Career Education and Work Portfolio

The purpose of the portfolio process is for students to demonstrate the skills and interests they have developed throughout high school. The process also encourages students to have ownership and control over their learning as well as reflect on their academics and plan for a future career.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, “Pennsylvania’s economic future depends on having a well-educated and skilled workforce. No student should leave secondary education without a solid foundation in Career Education and Work. It is the rapidly changing workplace and the demand for continuous learning and innovation on the part of the workers that drive the need to establish academic standards in Career Education and Work”.

The career assignments completed with your portfolio mentor will address the following academic standard components:


13.1 Career Awareness and Preparation

A. Relate careers to individual interests, abilities and aptitudes. (9, 10)

B. Analyze career options based on personal interests, abilities, aptitudes, achievements and goals. (9, 10)

C. Analyze how the changing roles of individuals in the workplace relate to new opportunities within career choices. (9, 10, 11, 12)

D. Evaluate school-based opportunities for career awareness/preparation

E. Justify the selection of a career. (9)

F. Analyze the relationship between career choices and career preparation opportunities (9)

G. Assess the implementation of the individualized career plan through the ongoing development of the career portfolio.

H. Review personal high school plan against current personal career goals and select postsecondary opportunities based upon personal career interests. (11, 12)

13.2 Career Acquisition (Getting a Job)

A. Apply effective speaking and listening skills used in a job interview. (12)

B. Apply research skills in searching for a job.

C. Develop and assemble, for career portfolio placement, career acquisition documents (11, 12)

D. Analyze, revise and apply an individualized career portfolio to chosen career path.

E. Demonstrate, in the career acquisition process, the application of essential workplace skills/knowledge

13.3 Career Retention and Advancement (12)

A. Evaluate personal attitudes and work habits that support career retention and advancement.

B. Evaluate team member roles to describe and illustrate active listening techniques

C. Evaluate conflict resolution skills as they relate to the workplace

D. Develop a personal budget based on career choice

E. Evaluate time management strategies and their application to both personal and work situations.

F. Evaluate strategies for career retention and advancement in response to the changing global workplace.

G. Evaluate the impact of lifelong learning on career retention and advancement.

13.4 Entrepreneurship

A. Analyze entrepreneurship as it relates to personal career goals and corporate opportunities.

B. Analyze entrepreneurship as it relates to personal character traits.

C. Develop a business plan for an entrepreneurial concept of personal interest and identify available resources



For the complete description of the Career Education and Work standards above, visit (http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.83.html).