#AskExcelinEd: How can families support their child’s education to career journey?

Every family wants their child to succeed, but it’s not always easy for families to get a full picture of the educational options and experiences in their schools and communities. Too often, families do not receive the information they need to choose the pathways and experiences that can best help their child achieve their individual career and college goals.

Your Child’s Pathway Matters is designed to help parents and families identify the information, questions and support they can use to help their child make pathway decisions—and succeed on their journey. This family-centered guide includes:

• Information about what makes a pathway high-quality.
• Questions to help families determine whether the pathway options and experiences in their community will help their child get a head start on achieving their goals.
• Examples of high-quality pathways and printable templates to support career pathway exploration and navigation.

Empowering Students and Families

Policymakers, education leaders, educators and community members all play a role in helping families support their child’s journey. Pathways Matter to Families outlines research findings and solutions to help states and schools provide stronger pathway options for every student.

And families do not need to wait for policy changes, Your Child’s Pathway Matters provides immediate support for families and students navigating their future.

Here are five topics families can discuss with their child to begin planning their pathway:

1. When you think about your future career, what matters most? Reflect on your priorities.
2. How can you use your priorities to explore possible careers? Identify your career interests.
3. What would choosing this career mean for your future? Compare possible career outcomes.
4. What would you do after high school to prepare for this career? Understand your postsecondary options.
5. How could you get a jump start on preparing for this career now? Make the most of your high school options.

Learn how can high-quality pathways help students meet their college and career goals.

Have a question? Email melissa@excelined.org. We look forward to hearing from you.