PACE (Career) Framework

1. Conduct an initial exploration of their interests

🟧Aspirations – Helps students start identifying personal interests that may influence future goals.

2. Explore information about a variety of career clusters and careers

🟧Aspirations – Broadens understanding of possibilities and helps students start envisioning their future.

3. Document their interest survey results, career exploration, and reflection in their Applied Tech Website Portfolio (Career tab)

🟦Planning – Introduces the idea of tracking and planning for future opportunities using tools

4. Be exposed to language that emphasizes individual skills, strengths, and assets

🟩Advocacy – Encourages self-recognition and the ability to express personal strengths positively.

5. Learn about practices that develop a growth mindset

🟩Advocacy – Supports self-advocacy by equipping students with resilience and a belief in their ability to grow and succeed.

1. Conduct a follow-up career interest survey to the one completed in 6th grade

🟦Planning – Builds on prior exploration and supports updated self-awareness and planning.

2. Explore their strengths through a skills/assets survey

🟩Advocacy – Builds self-awareness that supports students in advocating for themselves in academic and career settings.

3. Explore career interests and study one fast-growing/future-focused career in more depth

🟦Planning – Encourages focused investigation tied to future planning and decision-making.

4. Engage in guided self-reflection regarding career and educational future

🟦Planning – Supports intentional thinking about future pathways and preparation.

5. Articulate future aspirations and document their reflections and goals in their Applied Tech Website Portfolio (Career tab)

🟧Aspirations – Centers on identifying and expressing goals and dreams for the future.

6. Understand and apply a growth mindset

🟩Advocacy – Reinforces persistence and resilience, central to advocating for continued growth and learning.

1. Reflect on prior career cluster surveys to refine interests and/or take a new one

🟧Aspirations – Builds on previous exploration and supports goal-setting.

2. Develop a personalized educational plan aligned with a career of interest

🟦 Planning – Reflects informed decision-making and readiness for next steps.

3. Compare potential financial outcomes based on different career paths

🟦 Planning – Encourages critical thinking about the implications of future choices.

4. Conduct in-depth research and present findings on a chosen career, including educational pathways, skills, job outlook, and financial aspects

5. Engage in a virtual career exploration experience

🟩Advocacy – Supports communication, perspective-taking, and learning through community.

6. Participate in a financial literacy unit to understand budgeting, saving, and long-term financial planning

🟦 Planning – Equips students with foundational financial knowledge for future independence