“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 →
3 Tips for Managing Student Work-Based Opportunities
As the value of a college education comes under increased scrutiny, more students and their families are pursuing post-high-school alternatives, such as work-based opportunities. Work-based learning involves formal activities, such as apprenticeships, internships, and work placements, and less-formal ones, such as career speakers and job shadowing. For the career counselor, this represents a challenge: how... 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 →
7 Tips to Communicate the Value of CTE Programs
CTE Pathways is not cheap. The investment from the federal government will top $1.3 billion for this year. Equipment, supplies, and training add up to a large price tag. But if this is the case, why are many legislators and school leaders so supportive of CTE programming? The answer is clear: when done correctly, CTE... 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 →
5 Tips for Supporting Career Development for Students Districtwide
Much is expected of career counselors in today’s secondary school environment, but not all their resources are geared toward helping students find a path to success. Counselors often play a role in resolving student wellbeing and family issues. With ratios as overwhelming as 479 students to every counselor, it's challenging to find the time to... Continue Reading →
XAP 