Massachusetts Middle School Career Exploration Framework

This document is a technical report detailing the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education's (DESE) initiatives for middle school career exploration. It outlines the Career Connected Learning Initiative, which includes a grant program to support middle schools in implementing career exploration models. The report discusses the Massachusetts Career Development Education (CDE) benchmarks that serve as guidelines for linking career development interventions to learner outcomes. It highlights the funding provided to workforce development boards to facilitate connections between schools and employers. The document also describes the MyCAP training program available for middle school staff and the lack of formal data collection regarding career exploration activities. Additionally, it notes that Massachusetts does not currently require career exploration in middle schools nor has it integrated these activities into its accountability systems. The report emphasizes the importance of career exploration for preparing students for future readiness.