Career Clusters in Virginia

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Career ClustersinVirginia
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Steps to Implementation

• Virginia first used the term Career Families
• Changed to Career Clusters in 2005-2006
• Adopted all 16 career clusters, accompanying
  pathways and sample career/occupations from the
  very beginning
• Allow local divisions to adopt career clusters
  they desire or to merge clusters

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Steps to implementation

• Each program area section contains the following
  information
• course titles and descriptions
• approved course sequences that fulfill the
• requirement for two sequential electives
• and prepare students for career entry and
• continuing education and
• the career cluster to which each course
• belongs for Federal reporting purposes
• Additional information and samples of how to use
  career clusters are in Section 11 of the APG.

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Steps to Implementation

• For students we have a variety of web resources
• Career Planning Guide organizes careers into a
  three level hierarchy Career Clusters, the
  broadest category group careers that share basic
  characteristics. Each career cluster is further
  divided into career pathways which contain
  specific occupations. Occupations correspond to
  job titles.

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Steps to Implementation

• Virginia Career View
• Contains resources and activities for
• Kindergarten through adults
• Virginia Career Planning System powered by KUDER

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Steps to Implementation

• R U Ready Magazine
• Distributed to all 11th graders in Virginia
• Parents Help your Child Prepare Now for the Road
  Ahead brochure is distributed to all 8th graders
  parents and a Teachers Guide is provided for use
  with the magazine and
• Also provided on line

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Steps to Implementation

• Trailblazers
• Used by students for information on
• Nontraditional careers and
• Used by teachers, administrators and
• local school divisions to meet Perkins
• grant mandates

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Steps to Implementation

• Career Cluster Templates
• http//wwwdoe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/CTE/ca
  reerclusters/
• -Each career cluster has a sample plan of study.
  (blank templates and information sheet for
  Virginia courses.
• Virginia Department of Education, CTE staff works
  in conjunction with the Virginia Community
  College System
• to develop the Sample Plan of Study

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Steps to Implement

• Career Cluster Templates
• Started in 2006-2007 with sixteen career pathways
  and will add 32 more career pathways this year
  and
• This year will include Plans of Study developed
  in conjunction with our English and Fine Arts
  Program Area Specialist of the VDOE.

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Steps to Implementation

• Quick Reference Guide of Print and On-line Career
  Planning Resources
• http//www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/CTE
  /careerclusters/Quick Reference Guide pdf
• Know How Virginia-sponsored by the Virginia
  Career Education Foundation
• - httpwww.knowhowvirginia.org/
• - Also provides information on activities on
  a regional
• basis

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Steps to Implementation

• Local Division Samples
• Newport News
• http//www.sbo.nn.k12.va.us/careerpathways/
• Henry County
• http//www.henry.k12.va.us/344210828135237410/site
  /default.asp

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Continuing Steps

• The Virginia Standards of Accreditation is
  currently under review to include an Academic
  and Career Plan as requested by the Governor
• -Scheduled to go before the Virginia Board of
  Education for approval in early 2009
• -When implemented this will begin with 7th
  graders and be reviewed and modified as they
  progress
• -Includes all components of Career Clusters Plans
  of Study.

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Continuing Steps

• -Training for school counselors and career
  coaches
• -Completion of all Sample templates for career
  pathways
• -Continued training for local teachers and
  administrators on implementing Career Clusters
  and career pathways

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Thank you

• Elizabeth Russell, Director
• Virginia Department of Education