College and Career Readiness

The toolkit provides practical resources, information and activities for out-of-school time programs to move through this continuum, starting with foundational skills, career and college readiness culture building, and awareness. As students move closer to high school graduation, the toolkit offers how-to’s on building partnerships with colleges and industry to make the transition to applied learning that prepares students for the next steps.

Included in each unit:

• Overview of the area of focus
• Relevant research
• How-To’s
• Guided Activities
• More Links to Explore
• Accompanying student worksheets, activity guides, and supplemental student resources
• Where applicable, information and resources have been provided about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting closures and delays on existing processes, data, and overall approaches.

Ready to get started?

• Read our full Introductory Letter from MOST
• View our Introductory Webinar and Slideshow

Photo: Higher Achievement Baltimore

UNIT 1: Overarching Principles of Career and College Readiness

This first unit provides information and resources to support the overarching principles of college and career readiness. Here you will find what you need to get started with creating a culture of college and career readiness, setting and upholding high expectations of youth in your programs, providing mentorship opportunities as a support structure for post-secondary success, and collecting and using data related to college and career readiness throughout your program to inform decisions and program design. 

Sub-topics:

• Creating a College and Career Readiness Culture
• Raising the Bar on Expectations
• Mentorship
• Collecting Data Related to College and Career Readiness

Photo: MERIT Health Leadership Academy

UNIT 2: Guiding Youth Through Career and College Decisions

This unit aims to provide activities and resources for exploring career and education options with students in middle school based on their interests, skills, and strengths. Additionally, this unit includes curated resources for helping youth understand the important economic context surrounding post-secondary education and careers such as salaries, wages, debt to income ratios, and other relevant economic implications.

Sub-topics

• Information and Activities for Middle School Career Exploration and High School Decisions
• Information and Activities for High School Career Exploration and College / Post-Secondary Education Decisions
• Economic Context for Youth

HANDOUTS (Student Resources)

• Middle School This is Me Web Worksheet
• Middle School Career Alignment Worksheet
• High School Interest Inventory Worksheet
• High School Career Alignment Research Worksheet
• High School Pathway Profile Worksheet

Photo: Baltimore SquashWise

UNIT 3: Foundational Skills for College and Career Readiness

Unit 3 focuses on the foundational skills necessary for post-secondary pursuits by presenting information, engaging activities and simulations, and resources for middle and high school students on building 21st century skills, learning about and practicing skills for success in the workplace, interviewing skills, and financial responsibility.

Sub-topics

• Building 21st Century Skills
• Preparing Youth for the Workplace
• Interviewing Skills
• Financial Responsibility

ACTIVITY GUIDES

• Cup Stacking
• Time Management
• Compliment Yarn
• Taking a Stand on Controversial Issues
• Body Sculpting
• Town Hall Circle
• Dress and Groom Checklist

HANDOUTS (Student Resources)

• Best Practices in the Workplace
• Interviewing Basics
• Personal Appearance

Photo: MERIT Health Leadership Academy

UNIT 4: Career Readiness

This unit focuses solely on the aspects of career readiness as a starting point for making decisions about post-secondary education options. Beginning with the end in mind, it is important to expose youth to as wide a variety of career options as possible, beginning as early as possible. This toolkit was designed to start with career aspirations in order to make informed decisions about post-secondary education that will lead to successful career attainment. In this section of the toolkit you will find a wide variety of resources, activities, and supporting materials to help youth learn more about the types of careers that are available and the pathways to those careers. 

Sub-topics:

• Career Awareness
• Entrepreneurship
• Job Readiness Skills
• Work Experience

ACTIVITY GUIDES

• Crafting a Resume
• Email Writing Simulation
• Phone Interview Simulation
• Video Interview Simulation

HANDOUTS (Student Resources)

• Company Research
• Composing Professional Email
• Crafting a Resume
• Job Shadowing
• Phone Interview Simulation
• Video Interview Simulation
• Work Experience

UNIT 5: Alternative Post-Secondary Options

In recent years, there has been a focus shift toward four-year colleges and universities as the most recommended path after high school. However, there are many reasons someone may want to consider alternative options for their post-secondary education experiences. This unit looks at many of the alternatives to a traditional four-year college pathway and provides resources and information to help your staff and youth learn more about these options. 

Sub-topics:

• Certificates
• Licenses
• Two-Year Degrees
• Military

HANDOUTS (Student Resources)

• Alternative Post-Secondary Pathway Research

Photo: Maryland MENTOR

UNIT 6: College Readiness

The final unit of the toolkit focuses specifically on more traditional college and university experiences and preparation for these pursuits. There are many activities and resources included in this section to help students explore colleges, become more financially aware, and confidently navigate the planning and application processes. Special sections on considerations for First Generation college students and students with various immigration statuses are included as well. Additionally, there is a family guide included as an introduction to dual credit opportunities to be used to help parents of youth in your programs understand the considerations of dual enrollment for high school students.

Sub-topics:

• College Awareness
• First-Generation College Students
• Supporting DACA Recipients and “DREAMers”
• The College Search
• Financial Planning
• Dual Enrollment
• Applying to College
• Managing the Transition to College

HANDOUTS (Student Resources)

• College Visit Guide
• College Visit Checklist
• College Fair Questions
• Financial Planning for College
• Making a College Transition
• Virtual Campus Tour Survey 

HANDOUTS (Family Resources)

• Family Introduction to Dual Enrollment Opportunities

DOWNLOAD THE FULL TOOL KIT HERE

Note - All activities and handouts and linked in the toolkit and can be downloaded from the units above.

The CCR Toolkit has been translated into Spanish!

Ver el documento y todos actividades aqui!

1. Click here.
2. Create a login.
3. Search for the courses (recommended search term for easy access: "readiness").

• "Engaging Middle School Youth in College & Career Readiness"
• "Engaging High School Youth in College & Career Readiness"

Possible Futures, a JFF career exploration program for students in grades 6 through 10, helps prepare young people to make meaningful decisions about their future careers and develop the skills that will help them achieve their goals. Possible Futures provides a career exploration curriculum, informational guides, professional development services to educators, coaching to school systems, and practical supports to school leaders and staff. The Possible Futures curriculum may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.

JFF has created 12 lessons which compliment the toolkit and provide additional CCR resources. Click here to download them.