Technological advances and global competition have transformed the nature of work. Tomorrow's jobs will require more knowledge, better skills and more flexibility than ever before. Tomorrow's workers must be prepared to change jobs and careers several times, while continually updating their knowledge and skills.

Career Clusters provide a common framework for career preparation. This system is designed to make it easier for school systems and teachers to help students appropriately prepare for a career direction and for the range of occupations that might fall along that path.

To prepare today's students for tomorrow, schools are working to help them achieve in challenging subjects. One key approach to this goal is to provide students with relevant contexts for learning. The Career Clusters framework links what students learn in school with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed for success in college and careers.

The Career Clusters framework expands upon an existing grouping of occupations. Within those paths, all 16 clusters include business-verified skills and knowledge appropriate for the broad range of careers represented in each, as well as the skills and knowledge appropriate for each of the subgroups call Career Pathways.

The Career Clusters help students meet the needs of the competitive 21st-century workplace. Regionally, secondary and post secondary institutions school provide seamless, integrated programs of study for multiple Career Clusters with clear opportunities for certificates, degrees and local employment at various levels.

Engaging instruction techniques combined with valuable content show students the relevance of their studies while pushing them to higher levels of rigor. Rigorous and relevant instruction helps improve student achievement while also preparing students for the workplace expectations of teamwork, communications skills, organization and project management.

 Students Win with Career Clusters

The Career Clusters framework creates a direct link between what students are learning today and what they will do for a living tomorrow.

With the Career Clusters framework, students are more motivated because they can see the relevance of their education and their education involves rigorous academics applied to real-world situations.

Career Clusters provide a framework for all students to plan their future, whatever their interests, abilities or desires for further education.

Work-based learning and project-based learning provide students hands-on experiences in the classroom and in the workplace.

Students learn in a variety of settings using a variety of teaching methods that match their learning styles.

The Career Clusters framework encourages high schools to give students opportunities to begin a post secondary certification or degree program through courses taken for college credit. By earning college credit in high school, students' families can save on tuition and purse greater opportunities in the future.

 Employers Win with Career Clusters

Today's students are tomorrow's workforce. The Career Clusters framework offers employers the opportunity to partner with educators to prepare future employees with the skills and motivation needed to succeed.

Students learn the necessity or lifelong learning and the importance of updating their skills.

Students master the foundations of their broad Career Cluster first, helping ensure that they start work ready to work.

Business and community partners receive attention and public recognition for their work with schools.

 Educators Win with Career Clusters

When students see a connections between what they are doing in the classroom and how it applies to the real world, they become enthusiastic and engaged learners.

With the Career Clusters framework, educators can feel confident they are providing students with skills for today's globally competitive workplace.

Career Clusters provide a framework to bring the career development and instructional efforts of counselors and teachers into closer alignment.

Students who are focused on a goal and can see the connection between their coursework and career are more likely to stay in school.

A Career Clusters school structure will provide teachers targeted support for their classroom needs, industry-validated curriculum, training in instructional strategies that keep students engaged, and a connection with regional business to ensure that their instruction connects to careers locally and beyond.

 Communities Win with Career Clusters

The Career Clusters framework encourages connections among secondary education, post secondary education and business.

Programs of study target multiple opportunities for certifications or degrees connected to occupations with local demand. With programs of study in place, the Career Clusters framework helps ensure that community members have educational opportunities leading to occupations that offer family-supporting wages.

Career Clusters provide a common framework for many organizations and businesses in the community to partner for economic development and educational planning.

For individual educational planning, the Career Clusters framework puts individual student interests and abilities first while concurrently requiring rigorous studies of all students. This leads to more young people engaged in their schooling and motivated to pursue meaningful careers and further education. Higher levels of educational attainment contribute to increased prosperity in a community.

 Families Win with Career Clusters

The Career Clusters framework helps families as they assist students with courses and activities that support their career goals.

At schools that implement the Career Clusters framework, students are provided a strong foundation in academic, employability and technical skills.

Family members have the opportunity to share career information one-on-one with the student and school counselor or as part of a group discussion in the classroom with other students.

Families can save on tuition and students can pursue additional opportunities for post secondary education when schools implementing the Career Clusters framework offer courses with the option to earn college credit.