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Career Clusters and Pathways
Career Clusters are broad occupational groupings...an organizing tool defining education for post-secondary education and careers using 16 broad clusters of occupations and 79 pathways with validated standards that ensure opportunities for all students regardless of their career goals and interests.
Career Clusters are a tool for a seamless educational system that:
- blends rigorous academic/technical preparation
- provides career development
- offers options for students to experience all aspects of a business or industry
- facilitates/assists students and educators with ongoing transitions
Career Clusters
- provide a framework for continuing contemporary, high-quality programs
- provide a framework for seamless education
- provide more career options for students
- provide a framework for organizing and reorganizing the delivery of career and technical education and needed 21st Century Skills
- provide understanding of knowledge and skill transfer and verification of qualification
List of 16 Career Clusters
- Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
- Architecture and Construction
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications
- Business Management and Administration
- Education and Training
- Finance
- Government and Public Administration
- Health Science
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
- Manufacturing
- Marketing
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Career Cluster Framework
The cluster/pathway framework supports ongoing efforts to move from vocational education to career and technical education.
- Cluster Core Level--Skills and knowledge all students need within the cluster
- Pathway Level--Skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a full range of career opportunities within a pathway
- Career Specialties--Represents the full range of career opportunities within each path
Career Pathways
A career pathway is a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career related courses, commencing in ninth grade and leading to an associate degree, and/or an industry-recognized certificate or licensure, and/or a baccalaureate and beyond. A career pathway...
- is developed, implemented and maintained in partnership among secondary and postsecondary education, business, and employers.
- is available to all students, including adult learners, and designed to lead to rewarding careers.
Career Specialties
- training for specific jobs or occupations
- knowledge and skill statements for this level would be created by industry standards and verified by business and industry representatives
- Represents the full range of career opportunities within each path
Tools to Get Started
Single District Applicants
Consortium Applicants
Resources
 A Guide for Implementing Programs of Study in Wisconsin - Based upon the National Career Cluster and Pathway Framework, the Program of Study Implementation guide contains key components like Teaching and Learning, School Counseling and Academic Advising, Partnerships, and Skill Attainment. These are critical pieces to the bigger puzzle of creating a program of study rooted in content knowledge, skill development, business and industry partnerships, and secondary and post-secondary collaboration. -
In 2008, a group convened to discuss how to build momentum for a statewide Career Pathways initiative. A cross-functional interagency team, consisting of representatives from multiple agencies and educational organizations, was formed to plan for the development of a web-based Career Pathways resource. The Wisconsin Career Pathways Website project was supported by a Carl Perkins WTCS reserve grant.
In 2009, the project team continued to work on building the website by forming four implementation teams. Each team reviewed team objectives, established goals and developed next steps. The teams include Data Source Team, Web Development Team, Content Team and Design Team. In July of 2010, the Wisconsin Career Pathways website was launched.
- 2008-2011 Summary of Programs of Study in Wisconsin Public School Districts- Data for this summary was collected from 2008 thru 2011 Carl Perkins basic grant applications submitted by Local Education Agencies. Please contact Sara Baird, Career Pathways Consultant, Email: sara.baird@dpi.wi.gov or 608-266-2022, if you have questions concerning career clusters and pathways. Please contact Don Vedder, CTEERS Coordinator, Email: don.vedder@dpi.wi.gov or 608-267-2279, if you have questions concerning the worksheets contained in the workbook.
- Listing of the Career Clusters and Pathways
- Information on How to Implement Career Clusters and Pathways
- Summary of Cluster/Pathway Activity in the 2008-2009 School Year
- Summary of Cluster/Pathway Activity in the 2009-2010 School Year
- "What will be the Impact of Programs of Study?" developed by the National Center for Career and Technical Education, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
- For national information on Career Clusters, please refer to their website at: www.careerclusters.org.
- Best of the Web - Careers Best of the Web - Careers is a helpful resource for researching careers.
For questions about this information, contact Sara J. Baird (608) 266-2022
Last updated on 12/15/2011 3:11:50 PM
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