Career Pathways — Missouri K-12 Education Reference

Table of Contents

1. Missouri Career Pathways Framework
2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs
3. 16 Career Clusters
4. Dual Credit & Dual Enrollment
5. Industry-Recognized Credentials
6. Work-Based Learning
7. Registered Apprenticeships
8. Missouri Connections Platform
9. Area Career Centers
10. CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies)
11. CTE Student Organizations (CTSOs)
12. Perkins V Accountability
13. Post-Secondary & Workforce Transitions

1. Missouri Career Pathways Framework

Overview

Missouri's career pathways model connects K-12 education, post-secondary education, and workforce development through structured sequences of courses, work-based learning, and credentialing.

Career Pathway Components

1. Career awareness (K-5): exposure to careers, self-assessment, workplace visits
2. Career exploration (6-8): interest inventories, career research, job shadowing, ILP development
3. Career preparation (9-12): CTE concentrator/completer sequences, dual credit, work-based learning, industry credentials
4. Career advancement (post-secondary): college, certificate programs, apprenticeships, on-the-job training

Individual Learning Plan (ILP)

• DESE recommends all students develop an ILP beginning in middle school
• ILP components: career interests, academic plan, CTE pathway selection, post-secondary goals, extracurricular activities
• Updated annually with school counselor guidance
• ILP aligns to Missouri Connections platform

2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs

Program Structure

CTE programs in Missouri are organized into Programs of Study — multi-course sequences within a career cluster that lead to a recognized credential or post-secondary pathway.

CTE Concentrator vs. Completer

CTE Quality Indicators

• Alignment to industry standards and employer demand
• Advisory committee with industry representation
• Equipment and technology that reflects current workplace standards
• Teacher with industry experience and/or certification
• Work-based learning opportunities embedded in the program
• Industry-recognized credential attainment
• Post-secondary articulation agreements

3. 16 Career Clusters

Missouri aligns CTE to the national framework of 16 career clusters:

4. Dual Credit & Dual Enrollment

Definitions

• Dual credit: student enrolled in a college course that earns both high school AND college credit simultaneously
• Dual enrollment: student enrolled at a college while still in high school (may or may not earn high school credit)

Missouri Dual Credit Guidelines

• DESE provides guidance on dual credit partnerships between districts and colleges
• College course must be taught by a qualified instructor (meeting college's faculty credentialing standards — typically master's degree with 18 graduate hours in the content area)
• College sets admission/prerequisite requirements for enrollment
• High school transcript records both the high school and college course
• Weighted GPA: districts determine whether dual credit courses receive weighted GPA treatment

Dual Credit Funding

• Tuition typically shared between student/family and district (varies widely)
• Some districts cover full tuition for dual credit; others charge students
• A+ scholarship may cover dual credit courses at community colleges
• Title IV-A funds may support dual credit (well-rounded education pillar)

Quality Assurance

• NACEP (National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships) accreditation — gold standard for dual credit quality
• HLC (Higher Learning Commission) requires colleges to ensure dual credit courses are equivalent in rigor to on-campus courses
• Faculty qualifications, curriculum, assessment, and student support must match on-campus standards

5. Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs)

What They Are

Industry-recognized credentials are certifications, licenses, or certificates awarded by industry organizations that validate specific occupational competencies. They enhance student employability and signal workforce readiness.

Common IRCs Earned by Missouri CTE Students

IRC Accountability

• Perkins V tracks IRC attainment as a quality indicator
• MSIP 6 college and career readiness indicators include IRC attainment
• DESE maintains a list of recognized credentials for accountability purposes

6. Work-Based Learning (WBL)

WBL Continuum

DESE WBL Guidelines

• WBL experiences must be connected to the student's CTE program of study
• Written training agreement between student, employer, school, and parent
• On-site supervision by a qualified mentor
• School-based coordinator monitors placement
• Student is assessed on both workplace competencies and related academic standards
• Child labor law compliance (federal FLSA + Missouri RSMo Chapter 294)

Child Labor Laws

7. Registered Apprenticeships

Overview

Registered apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, leading to a nationally recognized credential from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Youth Apprenticeship

Emerging model in Missouri connecting high school students to registered apprenticeship pathways:

• Student begins apprenticeship while still enrolled in high school
• Earns wages, high school credit, and progresses toward journeyperson credential
• Common sectors: construction, manufacturing, IT, healthcare
• Missouri Division of Workforce Development supports youth apprenticeship expansion

Pre-Apprenticeship

Structured programs preparing students for entry into registered apprenticeships:

• Academic preparation (math, reading, applied skills)
• Industry exposure and basic skills training
• Career readiness (soft skills, workplace expectations)
• Pathway to apprenticeship application and acceptance

Missouri Apprenticeship Resources

• Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) — apprenticeship team
• U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (Kansas City regional office)
• Missouri Apprenticeship Council
• apprenticeship.gov — national apprenticeship finder

8. Missouri Connections Platform

Overview

missouriconnections.org — Missouri's free career planning platform for all Missouri residents (emphasis on K-12 students).

Features

• Career assessments (interest inventories, skills assessments, values)
• Career profiles (salary, education requirements, job outlook, Missouri-specific data)
• College and program search (2-year, 4-year, technical schools)
• Military career explorer
• Financial aid information and scholarship search
• Resume builder and portfolio tools
• Job search tools
• ILP (Individual Learning Plan) development tools

Integration with Schools

• School counselors can assign career assessments and review student results
• Portfolio tracks career exploration activities across grades
• Data connects to DESE for accountability reporting

9. Area Career Centers (ACCs)

What They Are

Area Career Centers are regional CTE facilities that serve students from multiple sending school districts. They provide specialized CTE programs that individual districts cannot cost-effectively offer alone.

Structure

• Operated by a host district, cooperative, or independent board
• Students attend part-day (typically half-day block) at the ACC and the remainder at their home school
• Transportation provided by sending district or ACC
• Programs typically serve juniors and seniors (some include sophomores)

Common ACC Programs

Auto technology, welding, construction, health sciences, cosmetology, culinary arts, law enforcement, IT networking, graphic design, agriculture, early childhood education, fire science, precision machining, industrial maintenance

Funding

• Sending districts pay tuition per student to the ACC
• Perkins V funds support equipment, curriculum, and professional development
• State CTE funding through the foundation formula (weighted ADA)

10. CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies)

Overview

CAPS is a project-based learning model where high school students work on real-world professional challenges for community partners (businesses, nonprofits, government agencies).

CAPS Model Features

• Students work in a professional environment (often off-campus or in a dedicated space)
• Projects are authentic — provided by community partners with real stakes
• Student teams manage projects from scoping through delivery
• Interdisciplinary application of knowledge and skills
• Professional mentors from partner organizations
• Presentation of deliverables to authentic audiences

CAPS in Missouri

Blue Valley CAPS (Kansas City area) was an early national model. Several Missouri districts have adopted CAPS or CAPS-inspired programs:

• Strands commonly include: business/entrepreneurship, engineering/technology, health sciences, global studies, human services
• Students earn high school credit and may earn dual credit
• Strong connection to career pathways and post-secondary planning

11. CTE Student Organizations (CTSOs)

Recognized CTSOs in Missouri

CTSO Benefits

• Leadership development
• Career-specific skill competitions (regional, state, national)
• Community service and civic engagement
• Networking with industry professionals
• Scholarship opportunities
• Resume-building experiences
• Integral part of CTE program quality (Perkins V)

12. Perkins V Accountability

Performance Indicators

Perkins V (Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act) requires states to report on:

Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA)

Required every 2 years. Must include:

• Student performance data analysis (disaggregated by subgroup)
• Labor market alignment (are programs aligned to local/regional demand?)
• Program size, scope, and quality evaluation
• Progress toward equal access for special populations
• Stakeholder input (employers, post-secondary, community, students)

13. Post-Secondary & Workforce Transitions

Post-Secondary Options

Missouri Workforce Development

• Missouri Job Centers: statewide network providing job search, training, and employer services
• WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act): federal framework for workforce development (see mo-jobs skill for detail)
• Missouri Division of Workforce Development: administers WIOA, apprenticeship, and labor market information
• MoScores: Missouri's labor market data tool for career exploration and program alignment

Career Readiness Indicators (MSIP 6)

MSIP 6 tracks post-secondary readiness through multiple measures:

• Graduation rate (4-year adjusted cohort)
• ACT/SAT benchmark achievement
• CTE concentrator/completer rates
• IRC attainment
• Dual credit/AP participation and success
• Post-secondary enrollment rates
• Military enlistment