Career Awareness & Preparation
About the Partnership for Career Development (PCD): PCD delivers Career Awareness & Preparation (CAP) programs and resources to regional schools, efficiently connecting students with nationally recognized career industries to build an aligned, knowledgeable, and prepared future workforce.
What is CAP and Why it matters: CAP is the very foundation of Career Readiness, yet it's often overlooked, assumed, or inconsistently provided. Without it, students lack the essential ingredients for success.
Effective CAP requires Skills, Education, and Experience. While schools provide education and some workplace skills, meaningful, real-world work experiences remain scarce. Ensuring all three elements is crucial for preparing students for their future careers.
Add to that, future career financial benefits (Wiley 2023). “... (S)tudents can build social capital; develop “soft skills,” … discover their career interests; begin to define their roles in society; and, most importantly, gain real-world experience (WestEd, 2024).”
Students & Families want CAP:
- 75% : high school grads say they do not feel prepared for what’s next (District Admin, 2022).
- 69% of current high schoolers … wish they had more career exploration during their middle school and high school years (Forbes, 2024).
- “while 79% of high school students express interest in participating in work-based learning experiences, only around 34% are aware of any opportunities available to them within their age group” (ASA, 2022).
- Just 11% of Pennsylvania’s high school students can access and enroll in CTCs (HS-level career tech schools) which are very costly for school districts. Waiting lists continue to grow (ACTE SY21/22).
PA’s Challenges: PA's CAP efforts are inconsistent - driven by shifting leadership, crisis needs, and regional factors. PA is falling behind and students are leaving the state without a real understanding of the jobs available right here in PA. Critical skill shortages persist due to limited CAP programs. Intermediaries can address this gap, as schools lack the time and resources to do so effectively and comprehensively.
A Smart Solution for Pennsylvania: Intermediaries efficiently connect schools with workforce opportunities. Rather than funding 500 individual districts, investing in regional intermediaries maximizes impact. PCD alone serves over 4% of PA’s most underserved and rural schools. With essential funding, PCD can expand CAP programs, strengthen partnerships, and ensure students gain the experiences they need for success – right here in Pennsylvania.
CAP Guide 2025-2026
