Ohio

The Ohio design team placed a particular emphasis on listening to parent and family voices as a core part of its design process. As a result of what they heard from parents, the team plans to train “parent champions” who can help spread the word about the options available to students to earn college credit; support parents' ability to guide students themselves by offering a mix of in-person and online training, as well as a regional resource website; and, build more career exploration and exposure for students in K-8th grades so students better understand their interests, aptitudes, and how they relate to college and career plans.

PACCE Navigators will shepherd students through pathways, helping them make the right decisions based on their individual ambitions, which will include career exploration, course selection, work-based learning experiences, and goal setting. PACCE Navigators will be available to any student focused within the industry, but will target students based on the district’s targeted student population, connecting students with support they need. Students may end up switching course options, but they will be making informed decisions.

Career Experience Coordinators will map pre-identified competencies—the technical skills students will need to be successful in IT/computer science careers—back through Kindergarten, leveraging the state's Career Connections Framework and helping teachers build in career-connected experiences throughout elementary and middle school.