PA Wants Students on Career Path Early

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently approved new vocational education standards for all students. Under the new standards, schools will begin helping students prepare for careers while they prepare for college. All students will be required to learn a set of basic skills designed to prepare them for job interviews and landing their first jobs.

PA students must be able to write a business letter, undergo a job interview, and develop such traits as dependability and punctuality. The state's expectations must be achieved by grades three, five, eight and 11.

PA school officials say they are not trying to route kids into specific careers too early; they want to get kids thinking about their career options early so that they will have time to take needed classes and plan for college or careers.