Career and Technical Education in the Middle School
Research indicates middle school students benefit the most from quality career and education (CTE) programs (ACTE, 2020) as middle school CTE courses:
- provide students the academic and technical skills needed for a variety of high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers;
- offer students opportunities to explore potential careers and build self-awareness;
- provide opportunities for students to start developing basic career skills and employability skills, such as professional communication, leadership, and collaboration; and
- Expose CTE courses in the middle school will create a pipeline to CTE courses offered at the high school by allowing students to make informed course selection.
Resources:
- Best Practices in Middle School Career and Technical Education Expansion
- Broadening the Path: Design Principles for Middle Grades CTE
- Career Exploration in the Middle School
- Middle School CTE Podcasts and Webinars
- Expanding Middle School CTE to Promote Lifelong Learners
Career Awareness Activities:
- Offer Career and Technical Education exploratories
- Enrichment activities during and after school
- Facilitate discussions surrounding career opportunities
- Occupational inventories
- Online career explorations
- Guest speakers from Business and Industry Partners
- Community Partnerships
- Career days
- Career fairs
- Field trips
- Job shadows
- High School visits to see what Career and Technical Education courses are available
Career Exploration: