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Career Pathways
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Career Pathways
Preparing Students for Life



February 2004 | 360 pages | Corwin
Career Pathways is a system of organizing student learning interests and aptitudes around career fields. The model grew out of the federally funded National School-to-Work Opportunities Act (1994). Briefly, a career pathways high school starts with the career clusters, for students to align themselves with in high school. Depending on the school location and capacity, there are a variety of career clusters that are offered - engineering, health, science, art/design, writing, business, agriculture, etc. - and a curriculum is built around the individual pathway and career field - e.g. nurse - that the student chooses from within their career cluster. This is a student-oriented model of self-determination, in which students choose a curriculum area that matches their aptitudes and abilities. Core curriculum is still taught throughout each silo, so standardized testing is accommodated.

Career pathways allow students to connect their learning from year to year, to practice their strengths and skills to prepare for transition to college or work, to work as teams, etc. It does not require a high school to overhaul their system, but instead shows how high schools can integrate the pathways model to work within a school and make it a more connected learning environment.

 
Introduction: Student Centered High Schools
 
Acknowledgements
 
About the Authors
 
Dedication
 
Chapter 1. The What and Why of Career Pathways
The Beginning: A Student Scenario

 
What is a Pathways High School?

 
Why Pathways?

 
Two Closing Scenarios

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 2. The Collaborative Career Pathways Model
Introduction: A Student Scenario

 
Model Structure - The Three Pillars

 
Implementing the Three Pillars

 
Community Vertical Process

 
Horizontally Integrating the Pillars

 
Putting it all Together: The Complete Implementation Chart

 
Students as the Center of Learning

 
Pathways and Citizenship

 
Pathway Myths

 
Conclusion

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 3. Steps to Implementing the Model
Introduction: A Community Scenario

 
 
Part I. Three Steps to Successful Change - A Process Model
 
Part II. A Timeline for Implementation
 
Part III. Funding
Conclusion

 
In Review

 
 
Part I. Building a Foundation
 
Chapter 4: District Vision and School Leadership: The Pathways Foundation
Intro: An American Scenario

 
Vision, Mission, Goals and Values

 
Presenting a Solid Example

 
A Common Experience

 
A Common Process

 
Vision Process Chart

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 5. Comprehensive Guidance to Prepare and Assist Pathway Students
Scenario

 
The Importance of Comprehensive Guidance

 
Career Pathways and Traditional High Schools Guidance Programs

 
Pathways Comprehensive Guidance and National Counseling Standards

 
Scheduling in a Career Pathways High School

 
Educational Development Plans and Portfolios

 
Student Testing and Data Collection

 
Creating an Avenue for Pathways Changes and Flexibility

 
Conclusion

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 6. Curriculum in a Career Pathways High School: A Rationale for Standards, Mapping and Integration
Introduction: A Curriculum Scenario

 
The Importance of Curriculum in a Collaborative Career Pathways High School

 
What is Curriculum?

 
Integrating Technology

 
Curriculum Quiz

 
In Review

 
 
Part II. School Structure
 
Chapter 7. Focus Classes for Each Level of Career Pathways
Scenario

 
What is a pathways class and why do we have them?

 
Focus Class Key Concepts and Placement

 
What Does Each Pathway Class Look Like?

 
Freshman Explorations: The Cornerstone

 
Sophomore Selections: The Great Balancing Act

 
Junior Judgments: The Stepping Stone

 
Senior Transitions: Moving Forward

 
How are Focus Classes Delivered?

 
Curriculum Placement of Focus Classes

 
Pathway Change Process

 
The Long-term Results of Focus Class Work

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 8. Scheduling in a Collaborative Career Pathways High School
Intro - Scenario

 
The Need to Address Scheduling

 
Major Types of Scheduling and Career Pathway High Schools

 
An Ideal Collaborative Career Pathways Schedule

 
Schedules and Teaching Styles and Professional Development

 
Creating a Schedule that is Right for Your School

 
Conclusion

 
In Review

 
 
Part III. Classroom Processes
 
Chapter 9. Freshman Explorations: The Cornerstone of Pathways Instruction
A Student Scenario

 
The Important Connections

 
Freshman Explorations: The Curriculum

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 10. Pathway Classes Grades 10-12: Sophomore Selections, Junior Judgments and Senior Transitions
Scenario

 
The Great Scaffold

 
Sophomore Selections

 
Junior Judgments

 
Senior Transitions

 
The Scaffold Works

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 11. Core and Elective Teachers as Support for the Career Pathways Instructional Process
Scenario

 
Gaining Support of the Entire Faculty

 
Core and Elective Teachers as Part of the Team

 
Staff Inclusion

 
Communication in a Pathways High School

 
Continuous Staff Development and In-Servicing

 
Teaming and Collaboration

 
Career Technology & Academy Teachers versus Collaborative Pathway Teachers

 
Working with the Core Teachers

 
Working with the Elective Teachers

 
How Pathway Teachers Differ From Traditional Classroom Teachers

 
In Review

 
 
Part IV. Culture, Community, and Technology
 
Chapter 12. Public Relations, Parents and Pathways
Scenario

 
Gathering the Stakeholders

 
The Public Relations Strategy

 
Talking To Parents

 
Talking to Students

 
Talking to the School Community

 
Talking to Community Members

 
Working with Technical Centers and Academic Sources

 
Myths about Pathways

 
The On-going Public Relations Mission

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 13. The School Community: The True Classroom of Pathways
Scenario

 
Involving the Community

 
Focus of Guest Visits

 
Speakers in the Classroom

 
Site Visit Locations

 
Designing Field Trips To Accommodate Hosts

 
Designing Job Shadows

 
Service Learning

 
Involving the Community in Internships and Senior Projects

 
Support through the Academic Community

 
Conclusion

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 14. School Culture and Climate in a Pathways High School
Introduction: Miguel's First Day

 
What is School Culture and Climate?

 
Why are School Culture and Climate Important?

 
A Key Finding: School Connectedness

 
The Pathways Solution to Key Findings #1 - School Connectedness

 
Other Key Findings: School Prejudice and Codes of Silence

 
Solutions and Suggestions for Climate Control

 
Establish a Working Committee for Culture and Climate Issues

 
Access Your Climate

 
Develop a School-wide Plan

 
Addressing Some Key Points of Instruction:

 
Pathways as an Avenue to Good Culture and Climate

 
Other Complementary Programs

 
The First Day of School Challenge

 
Conclusion: Miguel's First Day Revisited

 
Conclusion: Becoming a Student Centered Program

 
In Review

 
 
Chapter 15. Pathways as a Systematic Philosophy
A Graduation Scenario

 
System Change

 
Creating a Structure with Purpose, Collaboration and Support

 
Creating Cultural Change through Process and Experience

 
Key Provisions for Successful Systems Change

 
Conclusion

 
 
Resources: Sample Forms
A. Action Plan for Model Implementation

 
B. Vision Process Action Plan

 
C. Student 4-Year Planning Sheet

 
D. Sample Career Pathway Educational Development Plan (E.D.P.)

 
E. Department Goal Planning/Action Sheet

 
F. Curriculum Planning Tool

 
G. Career Pathway 4x4 Block Scheduling Planner

 
H. Career Pathway Alternative Block (A/B) Scheduling Planner

 
I. Career Pathway Traditional Block Scheduling Planner

 
J. Student Goal Planner

 
K. Study Skill Planner

 
L. Student Teaming Card

 
M. Sample Journal Questionnaire

 
N. Pathway Decision Making Planner

 
O. Chat Card

 
P. Pathway Integrated Unit Planner

 
Q. School Climate Planning Sheet

 
R. Staff 1st Day of School Questionnaire

 
 
References

"Howard and Ill have given educators a stunning encyclopedic handbook on career pathways. Loaded with helpful lists and charts, and written in a clear, conversational tone, Career Pathways is the new indispensable resource for superintendents, principals, counselors, and teachers."

Elaine Johnson, Honorary Fellow
Huron College

"Career Pathways is the most comprehensive curriculum approach to achieving the dual goal of academic and career maturity. High school educators who seek to promote not just college admissions but college success should consider the career pathways approach."

Kenneth Gray, Professor
Penn State University

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