From caregivers and families to educators and school leaders, everyone in the school community has a responsibility to prepare students for life after high school. REL Southwest has gathered resources and research from across the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) network to provide guidance for all those involved in supporting students' college and career readiness.

Parents and caregivers

Helping Your Student Prepare for Life After High School: Series for Parents and Caregivers

Developed by REL Southwest in collaboration with other RELs, this infographic series draws on research to highlight actions students can take in middle school and high school to prepare for college and careers. Parents and caregivers can use the infographics to explore evidence-based practices that support college and career readiness.

The infographic, What planning activities can help my student prepare for life after high school? provides an overview of pathways to success after high school, like pursuing a postsecondary degree or obtaining an apprenticeship. The infographic also describes the components of career planning and the individuals who can support students in developing a plan for their future.

Another infographic in the series, What academic and career experiences can help my student prepare for life after high school? highlights academic and career experiences, such as college credit programs and work-based learning, which have been shown to support students' college and career readiness.

Both infographics offer questions that can guide parents' and caregivers' conversations with their students about the future.

What is Career and Technical Education (CTE)?

The REL Midwest video, What is Career and Technical Education (CTE)? explains how CTE classes can prepare high school students for specialized jobs as well as two- or four-year degrees. Concentrating in a specific field of CTE classes in high school can have a positive impact on a student's employability and earning potential.

School, district, and state level staff

High-Quality Advising: Building Systems for Implementing Individualized Career Plans

This REL Southwest infographic describes the purpose of individualized career plans (ICPs) so school leaders can review practices for implementing high-quality ICPs and understand how to prepare students for the future.

On November 7, 2024, REL Southwest hosted a webinar on the benefits of comprehensive career advising systems, key elements of career planning, and strategies for improving career readiness and awareness. This webinar featured a panel of state and district practitioners leading the field of whole-school career planning. The panelists discussed valuable insights into designing and implementing effective advising systems that enhance career pathways for all students. Once the archived webinar and resources are available, you can review them here.

From Classroom to Career: Work-Based Learning for Indiana's Students

Educators in Indiana are using innovative approaches to work-based learning to help prepare students for the careers of tomorrow. This REL Midwest documentary spotlights three models of work-based learning in high school. A companion blog post shares eight considerations for practices to strengthen work-based learning.

A Holistic Approach to Supporting Students' College and Career Readiness

In Tennessee, education leaders are working to improve college enrollment rates and strengthen their education-to-workforce pipeline. This REL Appalachia blog post discusses research that informs a holistic approach to postsecondary transitions and how to incorporate student voice when identifying areas for improvement. The blog post also features the infographic, Four Pillars of Support for High School Students' College and Career Readiness.

How Individual Plans of Study Can Support Students' College and Career Readiness and Success

This REL Central infographic describes the components of Individual Plans of Study, which are education and career plans tailored to a student's personal interests and skills. The plans can help students set goals for the future and identify activities that will help them achieve those goals. Developing an Individual Plan of Study is associated with positive outcomes, such as improved academic achievement, rigorous coursetaking, and college enrollment.

Equity in Career and Technical Education: Research and Practitioner Perspectives

A panel of practitioners shared on-the-ground perspectives of strategies to improve student participation in career and technical education programs in this archived REL Northeast & Islands webinar.

Supporting Student Success Through Positive Approaches to School Discipline

A recent REL Southwest study, Identifying Indicators That Predict Postsecondary Readiness and Success in Arkansas, found a negative association between exclusionary discipline and postsecondary success. In this archived REL Southwest webinar, educators can learn about alternatives to exclusionary discipline that can support student outcomes.

Additional resource roundups to support students' success

• REL Southwest Resource Roundup: Indicators of College and Career Readiness
• REL Southwest Resource Roundup: Career and technical education
• REL Midwest Resource Roundup: Competency-based education, blended learning, and credit recovery