Career-Connected Learning
Connecting Education and Employment for All Students
Policy Principles
-
All students should experience career-connected learning aligned with the in-demand knowledge and skills required for our evolving economy, not just students in Career-Technical Education programs.
-
Students should have academic and career plans, starting in the middle grades, that prepare them for graduation and success in college, career, and life.
-
Students should have access to meaningful career advising, career awareness and exploration experiences, and real-world work opportunities.
-
Strong business–education partnerships are crucial to enabling career-connected learning.
-
The state should connect data systems across state agencies to identify long-term student outcomes, measure return on investment, and guide decision-making for students, educators, and policymakers.
-
Education and training should be directly relevant to students and their future goals, and students should have the agency and responsibility to guide their own pathways.
-
Education and workforce systems should be seamlessly connected to provide clear pathways for students across institutions and government silos.
Advocacy Priorities
Middle School Career Exploration
Require explicit, high-quality career exploration instruction in middle school for all students with state-supported model curriculum, quality coaching frameworks, and professional development.
Consolidated Student Plans
Create a unified planning process for all students by the end of 8th grade that includes career, postsecondary, and workforce goals.
Workforce Outcomes Data
Establish a high-level initiative and charge it to link education and workforce data so the state can measure what matters, make smarter decisions, better serve Ohio’s students and economy, and spend taxpayer dollars more effectively.
High School Transformation & Graduation Requirements
Advance reforms that align graduation requirements with career pathways and workforce readiness.
.png)
The Coalition
16 cross-sector stakeholder organizations have come together to research and propose meaningful policy solutions to expand career-connected learning for all Ohio students.
Vision
As Ohio looks toward a more competitive and innovative future, it is clear that we must rethink the middle and high school experience. Not enough schools and districts are providing career-connected learning opportunities for their students, causing students to miss essential opportunities to connect their educational experiences to viable career paths in Ohio.
Expanding Career-Connected Learning and Career Pathways in Ohio
Senate Bill 328
Ohio Excels convened the Career-Connected Learning Coalition to develop a proposal to improve student workforce readiness. Now found in the recently introduced, bipartisan Senate Bill 328this proposal will ensure every student experiences structured career exploration, professional skill development, and personalized planning, all while helping the state identify which programs deliver the best results for students, employers, and taxpayers.