Career Literacy
Career Awareness K-4:
Arizona CTE initiatives support early career learning beginning with “Career Awareness K-4”. Students discover careers by making connections with responsibility, cooperation, and problem solving through activities that stimulate their interest in future work.
- Career-connections learning strategies
- Classroom career speakers
- Introduction to Arizona career fields and pathways
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Career Exploration 5-8:
Arizona Career and Technical Education recognizes the benefit of beginning early with career exploration. Career exploration strategies are opportunities for students to discover work environments and understand the various aspects of the workplace. Strategies include tools that help students understand and appreciate their strengths and interests. Students start plans for their future with career information and post-secondary education data. This includes course selection and planning as well as career goals and aspirations.
- Advanced academic and technical education
- Student success plan
- Career connections learning strategies
- Workplace visits with career interviews
- Career courses
- Career mentorships
- Career research
- Service learning
- Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSO)
- Career pathways
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Post K-8 & Connection to High School:
Arizona students have a unique opportunity beyond career literacy and career exploration to choose a Career and Technical Education high school level program in 9-12. These programs offer a focus on specific careers and are provided by local public, charter, private, and Career and Technical Education schools. Upon completion of a CTE Program students often receive industry certifications and are ready for entry level careers after high school graduation. With a national graduation rate of students who take CTE courses at a high of 93%, many of these CTE programs also offer connection to post-secondary community college or university level programs for additional certification opportunities.
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