We advise area school districts and career centers, as well as military and postsecondary institutions on programs and processes for ensuring Missouri students have the knowledge, skills and experience to make a successful transition to postsecondary education and training based on their educational and career goals
How we provide college and career readiness advising
- Collaborate with school districts to develop and enhance career pathways programs and processes
- Assist school counselors with the development and implementation of a rigorous and relevant Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP)
- Support schools with the implementation and integration of Missouri Connections Training for Teachers
- Coordinate regional Missouri Connections training and support
- Provide assistance to comprehensive high schools, area career centers and community and technical colleges regarding strategies to improve nontraditional participation and completion in career and technical education programs
- Assist with career planning opportunities such as a statewide nontraditional events featuring nontraditional careers
Missouri Connections
Missouri Connections is a comprehensive, online career development and planning program, which is provided free of charge to all Missouri citizens. The platform promotes lifelong learning and includes assessment, career and college planning and financial aid resources. It is appropriate for middle schools, high schools and postsecondary institutions, as well as for agencies serving adult populations such as employment offices, vocational rehabilitation programs and correctional facilities. Missouri Connections helps individuals learn about their talents, skills and interests and makes the connection between planning for continued education and the work world.
Missouri Connections offers these benefits
- Access to assessments and interest inventories that provide insight into the types of careers that would be suitable for students
- Resources that describe the types of skills and occupations most in demand in the current job market and those skills and occupations likely to be in high demand in future years
- Resources that describe typical salaries for occupations and salary trends
- Information on how to obtain financial assistance for postsecondary education
- Information on how to choose a college, school or apprenticeship that aligns with the student’s career goals and values
- Information on self-employment
- Resources related to creating a resume, interviewing, networking and finding job opportunities
- Information on the skills and traits necessary to succeed in various careers
- How we support schools and school districts
- Logistics related to logins
- Setting up student accounts
- Deploying assessments for students
- Assistance using the ICAP feature
- Exploring the employment and education features
- Other trainings as requested
ICAP
ICAP is a multi-year plan that guides students through the coursework and activities for achieving personal career goals, postsecondary planning and individual pathway options. The ICAP process begins no later than the eighth grade in order to assist students and families in the exploration of career, academic and multiple postsecondary opportunities, including direct access to the workforce, military, tech school and area career center, vocational training or apprenticeship, two-year college and four-year college. ICAP is the roadmap that helps students develop the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and skills to create their own meaningful pathways to be success-ready graduates.
Customized College and Career Readiness
We also work with individual buildings and school districts to develop and deploy customized professional development for any employee or stakeholder as needed by the school or districts.
