In Education for Employment, students are given many opportunities to assess their career skills and interests, explore options, and develop pathways for the future.  The EFE instructor and College and Career Center Specialist collaborate to achieve this goal using career inventory assessments.  Throughout the year, students are encouraged and supported to take advantage of the following career planning services:

1. The ASVAB Test - this free assessment is sponsored by the military, but assesses strengths and interests for all students.  The Career Center Specialists opens slots first to EFE students for the ASVAB Test and then the rest of the student population.  The EFE instructor encourages every child who is considering the military as a possibility, whose parents are in the military, or is enrolled in our JROTC program to take the ASVAB test.
2. SAT and ACT fees are waived for Education for Employment students so that they may take them free of cost due to the nature of this program.
3. The EFE instructor proctors all of the SATs and ACTs given at Hayfield in the extended time setting for students with Individual Learning Plans (IEPs) and other accommodations.  The majority of EFE students have learning disabilities and having a "comfort zone" in a testing situation could maximize their test scores for college acceptance.
4. College Night is an annual event held here at Hayfield each October and actively promoted.  If EFE students attend the sessions offered and have the presenters’ signatures on their program, extra credit is given.
5. A schedule of college visits to Hayfield is established each September and students may sign up for sessions on the Family Connection web site  When students express an interest in a college/university and enroll in the section, electronic reminders are sent and passes are printed for the students to leave class and attend the college presentation.  Class time is allowed for students to explore these scheduled visits and register for the ones of interest to them. 
6. Several local technical colleges such as Westwood College, EPCI, and Devry come and speak to the EFE students, acquainting them to a career-focused curriculum approach to higher education.  Many of these students would not find success in a traditional university setting; however with hands-on learning, smaller class sizes, free tutoring, and real world experiences through internships they would thrive.
7. Testimonials by my former students-the power of peer networking is utilized by inviting former students to come back and speak to EFE classes.  This year when Westwood College came, one of my former students, Mariam Al-Botani, spoke as a freshman who shared experiences from high school Education for Employment and her consequent decision to pursue a criminal justice major at Westwood. Currently she is balancing college and full time employment at her previous high school job site. Since graduation, she has been promoted from service coach managing a shift of 15-20 servers to an assistant chef at the Greensprings Retirement Community dining services.  As an educator, I could not be more proud of Mariam’s personal and professional growth.  She is a success story!      

Based on the above list of opportunities for career planning, students are exposed to many careers and pathway options including community college, technical school, university, military, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.  Students working with their counselors have a variety of course options to choose from and their course schedule, diploma type, and post-secondary plans are dependent on the individual student's interests and/or current internship.  There is not one specific career cluster or pathway for EFE students.  If an EFE student wants to attend college, they are encouraged since there is a fit for everyone; however the need for all students to further their learning and training after high school is emphasized.  Being a lifetime learner is the key to being successful in an ever-changing workplace.

Since the majority of the cooperative education internship students are currently employed in the Human Services career cluster, templates for a Career Plan for Human Services (with an EFE focus) and a Generic Career Plan of Study are attached.  (Other career plans are available to students with different career interests, as needed.)  These templates assist students in mapping out academic and career plans and individualizing future personal career goals.