Understanding Student Needs

Essential Element A: Student-Centered Delivery of Services for all K–14+ college and career pathways incorporates the removal of institutional or systemic barriers that impede the progress of students in achieving their education and career goals. This includes a renewed commitment to offer an engaging learning experience and support the diversity of individual student needs while accommodating their multiple entry points as they progress along a continuum of education and training, or advance in a sector-specific occupation or industry. - Workforce Pathways Guiding Policy Principles (CDE)

Resources to Identify Trends/Equity Gaps

The California School Dashboard is a good starting place to look for general trends and equity gaps at districts or schools.

• Dashboard Communication Toolkit

• Dashboard Webinars

This resource,  part of a 4-part series from AdvanceCTE, Making Good on the Promise: Expanding Access to Opportunity , examines strategies state leaders can use to expand CTE opportunities for each learner, including low-income learners, learners of color, learners with disabilities, female learners and other historically marginalized populations. 

Resources to Identify Individual Student Needs

"To complement their learning plan, students should also have access to comprehensive counseling, individualized supports along their journey (including, but not limited to, for students who are part-time, face barriers to learning, need academic or cultural supports, transportation, child care, or financial aid), or opportunities through student leadership development organizations to achieve their individual goals and aspirations, through a variety of transitions, in an ever-changing workforce." From California State Plan for Career Technical Education (CTE)

• Implementing Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP) at Scale (November 2021): Describes career pathways that integrate workbased learning and early college experiences to support learners connecting their education with their career and life goals. 

• Gladeo Bay Area - Supports students with individual career exploration. Check out Getting Started with Gladeo Bay Area  and Gladeo Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.