States' Career Clusters

More About Career Clusters

Career Clusters Prepare All Students for College and Careers

Technological advances and global competition have transformed the nature of work. Tomorrow's jobs will require more knowledge, better skills, and more flexible workers than ever before. Tomorrow's workers must be prepared to change jobs and careers several times, continually updating their knowledge and skills.

To prepare today's students for tomorrow, schools are working to help students achieve in challenging subjects.
One key approach to this goal is to provide students with relevant contexts for learning.

Career clusters link what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college and careers.

Career clusters identify pathways from secondary school to two- and four-year colleges, graduate school, and the workplace, so students can learn in school and what they can do in the future. This connection to future goals motivates students to work harder and enroll in more rigorous courses.

"Our 16 broad career clusters will help students enhance the link between the knowledge they acquire in school and the skills they need to pursue their dreams. Without limiting students, career clusters help them focus on an area of interest or a possible career path."

-Richard W. Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education

After working with industry automotive professionals, I now see a need to attend college...Now I know how important chemistry is in preparing to be an automotive technician."

-a recent HS Graduate

Career Clusters Connect Employees with Education

Partnerships involving state, schools, educators, employers, industry groups, and other stakeholders are creating curriculum guidelines, academic and technical standards, assessments, and professional development materials for 16 career clusters:

	Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources	"Students who participate in the IT cluster at the high school level and meet the required standards - in information support and services, interactive media, network systems, or programming and software development - are better prepared than other students to enter the workforce and to continue their education at the post-secondary level." -John L. Hall, Senior Vice President, Oracle University
	Architecture & Construction
	Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
	Business, Management & Administration
	Education & Training
	Finance
	Government & Public Administration
	Health Science
	Hospitality & Tourism
	Human Services
	Information Technology
	Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
	Manufacturing
	Marketing, Sales & Service
	Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
	Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

These 16 clusters represent all career possibilities. They are an ideal way to organize instruction and student experiences in Tech Prep, career academies, work-based learning programs, smaller learning communities, magnet andcharter schools, and high schools that are restructuring around career themes.
The partnership approach gives business and industry a seat at the table, helping schools ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for multiple career options within each career cluster. Partnerships are already developing the tools to support five clusters; all 16 clusters will be supported by the end of 2001.

"Because of my internship and what I learned in my Health Science courses I was able to obtain a position as a physical therapy aid while pursuing my degree in physical therapy at the university."

-a university student majoring in physical therapy

Career Clusters Deliver Multiple Benefits

High Schools can be organized around career clusters to prepare students to meet the demands of postsecondary education and the expectations of employers.

Educators can use a curriculum framework that can be adapted to meet local needs. Assessments will be developed for each cluster, which educators can use to gauge how well they are meeting the academic and career needs of all students, regardless of their interests or employment goals. Professional development materials for teachers and counselors will also be developed for each cluster.

Guidance counselors can use career clusters to help students explore options for the future. Current information on the academic, technical, and college requirements students need for a wide range of careers will be developed for counselors in each cluster.

Employers and industry groups can partner with schools to contribute to the development of high academic standards that helpstudents prepare for work and help workers keep their skill up-to-date. Employers gain workers prepared to learn new skills, adjust to technological change, and advance in their careers.

Parents can learn what academic and technical courses their children need for college and a variety of career fields. Clusters and the high standards that go with them reassure parents that their children will be fully prepared for college and the workplace.

Students can use career clusters to investigate a wide range of career choices. The career cluster approach makes it easier for students to understand the relevance of their required courses and helps them select their elective courses more wisely.

"Career clusters assist counselors in individualizing students' education plans to help students achieve career goals."

-Nancy Fleming, Assistant Superintendent, David (UT) School District

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