Career & College Readiness A Parents Guide

Why Career & College Readiness in Elementary School  Between 2008 and 2018, 63 percent of job openings will require post-secondary education. But only 42 percent of Americans currently earn an associate degree or higher by the age of 25.  Effective college and career readiness counseling begins in kindergarten and continues through high school.  Elementary school counselors create early awareness, knowledge and skills that lay the foundation for the academic rigor and social development necessary for college and career readiness.

Primary Reasons Why Students Drop Out of College  Lack of Academic Preparedness.  Poor financial planning & difficulties of balancing work and college.  A sense of not belonging; a sense of isolation, homesickness.  Lack of Parental support. (Only 39% of parents without a college education made an effort to instill the value of a college education. 60% of parents with a college education made this effort).

College Board and National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA) Recommendations  College aspirations.  Academic planning for Career and College Readiness.  Enrichment and Extra Curricula Engagement.  College and Career Exploration and Selection.  College and Career Assessments.  College Affordability Planning.

College Aspirations  The Goal:  The Goal: Build a college-going culture based on early college awareness by nurturing in students the confidence to aspire to college and the resilience to overcome challenges along the way. Maintain high expectations by providing adequate supports, building social capital and conveying the conviction that all students can succeed in college.

 Why it Matters: ALL  Why it Matters: Students who gain early and solid foundations as learners are more likely to attain the academic and social rewards that indicate school success. They also are more likely to believe that college is a realistic goal and to succeed. School communities that intentionally raise the aspirations of ALL students are preparing their students to graduate college and be career ready. College Aspirations

Academic Planning for Career and College Readiness  The Goal:  The Goal: Advance students’ planning, preparation, participation and performance in a rigorous academic program that connects to their college and career aspirations and goals. *At the elementary level this means building a solid academic foundation and being on grade level in relevant subject matter.

Academic Planning for Career and College Readiness  Why it Matters:  Why it Matters: Students who acquire a solid academic foundation are more prepared to engage in rigorous and challenging course work as they progress through middle and high school. School communities that intentionally focus on grade-level proficiency in math and reading help increase the likelihood that students will graduate college and career ready. * Follow your students academic progress closely and attend parent/teacher nights. SSP

Enrichment and Extra Curricula Engagement.  The Goal:  The Goal: Ensure equitable exposure to a wide range of extracurricular and enrichment opportunities that build leadership, nurture talents and interests, and increase engagement with school.

 Why it Matters:  Why it Matters: Engagement in enrichment and extracurricular activities can enhance students’ academic performance. Early awareness and exposure to a wide range of enrichment and extracurricular activities form a foundation upon which students can build their future aspirations and interests. Enrichment and Extra Curricula Engagement.

College and Career Exploration and Selection  The Goal:  The Goal: Provide early and ongoing exposure to experiences and information necessary to make informed decisions when selecting a college or career that connects to academic preparation and future aspirations.

 Why it Matters:  Why it Matters: Students who engage in early and ongoing college and career exploration opportunities are more likely to participate in the preparation and planning necessary for future goal setting. College and Career Exploration and Selection

College and Career Assessments.  The Goal:  The Goal: Promote preparation, participation and performance in college and career assessments by all students.

 Why it Matters:  Why it Matters: Introducing students to developmentally appropriate interest inventories and assessments can spark curiosity about strengths and talents, build self-awareness, and lay a foundation for the ongoing exploration necessary for building aspirations and goal setting. Students’ early planning can grow into habits that are critical for success in college and career readiness. Career Town College and Career Assessments.

College Affordability Planning  The Goal:  The Goal: Provide students and families with comprehensive information about college costs, options for paying for college, and the financial aid and scholarship processes and eligibility requirements, so they are able to plan for and afford a college education.

 Why it Matters:  Why it Matters: Understanding basic finance and how to use and manage money are essential skills that build a foundation for financial literacy. Students who apply their knowledge of everyday financial decisions and engage in meaningful activities related to finance are equipped to increase and expand their financial literacy and financial aid knowledge in future years. College Affordability Planning

Which Type of Skills are Most Important to Career Success?

Hard Skills Hard skills are those skills that are specific, measurable and poses teachable abilities. These are skills that are integral in a given context for example, job application. Some hard skills include typing, mathematical ability, calculus, software development, operating machinery and speaking foreign languages among many others.

Soft Skills Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.

Which Soft Skills are Important to Career Success?  Taking responsibility  Making effective decisions  Setting goals  Managing time  Prioritizing tasks  Persevering  Giving strong efforts  Working well in teams  Communicating effectively  Having empathy  Knowing how to learn  Exhibiting self-control  Believing in one's own self worth Downing, Skip. (2005). On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life.

Seven Habits for Happy Kids Take responsibility for yourself. Create a vision for the future and have a plan Delay gratification doing the difficult things first so we can do the things we want to do. Cooperation with others knowing how to resolve problems and conflicts with peers. The ability to listen to others with our ears, hearts and minds. Perspective taking! Valuing differences and then working together to create a better solutions than one person could achieve. Taking care of body, heart, mind, and soul.

The Parents Role advocates  Become advocates for your children by Identifying the resources available to help your them become career and college ready (School, Home, Community)  Support your children academically  Support your children academically, help them engage in school, chart their knowledge and skill development, and encourage social interactions that lay the foundation for college and career readiness visualize  Take your child(ren) to a college or university campus and take a tour of the facilities to help them visualize the college atmosphere.

positive and productive learning environment at home  Create a positive and productive learning environment at home, including translating school expectations to fit your family structure and cultural expectations (Homework plan & study skills) calendars  Develop academic and activity calendars and use portfolios to highlight student accomplishments. enrichment and extracurricular programs  Locate free and low-cost academic, enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide opportunities for students to receive praise, encouragement and guidance. The Parents Role

 Support school sponsored enrichment and extracurricular activities  Support school sponsored enrichment and extracurricular activities, such as field trips to museums, colleges/career/ technical schools, competitions, plays and concerts.  Know your role in early awareness  Know your role in early awareness in college and career exploration.  Lay the foundation for early academic and workforce readiness skills  Lay the foundation for early academic and workforce readiness skills by creating consistent routines that reinforce character and skill-building, such as getting-ready patterns (e.g., homework schedules, consistent meal and bed times, and preparation of academic materials). The Parents Role

 Cultivate your children’s interests  Cultivate your children’s interests by paying close attention to their activities during non-school time and talking with their children about how their interests are related to school success and career opportunities.  Create a positive home environment  Create a positive home environment that helps students plan for assessments while reducing test anxiety, encouraging positive engagement and highlighting students’ strengths. and career assessments/inventories  Be aware of about potential college and career assessments/inventories that are available on-line and in middle school. The Parents Role

develop early awareness of financial literacy and financial aid processes  Help your children develop early awareness of financial literacy and financial aid processes for future college and career readiness options.  Know that your financial circumstances will not prevent their students from applying for and/or receiving most financial aid. *If there’s a will there’s a way!  Research and apply for age-appropriate academic, merit and extracurricular engagement scholarships and grants from various funders (e.g., federal and state programs, postsecondary institutions, and private foundations and organizations). *The Wasatch Foundation  Start a college savings plan! The Parents Role

“You Don’t Have to be Great to get Started, But You Have to get Started to be Great!” Les Brown