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College and Career Readiness

Wordle - College & CareerThe Monterey County Office of Education supports College, Career, and Civic Life Readiness collaboration, events and resources! These include opportunities to establish and continue to lead and promote a college-going culture at your school(s). Evidence has shown that early and consistent opportunities to explore college and career pathways is beneficial for all students. Please encourage the educators at your school(s) to engage students in college, career, and civics related activities throughout this season and beyond.

Learn more about the high school ERWC grant opportunity, the CSU Graduation 2025 Initiative, and resources from the College Board(Opens in New Window). Share your districts' and schools' college, career, and civic life initiatives and celebrations on Twitter with #MCC3Readiness and #BetterMakeRoom @MCOE_Now! Below you will find some websites with useful resources as well as a brief list of school and classroom activities for all grade levels.

Important Dates and Events

October 1

FAFSA application opens(Opens in New Window)

College and Career Fair at Soledad High School(Opens in New Window)

College Night at Hartnell College(Opens in New Window)

November 30

CSU(Opens in New Window) and UC(Opens in New Window) application deadlines
Check Common App and others that vary.

Race to Submit(Opens in New Window)

WACAC College Fair(Opens in New Window)

Resources:

For information about your school(s) joining the Mission Trails Digital Media Network, call MCAET TV at: (831) 784-4192.

The Monterey County College, Career, and Civic Life Readiness Campaign kicked off with our Counselor Leadership Network(Opens in New Window)! For more information about civic life readiness, check out our Monterey County Civic Learning Opportunities website(Opens in New Window) and apply for the Civic Learning Award for California Public Schools(Opens in New Window).
For additional support with California Dashboard College/Career Indicator(Opens in New Window) progress, contact us. We look forward to collaborating and celebrating student success with you!

Definition of College and Career Ready
College and Career Ready means that students graduate from high school prepared for any postsecondary experience. By postsecondary experience we mean two and four year institutions, trade schools, technical schools or a career. Being academically ready for postsecondary education means that a high school graduate has the English and Mathematics knowledge and skills necessary to enroll and succeed – without remediation - in entry-level, credit-bearing college coursework. To be career ready means graduates are prepared with the knowledge and skills to qualify for and succeed in the postsecondary job training and/or education necessary for their chosen career (i.e. technical/vocational program, community college, apprenticeship or significant on-the-job training).

8 Components of College & Career Readiness

The Eight Components of College and Career Readiness provide a systemic approach for school counselors to implement, across grades K–12 — elementary through high school and beyond, to ensure equity both in process and results. Adapted from College Board Website(Opens in New Window).

1. College Aspirations

Goal: Build a college-going culture based on early college awareness by nurturing in students the confidence to aspire to college and the resilience to overcome challenges along the way. Maintain high expectations by providing adequate supports, building social capital and conveying the conviction that all students can succeed in college.

2. Academic Planning For College & Career Readiness

Goal: Advance students’ planning, preparation, participation and performance in a rigorous academic program that connects to their college and career aspirations and goals.

3. Enrichment and Extracurricular Engagement

Goal: Ensure equitable exposure to a wide range of extracurricular and enrichment opportunities that build leadership, nurture talents and interests, and increase engagement with school.

4. College & Career Exploration & Selection Processes

Goal: Provide early and ongoing exposure to experiences and information necessary to make informed decisions when selecting a college or career that connects to academic preparation and future aspirations.

  • College Visits and Tours

5. College & Career Assessments

Goal: Promote preparation, participation and performance in college and career assessments by all students.

6. College Affordability Planning

Goal: Provide students and families with comprehensive information about college costs, options for paying for college, and the financial aid and scholarship processes and eligibility requirements, so they are able to plan for and afford a college education

7. College & Career Admission Processes

Goal: Ensure that students and families have an early and ongoing understanding of the college and career application and admission processes so they can find the postsecondary options that are the best fit with their aspirations and interests.

8. Transition From High School to College

Goal: Connect students to school and community resources to help the students overcome barriers and ensure the successful transition from high school to college.

Additional Resources

College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards(Opens in New Window)

CCR – What Do We Mean (ConnectEd)(Opens in New Window)

Affordable Colleges Online(Opens in New Window)

Become a Teacher(Opens in New Window)

According to California Ed. Code, Standards and Frameworks:

It is imperative, as stated in the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, that “California’s students develop the readiness for college, careers, and civic life; attain the capacities of literate individuals; become broadly literate; and acquire skills necessary for living and learning in 21st century” (California Department of Education, 2015, p. 8).
Additionally, California Ed. Code also legislates these focus areas, as per:

  1. College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards Education Code Section 33540 (Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 480, Sec. 1.5. Effective January 1, 2015.)

  2. 21st Century Skills (AB 1246 [2012]) Education Code Section 60207 (Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 480, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2014.)

  3. California Education Code (EC) Section 51226

    Each school district maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer to all otherwise qualified pupils in those grades a course of study that provides an opportunity for those pupils to attain entry-level employment skills in business or industry upon graduation from high school. Districts are encouraged to provide all pupils with a rigorous academic curriculum that integrates academic and career skills, incorporates applied learning in all disciplines, and prepares all pupils for high school graduation and career entry.

  4. California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards were adopted by the California State Board of Education (SBE) on January 16, 2013.

    The Standards for Career Ready Practice can be integrated with a course or incorporated into several courses over multiple school years (grades seven through twelve). The practices are expectations for all students, whether they are enrolled in a CTE program or following a more generalized course sequence. It is expected that all students who exit high school will be proficient in these practices” (p. 9)