Career Education - PaCE Framework
The Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework guides educators with creating instructional units in grades 6-12, in three key areas: 1) Career Exploration and Development, 2) Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection, and 3) Financial Aid and Literacy.
The PaCE Framework has been adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
District 15’s PaCE Framework (below) provides opportunities for students to explore the three key areas at different stages of their middle school education. Each year in middle school, using a digital resource called Pathful, students will complete an interest or skills inventory to build self-awareness and plan for future goals. They will then explore careers that align to their interests and skills, identify post-secondary educational opportunities, and learn more about how to finance a post-secondary education.
PaCE Framework
Post Secondary & Career Expectations
At the middle school and early high school level, the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework is designed to provide students with guided exploration of postsecondary planning and options in a manner that is consistent with adolescent development. Meaningful participation in postsecondary preparation programs requires that students perceive college and/or career as possible and probable. Too often, programs are designed to serve only students who already have a college-going or career-oriented identity. The developmental framework is intended to prepare students to more fully engage with the PaCE Framework throughout the critical high school years.
By the end of 6th Grade:
- Students will engage in social-emotional learning lessons throughout the year to foster character development and cultivate a growth mindset.
- Students will complete the Career Interest Survey to discover career paths aligned with their work values.
- Students will explore and evaluate careers that correspond to their interests, preferences, and strengths.
- Students will establish both short-term and long-term goals to support their personalized career and learning paths.
By the end of 7th Grade:
- Students will take part in social-emotional learning lessons throughout the year to develop character and nurture a growth mindset.
- Students will complete a Personality Quiz to understand how their traits can enhance their work ethic.
- Students will continue to explore and compare careers that align with their interests, preferences, and strengths.
- Students will establish both short-term and long-term goals to support their personalized career and learning paths.
By the end of 8th Grade:
- Students will engage in social-emotional learning lessons throughout the year to foster character development and cultivate a growth mindset.
- Students will complete the Career Interest Survey to identify career paths that compare their results to those from 6th grade.
- Students will participate in a financial literacy unit to develop essential money management skills.
- Students will participate in an education planning unit and will explore potential postsecondary options that align with their possible career paths.
- Students will establish both short-term and long-term goals to support their personalized career and learning paths.