Association of Career and Technical Education's Techniques magazine
The Career Choices series curriculum provides a PROVEN cost-efficient CALPADS 7000 early career exploration and planning course that promotes high school graduation, post-secondary completion, and successful, skilled entry into the workforce.
The foundational curriculum of the Get Focused...Stay Focused! (GFSF) program, the Career Choices series is not ONLY a comprehensive guidance course but also the ONLY statewide equitable A-G approved, dual enrollment pathway launch course in California.
Of changing attitudes and lives
Students impacted by this curriculum
“Whether you’re 18, 38, or 58, the career decision-making process is the same. You’ve provided a tool that can be referred to over a lifetime.”
“We wanted to do something about the school’s academic culture starting with the freshman class. In our second year, we had a 38% drop in freshmen with three or more Fs, and GPAs went up 15%.”
“Giving [students] this direction is going to help with everything you can imagine in your school… whether it’s discipline…or if it’s your dropout rate or your test scores. It will help across the board.”
The Career Choices series aligns with Golden State Pathways Program goals, so leveraging GSPP funding helps you create lasting change for your students.
The Career Choices series course is the only A-G approved, early career exploration course that provides dual credit and qualifies students for the Prepared level on the College/Career Indicator on the California Dashboard.
With the Career Choices series course, you have a seamless dual enrollment opportunity for ALL 9th grade students that addresses equity gaps, removes barriers to success, and establishes an empowering mindset—all while providing 3 units of college credit. The Get Focused...Stay Focused! Follow-Up Modules give 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students up to 3 additional units—for a total of 6 units of college credit (out of the 12 recommended).
This early career exploration curriculum is the perfect on ramp for all career pathways, propelling students forward with an INFORMED pathway decision while exposing them to a variety of options for acquiring the training and skills needed so they are ready to take advantage of available work-based learning opportunities.
The Career Choices series course empowers students with a unique blend of academics and diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, all while prioritizing social and emotional learning. This holistic approach ensures that students not only excel academically but also develop critical awareness and appreciation of diverse perspective. The highlight? A transformative final project where each student creates a personalized 10-year career and education plan--setting the stage for their dream future!
The Career Choices series has the ideal solution for schools looking to enhance Personal Finance courses. By helping students explore the financial costs of their dream lifestyle, it connects financial literacy and math to real-world applications, making it relevant and engaging. With practical lessons on budgeting, interest rates, insurance, and more, the Career Choices series text combined with the Lifestyle Math workbook meets Common Core and financial literacy standards and eases future-planning anxiety.
Aligned with the overarching goals of the Master Plan for Career Education, Vision 2030, and Chancellor Christian’s 9th grade dual enrollment initiative, the Career Choices series and Get Focused...Stay Focused! program:
Provide an equitable opportunity for EVERY 9th grader to earn college credit through an A-G approved early career exploration course.
Leads every 9th grade student, as part of the course requirements, through the development of a personalized online skills-based education and career plan for up to 6 units of college credit (out of 12 recommended) by the time they graduate from high school.