School districts in the State of Iowa are required to have a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan on file with the Department of Education. Detailed information is available at CSIP.

Two specific items of the CSIP relate directly to Career Education. Those are identified below. In collaboration with Green Valley AEA 14, in-services can be planned to assist LEA staff in complying with these requirements. Area 14 schools needing assistance in this area can contact Mindy Dresback at 1-800-247-4023, ext. 307 or email dresback@swcciowa.edu.

CSIP Checklist Item #34:
Employability skills are incorporated, listing specific skills addressed. 281--IAC 12.5(7)

Meets Evidence of Requirement Criteria:
The expectation will be met for requirement #34 if the CSIP contains evidence that specific employability skills are incorporated into the CSIP. Specific employability skills identified are a local decision.

Possible sources for different employability skills:
SCANS Skills
STW Employability Skills
National Career and Development Guidelines
The CSIP might identify specific employability skills as part of its career education standards.

CSIP Checklist Item #35:
Career Education PK-12, incorporated into the total educational program for all students.
281--IAC 12.5(7)

Meets Evidence of Requirement Criteria:
The expectation will be met for requirement #35 if the CSIP contains evidence that career education PK-12 is incorporated into the total educational program for all students. How career education PK-12 is incorporated is a local decision.

Examples:

* Use Career Pathway systems PK-12
* Use Career Academies PK-12
* Use Career Mapping PK-12
* Develop career education standards integrated with employability skills PK-12
* Provide PK-12 professional development about incorporating career education and employability skills into the curriculum
* Requires student portfolios demonstrating career skill development for every student PK-12
* Adopt an Advisor/Advisee system PK-12
* Provide students PK-12 experiences in context of careers of interest that include the following: job shadows, internships, project-based learning, work experiences, service learning projects, and career mentoring.
* Provide teachers PK-12 experiences that connect content areas with related careers: internships, project-based learning, work-site audit training, career development activities, and integration of career and employability standards into content areas.