Career Readiness for ALL
The CCD Center’s work maps to five core pillars that support ALL learners’ ability to succeed and thrive in today’s employment landscape. These pillars address the entire career
development lifecycle, empowering all stakeholders to promote positive change in our nation’s education and workforce development systems.
Prioritizing CAREER PLANNING
Career planning is facilitated by adult mentors and consists of services and activities designed to support youth and adults in defining their life goals. Informed by individual strengths and employment interests, mentors guide youth and young adults to develop goals that will help them attain the education, certification, and workforce development opportunities needed to enter and thrive in high-demand, high-wage occupational pathways.
Providing Professional CAREER ADVISING
EMPHASIZING APPLIED & WORK-BASED LEARNING
PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY CAREER DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY
ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY
In May 2023, the CCD Center convened its Executive Board, Advisory Council, and State Leaders Career Development Network to gain their insight into ways to reform our nation’s career readiness infrastructure by leveraging the promise of four landmark pieces of federal legislation:
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Higher Education Act (HEA)
Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V)
At the convening, participants were grouped into five Pillar Committees, each focused on a different pillar and charged with identifying challenges and opportunities within its context. Participants then developed action steps the CCD Center and its partners across sectors can take to create a national career readiness infrastructure.