Kennard-Dale Career & Employment Connections and SMART Futures Partnership

Kennard-Dale High School is committed to ensuring that every student graduates prepared for success beyond high school. Through the combined efforts of SMART Futures and the Career & Employment Connections Program, students receive both the structured career planning required by the state of Pennsylvania and the real-world experiences needed to confidently transition into college, career training, the military, or employment.

Together, these two programs provide a comprehensive approach to postsecondary readiness, helping students understand who they are, explore where they want to go, and identify the steps needed to get there.

SMART Futures is a non-profit Pennsylvania-based college and career readiness platform that helps schools implement the state-mandated Career Education and Work (CEW) Standards. The platform provides students with guided career planning, skill credentialing, and e-Mentoring resources that support long-term career development.

SMART Futures allows students to explore their interests, strengths, and goals while building an online career plan and portfolio that follows them throughout their K–12 experience. Completion of this career plan and portfolio is required for graduation in many Pennsylvania school districts under Chapter 339 and the Future Ready PA Index. 

Pennsylvania requires all students to graduate with a personalized career plan and a portfolio containing evidence of career exploration. At Kennard-Dale High School, SMART Futures is used to:

• Create and maintain an online career plan and portfolio where students store required career readiness artifacts

• Generate required artifacts through built-in lessons and activities such as:

  • Personality and interest inventories

  • Résumé and cover letter writing

  • Personal budgeting and financial literacy

  • Job applications and employability skills

• Track student progress and ensure compliance, allowing counselors and staff to monitor completion of state-defined benchmarks

• Support post-secondary planning, as completed portfolios are used during individual meetings with counselors to guide course selection, discuss dual enrollment or technical programs, and finalize plans for college, trade school, the military, or employment

• SMART Futures ensures that every student meets legislative graduation requirements while developing essential career planning and life skills. 

While SMART Futures provides the foundation for career planning and documentation, the Career & Employment Connections Program brings those plans to life through real-world experiences and community partnerships.

Led by the Career & Employment Connections Coordinator, this program focuses on:

• Connecting students with local businesses, organizations, colleges, training programs, and the military

• Providing hands-on career exploration opportunities such as:

  • Job shadowing

  • Internships and externships

  • Pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships

  • Mentorship programs

  • Career guest speakers and field trips

  • Job readiness and interview skills training

• Helping students access knowledge and connections that lead to part-time and full-time employment opportunities in the community

These experiences allow students to apply what they learn through SMART Futures in authentic workplace settings. 

SMART Futures and Career & Employment Connections are intentionally aligned to support students at every stage of their career readiness journey:

• SMART Futures helps students explore interests, reflect on strengths, and document career goals

• Career & Education Connections provides experiential learning opportunities that reinforce and validate those goals

• Career portfolios created in SMART Futures are enhanced with real-world experiences gained through job shadows, internships, YCAL programs, and guest speakers

• The Coordinator uses SMART Futures data and student portfolios to guide individualized conversations and connect students with relevant opportunities

Together, these programs ensure that career planning is not just a requirement, but a meaningful and personalized process.

By combining structured career planning with hands-on learning, Kennard-Dale High School helps students:

• Meet Pennsylvania graduation requirements with confidence

• Make informed decisions about postsecondary pathways

• Build employability, communication, and life skills

• Gain real-world experience before graduation

• Develop clear, achievable plans for life after high school

SMART Futures and the Career & Employment Connections Program work hand in hand to prepare Kennard-Dale High School students for post-high school success. By blending required career planning with meaningful real-world experiences, students graduate not only compliant with state requirements, but confident, capable, and ready to take their next steps into college, career training, the military, or the workforce.