Career ClustersCareer ClustersCareer ClustersCareer ClustersSheila AndersonSheila Anderson

May 14, 2008May 14, 2008

What are Career Clusters?

• The U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) has identified 16 career clusters representing career opportunities for the 21st century economy.

• These groupings of occupations and industries are used as an organizing tool for Curriculum Design and as part of a Career Guidance Model.

The States’ Career Cluster InitiativeCharles Losh, Ph.D.

Importance of Career Clusters

"Career clusters assist counselors in individualizing students' education plans to help students achieve career goals."

-Nancy Fleming, Assistant Superintendent, David (UT) School District

“Our 16 broad career clusters will help students enhance the link between the knowledge they acquire in school and the skills they need to pursue their dreams.  Without limiting students, career clusters help them focus on an area of interest or a possible career path."

-Richard W. Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education

The 16 Career Clusters

• Agriculture, Food &Natural Resources• Hospitality & Tourism• Architecture & Construction• Arts, AV Tech & Communications• Information Technology• Business, Management & Administration • Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security • Education & Training• Manufacturing• Finance• Marketing Sales & Services• Government & Public Administration• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics• Health Science• Transportation, Distribution & Logistics• Human Services

Why Implement Career Clusters?

College and Career Preparation• The nature of work in the 21st century has been transformed by

technology and global competition. Tomorrow's jobs will require more knowledge, better skills, and more flexible workers than ever before. 

• Tomorrow's workers must be prepared to change jobs and careers several times, continually updating their knowledge and skills.

• Career clusters link what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college and careers.

• Career clusters identify pathways from secondary school to two- and four-year colleges, graduate school, and the workplace, so students can learn in school and what they can do in the future. 

http://www.careerclusters.org/whatis.php

What are the benefits of Career Clusters for students?

• Leads to the development of Personal Learning Plans (PLP) for all students

• Connects learners interests with relevant coursework

• Assists students with transitions from one level of education to the next

Other Benefits of Career Clusters

• Schools and the courses they offer can be organized around the clusters.

• Teachers can gauge the skills of students entering specific career programs.

• Employers and industries can partner with schools to contribute to the development of high standards and good prospective employees

• Guidance counselors can use the clusters to help students explore future plans.

http://www.careerclusters.org/whatis.php

Career Clusters Outcomes• Explore multiple career options available within the

16 Career Clusters.• Experience enhanced academic and technical

achievement through real world application.• Pursue a rigorous academic and technical Program

of Study.• Generate a Personal Learning Plan.• Translate skills and interests into one or more

Career Cluster and successfully transition from Secondary to Post-secondary Education, Training, and or Career.

• Build a pool of qualified human resources.• Develop a framework and organization tool for

rigorous courses.

http://www.doe.sd.gov/octe/careerclusters/index.asp

What Does Implementation Look

Like?

• Career Guidance System K-12 through Post-secondary

• Personal Learning Plan• Program of Study• Curriculum Development

Personal Learning Plans

• A Personal Learning Plan is a roadmap to the future. After identifying a career cluster (or a few), a student outlines what courses he/she will take in high school and what post-secondary schooling will be needed. This includes required courses and electives.

• The plan should be visited and revised on a regular basis.

Designing a Personal Learning Plan

• Students assess interests and aptitudes.This can be done using Guidance Central assessments at www.sd.bridges.com.

Career cluster assessments are also available-see sample on next page.

Directions: Circle the items in each box that best describe you. You may make as many or as few circles in each box as you choose. Add up the number of circles in each box. Look to see which three boxes have the highest numbers. After the 3 pages of the survey, find the corresponding number to see which Career Clusters you may want to explore.

Box 1 Activities that describe what I like to do: 1. Learn how things grow and stay alive. 2. Make the best use of the Earth’s natural resources. 3. Hunt and/or fish. 4. Protect the environment. 5. Be outdoors in all kinds of weather. 6. Operate machines and keep them in good repair.

Personal qualities that describe me: 1. Self-reliant 2. Nature lover 3. Physically active 4. Planner 5. Creative problem solver

School subjects that I like: 1. Math 2. Life Sciences 3. Earth Sciences 4. Chemistry 5. Agriculture

Total number circled in Box 1

Sample of Career Cluster Assessment

Taken from My Life Teacher’s Guide

English Math ScienceSocial

Studies / Science

S.D. Required Electives

Foundational CTE &/or

Cluster related

General Ed.

Career and Technical Education

Cluster Specific

Interest Inventory Administered and Plan of Study Initiated for all Students

9 English IAlgebra I or Geometry

Physical Science

World History & Geography

PE/Health EmployabilityIntroduction to Hospitality &

Tourism

AccountingMarketing I

10 English IIGeometry or Algebra II

Biology I or Chemistry

Fine Arts Elective

Computer Technology

Academic/Career Advisement Provided – College Placement Assessments

11American Lit & Speech

Anatomy & Physiology or

Physics

American History

Personal Finance

ProStart (Food Service &

Restaurant Management)

12 English IVPre-Calculus, Trigonometry or Calculus

AP Biology, AP Chemistry

U.S. Government

& Psychology

Personal Finance or Economics

ProStart(National Certification)

InternshipSenior Project

Post- Second-ary

Composition Algebra ChemistryFood Service Sanitation

Restaurant Rood Service I

South Dakota DOE Sample

Personal Learning Plans, Questions to Ask

• What are the post-secondary requirements?

• What secondary courses are available at my school?

• What secondary courses are available virtually?

• What capstone experiences can you become involved in?– job shadow, internships, senior project, etc.

Resources for Career Cluster Implementation

• http://www.doe.sd.gov/octe/careerclusters/• http://www.careerclusters.org• My Life publication provided by the State of

South Dakota• http://www.sd.bridges.com