Career Connected Learning

Page Updated 7-23-2026

Empowering Schools to Deliver Flexible, Industry-Aligned Pathways

Career-Connected Learning (CCL) is a foundational strategy under Pillar 3 of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. It expands how students fulfill graduation requirements by blending classroom instruction with real-world workplace applications—without adding rigid scheduling barriers to your school day.

Operational Overview: CCL allows students to earn high school credits toward graduation through structured workplace engagement. Designed to serve all students—whether bound for 2-year or 4-year colleges, registered apprenticeships, military service, or direct workforce entry—CCL breaks down traditional silos between academic and CTE pathways.

MSDE Resources:

Timeline:

Starting SY27 (26-27), FCPS will begin rolling out CCL Activities in the classroom. The vision is that every CTE class (MS and HS) will have at least 2 embedded CCL activies, starting SY28.
During the SY27 School year, the CTE team will be examining exising Work-based learning opportunties and comparing alignment to MSDE's CCL Experiences. Full implementation of CCL Experiences is scheduled to start SY28 (27-28).
Teachers can begin adding CCL Activities in SY27 by working closely with their career coaches and aligning the activites to the content and CTE programs.
More resource development, professional development, and planning will occur in SY27.

CCL Activities

Primary Objective: Early career discovery and workplace exposure across all grade levels.

Duration & Hours: Short-term or single-event interactions.

Graduation Credit: Non-credit bearing (focused on exploratory context).

Compliance & Monitoring: Basic attendance tracking or reflection logs.

Staff & School Role: Facilitate events, arrange guest visits, or organize class trips.

Approved Formats: Guest speakers, career fairs, workplace tours, job shadowing, career surveys, and mock interviews, career and technical student organizations.

CCL Experiences

("For credit")

Primary Objective: Applied, high-intensity learning that builds industry-specific skills.

Duration & Hours: Minimum 250 hours of documented on-the-job or applied learning.

Graduation Credit: Earns 1 to 3 elective or CTE graduation credits.

Compliance & Monitoring: Requires a formal Work Plan, employer co-signature, and 2 formal performance evaluations.

Staff & School Role: Coordinate placements, track the 250 required hours, and grade aligned capstones/reflections.

Approved Formats: Registered & Youth Apprenticeships, Internships, State-Approved School-Based Enterprises, and Industry-Aligned Capstone Courses.

The 4 High-Quality CCL Experiences (250+ Hours)

For an experience to qualify for graduation credit and MSDE data reporting, it must align with one of four structured models:

Apprenticeships (Registered & Youth): Paid work-based learning placements governed by formal state agreements, pairing on-the-job training with related technical instruction.
Internships: Structured workplace placements (paid or unpaid) tied directly to student career goals, guided by a formal Work Plan and employer mentor.
State-Approved School-Based Enterprises: Student-led operational businesses inside the school setting (e.g., student-run cafes, design shops, greenhouses) that serve authentic customers under teacher supervision.
Industry-Aligned Capstone Courses: Advanced coursework where students collaborate with external industry partners to solve real-world, authentic professional problems.

How CCL Works in Your Building

The Core-Flex Model: School schedulers gain maximum flexibility. Instead of forcing rigid 4-course CTE sequences, CCL experiences can flexibly replace a 3rd or 4th CTE course or integrate into Advanced Academics, AP, STEM, Fine Arts, and Dual Enrollment pathways.
Integrated 6-Year Plans: Starting in middle school (no later than Grade 8), counselors and educators help students map out an evolving 6-Year Plan connecting middle school exploration directly to high school course selection.
Dedicated Career Coaches: External career coaches partner directly with counselors and content teachers to handle outreach, coordinate employer placements, and track student hours.
Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs): System aligned so students acquire state-approved, portable credentials alongside standard graduation requirements.

Examples of CCL Activities & Experiences

Purpose: Career awareness, exploration, preparation, and workplace exposure.

These activities help students learn about careers but do not meet the requirements for a for-credit CCL Experience.

Guest Speaker: Industry professional shares career pathway, daily responsibilities, and workplace expectations.

Example: A registered nurse visits a Health Sciences class to discuss career opportunities.

Career Fair: Students meet multiple employers or postsecondary representatives.

Example: Countywide Career Fair with local employers.

Industry Panel: Multiple professionals discuss career pathways and answer student questions.

Example: Construction trades panel featuring electricians, carpenters, and project managers.

Workplace Tour: Students visit an employer to observe operations.

Example: Manufacturing students tour Phoenix Mecano to observe automated production.

Job Shadow: Student observes an employee for several hours or one day.

Example: Student shadows an HVAC technician for one workday.

Mock Interviews: Students practice interviewing with employers.

Example: HR professionals conduct resume reviews and interviews.

Career Interest Inventory: Students explore interests and career matches.

Students complete Xello or Maryland Career Development Framework activities.

Career Research Project: Students investigate occupations and labor market trends.

Example: Research Maryland's high-skill, high-wage occupations.

Employer Classroom Visit: Employer demonstrates equipment or discusses workplace skills.

Example: Welding contractor demonstrates blueprint reading.

Virtual Industry Tour: Students explore a workplace remotely.

Example: Virtual tour of Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Career Day: Multiple careers showcased in one event.

Example: Middle school Career Exploration Day.

College & Technical School Visit: Students explore postsecondary options.

Example: Visit to Frederick Community College Career & Technical programs.

Resume Workshop: Students develop professional resumes.

Example: Career Coach assists students with resumes.

LinkedIn/Profile Development: Students build professional online presence.

Example: Marketing students create professional profiles.

Professional Networking Event: Students meet business professionals.

Example: Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast.

Career & Technical Student Organization (CTSO): Students participate in leadership and career development activities.

Example: SkillsUSA competitions, FFA leadership events, FBLA business competitions, Educator Rising.

Industry Certification Information Session: Students learn about available credentials.

Example: OSHA 30 or Adobe Express certification overview.

Workplace Simulation: Teacher creates a realistic workplace scenario within the classroom.

Example: Culinary students operate a simulated restaurant.

Entrepreneur Pitch Competition: Students present business ideas.

Example: Entrepreneurship Shark Tank event.

Financial Literacy Workshop: Community partners teach budgeting and workplace benefits.

Example: Local bank presents on budgeting and retirement planning.

Examples of CCL Experiences

Purpose: Students apply academic, technical, and employability skills through sustained, authentic learning.

These experiences require:

Minimum 250 hours
Formal Work Plan
Employer or supervisor
Performance evaluations
Teacher supervision
Reflection
Award of elective or CTE credit

Youth Apprenticeship

Students are employed while completing high school and receive structured on-the-job training aligned to an approved occupation.

Examples:

Automotive Technician Apprentice
Early Childhood Apprentice
Electrical Apprentice
Carpenter Apprentice
Certified Nursing Assistant Apprentice
IT Support Apprentice
Manufacturing Technician Apprentice

Registered Apprenticeship

Students participate in a state or federally registered apprenticeship while earning high school credit.

Examples:

Electrical
HVAC
Plumbing
Manufacturing
Information Technology

Internship

Students complete sustained work experience connected directly to classroom instruction. Experiences can be paid or unpaid.

These experiences require:

Minimum 250 hours
Formal Work Plan
Employer or supervisor
Performance evaluations
Teacher supervision
Reflection

Award of elective or CTE credit

School-Based Enterprise (State Approved)

Students operate a real business within the school.

Examples:

School Store
Coffee Shop
Spirit Wear Business
Floral Shop
Student Print Shop
Student Help Desk
Restaurant
Credit Union
Greenhouse Business

Students manage:

Inventory
Budget
Customer service
Marketing
Sales
Operations

Industry-Aligned Capstone Course

Students complete a comprehensive project solving an authentic industry problem.

Examples:

Engineering

Design and prototype a solution for a local manufacturer.

Computer Science

Develop software for a community organization.

Agriculture

Design a sustainable greenhouse operation.

Construction

Build a tiny home component.

Biomedical

Research and present solutions to community health concerns.

Hospitality

Develop an event plan for a local nonprofit.

Business

Develop a business plan for a local entrepreneur.

What DOES NOT Count as a CCL Experience?

These are excellent learning opportunities but alone do not qualify as a for-credit CCL Experience.

One-day job shadow
Career fair
Guest speaker
Workplace tour
CTSO meeting
Classroom simulation only
Resume workshop
Mock interview
Career research project
Career interest inventory

These are CCL Activities unless they are intentionally embedded within a qualifying CCL Experience.

Report abuse