Importance of Deploying Districtwide Success Strategies In... Continue Reading →
How to Better Organize to Drive Educational Equity Programs
Most students want to find a sense of purpose in their career, but many are not succeeding. Consider these statistics from a recent study: Over 90% of students say that it’s very important to have a purposeful career. Only 40% say that they have succeeded in achieving their goals. Those are sobering numbers to think... Continue Reading →