What Are Durable Skills?

Durable skills are essential abilities students need for school, careers, and life, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, organization, and critical thinking.

Building Them Into Pathways

Through courses, projects, career exploration, guest speakers, field experiences, and industry connections, students will practice durable skills in real-world settings. We are also working with teachers to make these skills more intentional and visible across courses.

Why They Matter

Industries and careers change, but durable skills remain valuable. Developing them alongside academic and technical knowledge prepares students to work with others, solve problems, adapt, and succeed in whatever comes next.

We are collaborating with teachers to identify Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs) that are most relevant and beneficial for our students. Our goal is to provide meaningful opportunities for students to earn credentials that connect classroom learning with college, career, and workforce pathways. 

You can click the image to the left to learn more about the Industry Recognized Credentials posted on the Conencticut Education website. 

Career Trees, developed by Mark C. Perna, help students explore how their interests, skills, and strengths can connect to future careers. They visually map out different career opportunities within an industry, helping students see the many pathways available and understand how education, training, and real-world experiences can lead to future success.

Skill Trees, developed by Mark C. Perna, help students identify the skills needed to succeed in different careers and industries. They connect classroom learning, technical abilities, and durable skills to real-world expectations, helping students understand what they can begin developing now to prepare for future opportunities.