Preparing students for college, careers, and community engagement is a multifaceted endeavor, and Student Success Plans play a crucial role in this process. Interest inventories and skills assessment tools are invaluable resources for schools, offering diverse metrics of student academic achievement and development. These tools are essential in crafting effective Student Success Plans, providing students from grades 8-12 with vital insights into their strengths, aptitudes, and passions. This knowledge empowers them to make informed decisions, paving the way for success in higher education, their chosen careers, and life beyond the classroom.
Recognizing the importance of these resources, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in Arkansas is committed to providing access to high-quality Career Readiness Tools (CCR Tools) for students in grades 8-12. Through a rigorous state procurement process, DESE has identified a list of reputable vendors offering research-backed solutions for aptitude assessment. To ensure equitable access and quality standards, DESE will cover the contract costs for school districts that select a vendor from the approved list for students in these grades. This initiative empowers local school districts to maintain autonomy in their decision-making while guaranteeing that students benefit from effective and reliable career readiness tools for future planning.
Navigating the 2023 Vendor Selection Process for Career Readiness Tools
For the past three years, school districts in Arkansas have had access to their chosen vendor for career readiness tools. DESE is now offering districts the opportunity to reassess their needs and potentially select a new vendor for the upcoming three-year cycle. A secure selection link will be distributed to superintendents in early March 2023, initiating a 7-8 week window for submission. It is crucial that superintendents finalize and submit their vendor selection for the 2023-24 through 2025-26 school years by May 5, 2023.
To facilitate informed decision-making, DESE hosted a Virtual Vendor Fair on March 1, 2023, showcasing the approved providers of career readiness tools. These virtual sessions were recorded to allow districts to review vendor presentations at their convenience. Comprehensive information about each vendor and their offerings can be accessed through the vendor links provided.
To further assist districts in selecting the most suitable career readiness tools, a detailed Selection Guide is available for review. Districts are strongly encouraged to establish a diverse team to participate in both the selection and implementation phases. Consider including individuals in the following roles to ensure a comprehensive evaluation:
- CCR Tool Point of Contact: This individual will serve as the primary liaison between the district, DESE, and the chosen vendor, managing communication and coordination.
- Building Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, or Administration: Leadership perspectives are vital to ensure alignment with school-wide goals and effective integration of the tools.
- Counselors, Career Coaches, Teacher Advisors, or Student Mentor Program Staff: These professionals work directly with students and can provide valuable insights into student needs and tool usability.
- Classroom Teachers (Academic, ALE, CTE, ESOL, GT, and SPED): Representing diverse subject areas and student populations ensures the tools are relevant and accessible across the curriculum.
- Other Staff Involved in Scheduling, Advising, or College/Career Guidance: Individuals involved in student pathways and graduation planning offer practical perspectives on tool integration and impact.
Whether a district decides to continue with their current provider or transition to a new one, the primary focus should now shift to maximizing student engagement with the provided resources and services. Superintendents are urged to read this letter for guidance on effective implementation strategies at both the district and building levels.
Key Features of Approved Career Readiness Tools
The vendors selected by DESE offer a standardized suite of essential services and features designed to empower students in their career exploration and planning journey. These career readiness tools leverage aptitude tracking, skill assessments, and interest inventories to guide students towards potential career paths while encouraging exploration across a broad spectrum of fields.
Students can personalize their profiles by adding achievements such as awards, community service involvement, and work experiences. Crucially, they gain access to up-to-date local, state, and national employment data and detailed occupational profiles for a wide array of careers. To foster collaboration and support, parents and guardians are enabled to review and approve student plans within the system, facilitating active involvement in monitoring and assisting with student goals.
School districts benefit from the ability to upload crucial local and student data, including master schedules, course history, graduation requirements, and assessment data. The integrated planning tools facilitate progress tracking towards goals, provide resources for scholarships and financial aid, and streamline the college application process. Importantly, students retain access to their accounts for a minimum of one year after graduation, ensuring continued support as they transition to their post-secondary endeavors.
While DESE provides funding for career readiness tools for grades 8-12 through the approved vendors, school districts retain the option to independently contract for supplementary services or extend access to these valuable tools to additional grade levels.
DESE-Approved Career Readiness Tool Vendors:
Vendor list would be inserted here if available from original article.
Resources for Implementing Career Readiness Tools:
- College and Career Planning Tools Comparison Chart for Districts (PDF)
- District College and Career Readiness Vendor Choices for 2019-2020 (as of 8/27/2019)
- Districts CCR Vendor selection list for the 2020-2021 thru 2022-2023 school years (as of 2/8/2023)
Contact Information for Further Inquiries:
Sheree Baird, Assessment Program Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Public School Accountability | Assessment
One Capitol Mall Ave., Suite 4C-300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-0902
Email: [email protected]
Kalyn Bumbaugh, Program/Project Manager
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Public School Accountability | Assessment
One Capitol Mall Ave., Suite 4C-300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-3842
Email: [email protected]
