TheImportanceofCareerandCollegeReadinessforK121

TheImportanceofCareerandCollegeReadinessforK12
KatieChilton
July15,2013
SalemCollege
AnneSourbeerMorris,Ed.D.

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TheImportanceofCareerandCollegeReadinessforK12
Whencomparedtootheraspectsofoneslife,thetimespentinonescareeris
disproportionatelyhigherthananyotheraspectoflife.Ifweweretoanalyzehowastudents
timeisspentinschool,thereisamajordisconnectbetweeneducationandcareerreadiness.With
afocuscontentbasedknowledge,thereislittletimespentonactualcareerandcollegereadiness
preparation.Itistimeforthistochangethroughtheactiveimplementationofthevarioustools
readilyavailabletoschoolcounselors.Whiletherearemanytoolsforschoolcounselorsthis
paperwillfocusonthetoolsthatspecificallyfocusondevelopingstudentsabilitytomake
decisionsabouttheirfuture.Schoolcounselorsarecalledbebeleaderstohelpstudentsbecome
careerready.InreviewoftheNOSCA,theEightComponentsofCareerandCollegeReadiness,
andtheSchoolCounselorStrategicPlanningToolonecanseehowimportantandvaluablethe
schoolcounselorsjobisinhelpingallK12levelshaveacomprehensivedevelopmental
counselingprogram.
NationalOfficeforSchoolCounselorAdvocacy
TheNOSCAbelievesthatschoolcounselorsareinagreatpositiontoguideallstudents
towardscollegereadiness.Collegeboardworkstoinstitutionalizeschoolcounselingpractice
thatadvancesequitableeducationalaccessandrigorousacademicpreparationnecessaryfor
collegereadinessforallstudents(collegeboard.org).Thereareunfortunatelytoofewstudents
graduatingfromhighschoolthatarereadyforcollegeorwork.TheNOSCAthereforeadvocates
forschoolcounselingtohelpeverystudentwhograduatesfromhighschoolandhelpsthembe
preparedfortheirfuture.NOSCAidentifiesandsupportstheskills,practices,characteristicsand

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relationshipsforschoolcounselorsnecessarytoensurethatallstudentsarecollegeand
careerready(collegeboard.org).NOSCAadvocatesforschoolcounselorstoseetheimportance
oftheirroleinstudentachievement.Throughequityincollegeandcareerreadiness,leadership
insystemiceducationreform,andtransformationofschoolcounselingpracticetheschool
counselorcanmakepositivechangesinstudentsliveswhenitcomestocareerandcollege
readiness.
TheEightComponentsofCareerandCollegeReadiness

TheNOSCAhasprovidedschoolcounselorswitheightcomponentstohelpinspireand
preparestudentsforeveryopportunitythatliesahead.Theeightcomponentsbuildaspirations
andsocialcapital,offerenrichingactivities,fosterrigorousacademicpreparation,encourage
earlycollegeplanning,andguidestudentsandfamiliesthroughthecollegeadmissionand
financialaidprocesses(collegeboard.org).Theeightcomponentsare:
1.Collegeaspirations
2.Academicplanningforcareerandcollegereadiness
3.Enrichmentandextracurricularengagement
4.Collegeandcareerexplorationandselectionprocesses
5.Collegeandcareerassessments
6.Collegeaffordabilityplanning
7.Collegeandcareeradmissionprocesses
8.Transitionfromhighschoolgraduationtocollegeenrollment(collegeboard.org).
TheEightComponentsofCollegeandCareerReadinessCounselingprovideasystemic
approachforschoolcounselorstoimplement,acrossgradeselementarythroughhighschooland

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beyond,toensureequitybothinprocessandresults(www.collegeboard.org).
Table1.
TheEightComponentsofCollegeandCareerReadinessCounseling
TheEightComponents

Goal

1.CollegeAspirations

Buildacollegegoingculturebasedonearlycollege
awarenessbynurturinginstudentstheconfidencetoaspireto
collegeandtheresiliencetoovercomechallengesalongthe
way.Maintainhighexpectationsbyprovidingadequate
supports,buildingsocialcapitalandconveyingtheconviction
thatallstudentscansucceedincollege.

2.AcademicPlanningforCollegeandCareerReadiness

Advancestudentsplanning,preparation,participationand
performanceinarigorousacademicprogramthatconnectsto
theircollegeandcareeraspirationsandgoals.

3.EnrichmentandExtracurricularEngagement

Ensureequitableexposuretoawiderangeofextracurricular
andenrichmentopportunitiesthatbuildleadership,nurture
talentsandinterests,andincreaseengagementwithschool.

4.CollegeandCareerExplorationandSelectionProcesses

Provideearlyandongoingexposuretoexperiencesand
informationnecessarytomakeinformeddecisionswhen
selectingacollegeorcareerthatconnectstoacademic
preparationandfutureaspirations.

5.CollegeandCareerAssessments

Promotepreparation,participationandperformancein
collegeandcareerassessmentsbyallstudents.

6.CollegeAffordabilityPlanning

Providestudentsandfamilieswithcomprehensive
informationaboutcollegecosts,optionsforpayingfor
college,andthefinancialaidandscholarshipprocessesand
eligibilityrequirements,sotheyareabletoplanforand
affordacollegeeducation.

7.CollegeandCareerAdmissionProcesses

Ensurethatstudentsandfamilieshaveanearlyandongoing
understandingofthecollegeandcareerapplicationand
admissionprocessessotheycanfindthepostsecondary
optionsthatarethebestfitwiththeiraspirationsand
interests.

8.TransitionfromHighSchoolGraduationtoCollege
Enrollment

Connectstudentstoschoolandcommunityresourcestohelp
thestudentsovercomebarriersandensurethesuccessful
transitionfromhighschooltocollege.

TheEightComponentsofCareerandCollegeReadinessispartofaseriesfor
elementary,middle,andhighschoolcounselors.Theseeightcomponentshelpschoolcounselors
focustheirworkoncollegeandcareerreadiness.Thefollowingthreeguidelinesshowhow
schoolcounselorsusetheseEightComponentsforallgradelevelsK12topromotecollegeand

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careerreadinessforallstudents.
Elementaryschoolcounselorscreateearlyawareness,knowledgeandskillsthatlaythe
foundationfortheacademicrigorandsocialdevelopmentnecessaryforcollegeand
careerreadiness.
Middleschoolcounselorscreateopportunitiestoexploreanddeepencollegeandcareer
knowledgeandskillsnecessaryforacademicplanningandgoalsetting.
Highschoolcounselorscreateaccesstocollegeandcareerpathwaysthatpromotefull
implementationofpersonalgoalsthatensurethewidestrangeoffuturelifeoptions
(collegeboard.org).
Whenputtogetheralloftheseeightcomponentsareusedtocreatesuccessfulcareer
counseling.Allthestepsarebuiltontopofeachotherandareusedasbuildingblocksfor
studentstolearnandgainmoreeveryyear.Theyareinterconnected,andactionsrelatedtoone
componentcanlayafoundationforimprovementsinmultipleareas(collegeboard.org).
ThereforethecounselorusesthemthroughouttheK12yearsandtheyreinforceeachother
throughouttheseyears.
TheSchoolCounselorStrategicPlanningTool
TheSchoolCounselorStrategicPlanningToolisawonderfulresourcefromCollege
Board.NOSCAbelievesthateverystudentshouldgraduatefromhighschoolwiththe
educationalpreparationandsocialcapitalnecessaryforsuccessincollegeandtheworkforce.
(collegeboard.org).Schoolcounselorscanusethistooltohelpguidetheirstudentstobecollege
andcareerready.Throughthestrategicplanningtoolschoolcounselorsareabletomakecollege
andcareerspositiveandpromising.Thestrategicplanninghelpsschoolcounselorsattaindatain

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ordertosetgoalsanddevelopstrategiestomeasureoutcomesforstudentsuccess
(collegeboard.org).Usingthisprocesshelpsschoolcounselorstoaligncollegeandcareer
counselingwithschoolimprovementplans(collegeboard.org).NOSCAsstrategicplanning
processincludes:
Makesthemostoftheschoolcounselorstimeandresources
Linksgoals,interventionsandoutcomes
Providesevidencetoadvocateforsystemicchange
Eliminatesrandominitiatives
Providesresultsmeasuredinstudentoutcomes(collegeboard.org)
Thisprocessalsoshowsthatschoolcounselorsareleadersandadvocatesforallstudentsand
believethatallstudentscanbecareerandcollegeready.Havingthestrategicplanningtool
allowsthemtobuildcareerandcollegereadinessprogramsatalllevelsoftheK12education.
TheNationalOfficeforSchoolCounselingAdvocacy,TheEightComponentsofCareer
andCollegeReadiness,andTheSchoolCounselorStrategicPlanningToolareallgreatlyneeded
andhavebountifulbenefitsforschoolcounselorsandtheschoolcounselorscareerdevelopment
programs.AllthreeprovidegreatresourcesfromtheCollegeBoardwebsitethatpromotes
educationink12programsandhighereducationbyprovidingstudentswithcollege
opportunities,support,andscholarships.CollegeBoardworkswiththeeducationcommunity
throughresearchandadvocacyonbehalfofallstudentsandeducators(collegeboard.org).In
ordertomakecollegeaccessibletoallstudentsCollegeBoardwasformedanditmadeiteasier
forstudentstoapplytocollege.TheCollegeBoardadvocacyandpolicycenterisgreattohelp
ensurethatallstudentshavetheopportunitytosucceedincollege.Theirprioritiesinclude

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collegereadinessandaccess,collegeaffordabilityandfinancialaid,andcollegeadmissionand
completion(collegeboard.org).Theeightcomponentshelpschoolcounselorsfocustheirworkon
collegeandcareerreadiness.FinallytheSchoolCounselorStrategicPlanningToolhelpsschool
counselorsattaindatainordertosetgoalsanddevelopstrategiestomeasureoutcomesfor
studentsuccess.
ASystematicandComprehensiveK12DevelopmentalCounselingProgram
EssentialtoeducationofallstudentsarecareerrelatedK12DevelopmentCounseling
Programs.Luckily,inourschoolsweareseeingmorecareerrelatedprogramsandcommunities
thatarebeingchangedbythem.Comprehensivecareerrelatedprogramsthatarecurrentlyin
vogueareintentionalandsequential(Zunker,2012,pg.314).Thisisinencouragingbecauseit
isassumedthatcareerdevelopmentisconsideredtobealifelongprocess.Careerprograms
shouldbepartofallagesofstudentsandforeachagehaveageappropriateactivities(Zunker,
2012).Asschoolsestablishlearningdomainsandgoals,thenstandardsaredevelopedusingthe
ASCA(2012).Careerrelatedprogramsinschoolsrequirethedevelopmentofmodelprograms,
resources,andstrategies,andmostimportant,carefullyplannedmethodsofcurriculum
integration(Zunker,2012,pg.315).
Therearemanyimplicationsforschoolcounselorsandcareerdevelopmentprograms.As
onecanseealleducationalgoalsareaffectedbycareereducationprograms.Zunkeroutlinesthe
importanceofcareerrelatedprogramsandtheimplicationsforschoolcounselorsincluding
support,cognitivedevelopment,learning,familysystems,careergoals,competencies,and
classroomactivities.
ElementarySchool

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Schoolsarelookingatacademicgoalsandmasteringbasicskillsinordertoprepare
learnerstobecomelifelonglearners(Zunker,2012).Throughoutelementaryschoolstudentsare
learningandmasteringnumerousskillsandunderstandingnewconcepts.Amostimportant
perspective,however,isthatvocationalgoalsareconsideredtobetheproductofthetotal
educationalexperience,whichincludescareereducationprogramsdesignedtopreparestudents
forcareerchoiceandsubsequentlymakeasuccessfultransitionfromschooltoschoolandor
schooltowork(Zunker,2012,pg.315).
Suggestedk6goalsandcompetenciesbytheASCArecommendsthefollowing
functionsofelementaryschoolcounselors:
Implementeffectiveclassroomguidanceactivitiessuchasfosteringpeerrelationships,
understandingtheself,communicationskills,decisionmakingskills,studyskills.
Developeffectiveindividualandsmallgroupcounselingaddressingsuchtopicsas
selfimage,selfesteem,interpersonalconcerns,familyissues,personaladjustment,and
behaviorproblems.
Useassessmentinstrumentsasmeasuresofability,interests,academicachievement,and
skills.
Fosterthedevelopmentalprocessthroughcareerawarenessoflifelonggrowthofvalues,
interests,andskillsthatwillinfluencetheirfutureworkroles.
Coordinateprogramsthatwillinvolveschoolandcommunityresources,allschool
careerrelatedactivities,andotherprogramsthatpromotestudentsselfknowledgeand
skilldevelopment(Zunker,2012,pg.239).
Therearemanyareasofcareerdevelopmentforelementaryagestudentsandmany

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suggestionstofollowforschoolcounselors.Ourtextshighlightmanyoftheseimplicationssuch
asselfconcept,buildinganunderstandingofstrengthsandlimitations,rolemodels,sexual
stereotyping,communityresources,learningtoassumeresponsibility,andlearningabout
occupations(Zunker,2012,pg.335).Theseimplicationsoutlinethemanyguidelinesthat
elementaryschoolcounselorscanfocusontohaveasuccessfulprograminearlycareer
counseling.Anotherimportantroleoftheschoolcounseloristoalwayshaveuptodate
resourcesthatcaneffectivelyaddresscareerdevelopmentalgoals(Zunker,2012).Whenchildren
atayoungagecanbegintounderstandtherelationshipbetweeneducationandworkthenthey
areformingtheirfutureincareerdevelopment.Itispowerfulwhenskillslearnedthroughout
schoolcanbelinkedtoworkrelatedskills(Zunker,2012).
MiddleSchool
MiddleSchoolstudentscancontinueonwiththecareerdevelopmentgoalstheywere
introducedwithinelementaryschoolwhichmightincludedevelopmentofselfknowledge,
educationalandoccupationalexploration,andcareerplanning(Zunker,2012).Careergoalsfor
middleschoolusedbyHerringareasfollows:decisionmakingskills,selfawarenessby
recognizingstrengthsandweaknesses,educationalawarenessbyrecognizingtherelationship
betweeneducationalandworkskills,economicawarenessbyunderstandinghowsupplyand
demandinfluencejobavailability,occupationalawarenessbylearningaboutthecontentofjobs,
andworkattitudesrecognizingtheroleofworkinsociety(Zunker,2012,pg.344).
Themiddleschoolyearsareveryimportantformanyreasons,oneofthembeingthatitis
duringtheseyearsthatstudentsstarttomaketentativeplansandexploreoccupations(Zunker,
2012).Middleschoolersstarttonoticetheirselfcharacteristicsandworkontheirrelationship

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skillswithothers.Theyarefullofselfawarenessandbegintorealizethattheirpersonalitiesand
andpersonalattributescouldfitinwithanoccupation(2012).Ideally,studentsshouldalsolearn
moreaboutthedecisionmakingprocessandpotentialcareerpathsand/orworkenvironments.
Discussionwithstudentsaboutjobrequirementsshouldbedesignedtofosteranappreciationof
theroleofworkinthetheirfuture(Zunker,2012,pg.345).Thisisalltosaythatcareer
programsinmiddleschoolshouldbegintooffermoreawarenessaboutpotentialoccupationsand
opportunities(2012).Exposingteenagerstovariousoccupationalopportunitiesrequiresa
welldesignedcareereducationprogramthatisdevelopmentallyappropriate,informative,and
interesting(Morris,2013).
HighSchool

Itisthroughouthighschoolthatisthepenultimatetimeforstudentstolearnandprepare
formakingdecisionsaboutthefuture(Zunker,2012).Thetransitionfromadolescenceto
adulthoodbringsonalotofchanges,obstacles,andchallenges,thatiswhyitisimportantfor
highschoolerstobeawareoftheworkworldandgoalsfortheirfuture.Studentswhohave
developedapositiveattitudeconcerningtheideaoflifetimeoflearningwillrecognizethata
varietyofoptionsawaitthem(Zunker,2012,pg.352).Itisduringhighschoolthatskillsare
developedtohelpstudentsmakeaccuratedecisionsabouttheirfuture,actions,andbehavior
(2012).Schoolcounselorscanhelpwiththesecareergoals,development,andhaveaschool
counselingprogramthatpreparesstudentsforcollegeandtechnologyprograms.
Cognitivelearningandinformationprocessingbothdevelopmoreoverthehighschool
years.Itisneartheendofmiddleschoolwhenstudentshavedevelopedtheabilitytosolve
problems.Thethinkingprocessisalsomoreintrospective(Zunker,2012).Itisduringthehigh

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schoolyearswhenpreviouslylearnedskillsaregreatlyenhanced.Someoftheseskillsare:
Abilitytomanipulatementallymorethantwocategoriesofvariablessimultaneously.
Abilitytothinkaboutchangesthatcomewithtime.
Abilitytohypothesizelogicalsequencesofevents.
Abilitytoforeseeconsequencesofactions.
Abilitytodetectlogicalconsistencyorinconsistencyinasetofstatements.
Abilitytothinkinrelativisticwaysaboutself,others,andtheworld(Zunker,2012,pg.
353).
Theseskillsareimportanttorecognizeinyoungadultsbecausetheycanshowhowa
studentisabletothinkaboutthefutureandalsotomakeplansforthatfuture.Schoolcounselors
shouldbeawarethoughthatsomestudentswillnotmakematureorrealisticchoices.High
schoolprogramsthataredesignedtoassiststudentsindecisionmakingarethemostrelevantas
areproblemswhichpromoteselfknowledge,occupationalknowledge,andcareerplanningskills
(Zunker,2012,pg.353).Whenstudentsareabletoprocessinformationthentheyarebetterable
tousememorystrategiesinsolvingproblemsorplanningforthefuture.Problemsolvingand
reasoningabilitygraduallybecomeadultlikeasstudentsinhighschoolareexposedtoan
everincreasingcomplexlevelofknowledge(Zunker,2012,pg.354).Careerdevelopment
shouldbeaddressedduringthesetransformativeyearsbecausecognitivedevelopmentandthe
developmentofinformationprocessingskillssuggestthatstudentscansystematicallybe
introducedtocareerdevelopmentprogramsthatareindeedanimportantpartoftheireducational
program(Zunker,2012,pg.354).
Conclusion

TheImportanceofCareerandCollegeReadinessforK1212

Aschoolcounselingprogramshouldensurethatstaff,students,parents,andthe
communityareknowledgeableabouttheprogramandtheyseethebenefitsandresults
(www.ascaschoolcounselor.org)."Optimalschoolcounselorsaresystemsthinkerswho
understandtheASCANationalModel.Theyknowschoolcounselingprogramsareanintegral
partofthetotaleducationalprogram"(www.ascaschoolcounselor.org).TheASCANational
StandardsforSchoolCounselorshighlightscompetenciesspecifictocareerreadiness.Through
thecompetenciesschoolcounselorscanassurethatstudentsinthemiddleschoolandalllevels
arebeingusedtodevelopcareerawareness.TheASCAhelpsmakesurethatobjectivesaremet
suchashowtoacquirecareerinformation,developemploymentreadiness,andlearninghowto
applyonesskillstoachievecareergoals(Zunker,2012).Schoolcounselorsaretousethese
competenciesinordertohelpplanandstayorganized.Themainfocusshouldbeonincreasing
academicachievementfollowedupbyhelpingstudentsmakesounddecisions,developing
personalqualitiestheywillneedinfutureliferoles(Zunker,2012,pg.346).
Careergoalsandcompetenciesarecrucialforschoolcounselorsandservemany
purposes.TherearemanyimplicationsforcareerdevelopmentintheK12schoolyearsandthe
competenciesandgoalshelpkeepstudentsreadyforcareersandthefuture.Careercounselors
canaidinthetransitoryperiodbylayingthefoundationforadultdecisionmakingandpreparing
theearlyadolescentforthefirstbigdecision:collegeorcareerandtechnicaltraining(orboth)in
highschool.Studentsenvisionthefuturethroughdreams,butthosedreamsneedtobecome
increasinglyrealistic(Morris,2013).Whenstudentsareabletolearnaboutcareeroptionsit
increasestheirawarenessandcreatesapromisingfuture.
Itisapparentthattheimportanceofcollegeandcareerreadinessisdeveloping

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appropriatek12strategiesforaddressingcareerdevelopmentneedsofstudentsandhowschool
counselorscanhelpstudentsandthecommunityasawholecreatebrightfuturesforevery
student(Zunker,2012).Schoolcounselorsmusttakeontheleadershiprolesothattheycantake
responsibilityforimplementingacareerdevelopmentprogram(Dahir,Stone,pg.452,2012).
Manystudentsstrugglewithacademicpreparationwithlittleguidance.Allstudentsshouldfeel
thattheyhaveaccesstomakemeaningfulpathsfortheirlivesandtheschoolcounseloralong
withteachers,administrators,andparentscanhelpensuretheseopportunitiesforstudents.
Ensuringequityandaccessistheschoolcounselorscontributiontoclosingtheinformationand
achievementgapsandwillassiststudentstobecomeproductiveandcontributingmembersofour
society(Dahir,Stone,2012,pg.453).

References

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AmericanSchoolCounselorAssociation.(2012).TheASCAnationalmodel:Aframeworkfor
schoolcounselingprograms(3rded.).Alexandria,VA:Author.

ASCA(2012).TheProfessionalSchoolCounselorandAcademicandCollege/CareerPlanning.
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CollegeBoard.(2013).Theeightcomponentsofcollegeandcareerreadiness.Retrievedfrom
http://www.collegeboard.org

CollegeBoard(2013).NOSCA:ElementarySchoolCounselorsGuide.Retrievedfrom:
http://salem.learninghouse.com/file.php/56/NOSCA__Elementary_School_Counselor_s
_Guide.pdf

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CollegeBoard(2013).NOSCA:SchoolCOunselorStrategicPlanningTool.Retrievedfrom:

TheImportanceofCareerandCollegeReadinessforK1215

http://advocacy.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/NOSCA%20Strategic%20planning%2
0tool.pdf

Dahir,C.A.&Stone,C.B.(2012).Thetransformedschoolcounselor(2nded.).Belmont,CA:
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Morris,A.S.(2013).21stcenturycareerandeducationalcounselingdevelopment[PDF
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Zunker,V.G.(2012).Careercounseling:Aholisticapproach(8thed.).Belmont,CA:
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