Think about it: When you were in middle school, did you take part in many career exploration activities, or was that type of learning reserved for high school? Chances are, it was the latter, but our research has found that over 65% of high schoolers and high school graduates feel they would have benefited from more career exploration in middle or high school.
While middle schoolers overall tend to be less stressed about their future than their high school counterparts, early access to career-connected learning and career exploration opportunities can set them up for success down the line. In fact, allowing learners to explore career possibilities before they face the pressure-cooker mentality of high school is a key reason why it’s so important to begin this work in the middle grades.
With this in mind, it’s clear that while many states are working on extending the runway for middle school students by supporting the implementation of career exploration programs, we still have a lot of work to do.
Luckily, there are organizations and institutions that are working to expand middle school career-connected learning for students from all backgrounds, like ASA’s grantees, CAPS Network, EdTrust, Bismarck Public Schools, City Year, and East Central Educational Service Center. Whether it’s through direct impact or advocacy and research, each one is making a difference in how middle school career exploration is approached and implemented.
Keep reading to learn more about their work:
Taking Initiative
When it comes to youth career exploration in general, it’s important to ensure that schools and youth-serving organizations have the resources needed to give young people high-quality profession-based learning. Through initiatives that focus on advocacy, thought leadership, and systems change, CAPS Network and EdTrust are laying the foundation for more expansive career exploration programs.
CAPS Network is a nonprofit network of institutions that are focused on promoting youth experiential learning. Through their profession-based learning framework, CAPS works to ensure that they are paving the “education-to-employment path” for young people.
“American Student Assistance’s support is pivotal in enabling us to launch the CAPS model at the middle school level, offering younger students hands-on learning with professionals and the chance to explore various careers and the skillsets they require. This partnership will empower students to develop durable skills, engage in meaningful career exploration, and lay a strong foundation for their future, all before they enter high school!” — Corey Mohn, President & Executive Director, CAPS Network
With their grant from ASA, they are planning to develop and then expand the CAPS Middle School initiative, which will encourage self-discovery, connect younger students to the world of work, and create profession-based learning opportunities for them.
EdTrust is committed to researching, providing, supporting, and advancing policies and practices to close gaps for students of color and those from low-income backgrounds from preschool through college.
“With generous support from American Student Assistance, EdTrust is ensuring that all students — especially Black and Latino students and learners from low-income backgrounds — have access to high-quality career exploration opportunities in middle school, setting them up for long-term success in education and the workforce. By advocating for equitable policies and practices, we are working to ensure every student has the resources and support they need to succeed.” — Kristen Hengtgen, Lead II, College and Career Readiness, EdTrust
The funding from their grant from ASA will go towards expanding their Middle School Career Connected Learning Initiative, which will advocate for policies and practices for high-quality career exploration and participation in postsecondary pathways. Through this initiative, EdTrust is working towards providing all middle schoolers with the tools and education needed to succeed in school and the workforce.
Building a Better Future:
How can we make sure kids have easy access to engaging career education both inside and outside of the classroom? Through boots-on-the-ground organizations that provide a direct service to young people, learners have the opportunity to engage in interactive activities that connect them to potential careers, help them develop crucial durable skills, and put them on the path to self-discovery.
Located in North Dakota, Bismarck Public Schools (BPS) is working to provide a more direct approach to career-connected learning for their middle schoolers using a hands-on approach.
“Bismarck Public Schools is grateful to ASA for the opportunity to expand career and technical exploratory experiences to our middle school students. Through the creation of a Middle School Career Academy, all students will participate in hands-on career activities throughout the school year.” — Dr. Tabby Rabenberg, Principal at the Prairie Rose School
With the funding from ASA, BPS will create and expand a middle school career exploration facility for every student in three middle schools, with a focus on Career and Technical Education (CTE).
City Year is a nonprofit organization that believes student learning happens through a combination of academic support, durable skill development, and a focus on building positive relationships in schools. City Year AmeriCorps members serve as student success coaches — tutors, mentors and role models — who partner with classroom teachers to provide these integrated supports to students and contribute to welcoming school environments where everyone can thrive.
“For decades, City Year has been developing our corps members to become the next generation of leaders through service. Over the years, we have developed frameworks for our corps and alumni that help them discern post-service pathways from college to career. With support from American Student Assistance, we are excited to adapt these successful frameworks for middle school students to encourage self-reflection and career exploration during these most pivotal years of their development.” — Jim Balfanz, CEO, City Year
With their grant from ASA, City Year will adapt their G.R.O.W. (Goals, Reality, Options, Way Forward) goal-setting framework to support career exploration between middle schoolers and their AmeriCorps members and integrating it within schools.
East Central Educational Service Center (ECESC) is one of Indiana’s Educational Service Centers, which works to create a collaborative environment to implement beneficial education initiatives statewide. ECESC uses RIASEC personality types (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) to develop career-connected learning experiences for educators and students to facilitate self-awareness.
“Forge Your Future is an experience that allows our underserved rural students to develop self-awareness by discovering their personal RIASEC codes and connecting these interests to future careers. At ECESC, we believe that student strengths and interests are a blueprint to forging futures of success and impact, and we thank ASA for helping us further this mission.” — Lindsey Lovern, ECESC Grant Coordinator
ECESC will use their grant from ASA to pilot and develop a new middle school career exploration program for students in Indiana, with a focus on those from rural and underserved communities who may not have the resources to learn about potential careers. Learners will use the RIASEC framework to connect their interests to potential careers.
ASA is proud to support organizations that feel strongly about the importance and benefits of middle school career exploration as part of a young person’s career readiness journey. Getting young people interested in their postsecondary options, allowing them to discover what makes their heart sing, these organizations are guiding learners to making smart and confident decisions about their futures.
