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Thirteen students applied! It's growing. Parents have contacted Megan to know more.

Government center only can support 6 student internships. Stafford will be funded by Goodwill next year.

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6 students have been identified for their first cohort.

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Will be pursuing a new business partner for next year.

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Student at 84 Lumber earned his forklift certification. 84 Lumber is paying his wages and asked him to stay on.

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SOS teams share their program's areas of strength and challenge from the 25-26 School year.

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At the end of each school year, review the SOS program to identify what went well and areas for improvement. This folder has instructions as well as the SOS Program Self-Assessment tool.

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SOS student has blossomed at his worksite. Goes right to work and has built confidence. May participate in the summer internship at the same location

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All of the SOS interns-are in 6 different sites. Culpeper Schools--preschool setting--shadow in Grades 1-2; Custodial staff- growing communication & time on task; Coffee shop; Diesel Mechanic Shops--loves the grease! Doggy Clips & aethesician; three students are learning to use Public transportation around town & home; many are looking for future employment

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Student is interested in getting hired full-time in the Historical Conservation in Stafford Government. Summer opportunities are more likely as there aren't any openings at this time.

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Here is a folder of forms to give to case managers with information about students progress during SOS.

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This is for students. "Complete this checklist during the Spring of SOS. This form should be completed with your SOS teacher, case manager, family member, and/or community service provider."

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Nottoway's Interns are doing great at work!

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Nottoway's Interns are doing great at work!

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Inn at Blackstone (mainence/housekeeping); Patient intake tech; Town of Blackstone with community developement--learning about how the town runs etc.; Automotive Center- mechanics

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Prince George already has 7 students for next year!!

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Prince George already has 7 students for next year!!

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These forms were shared by the VA Beach SOS program at Ocean Lakes High School.

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Here are some tips shared by SOS sites about program infrastructure, student recruitment, course implementation, and internship implementation,

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Use this checklist to ensure potential SOS candidates have submitted all of the information required for consideration.

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Sites are set for all students. 2 are at Special Made--Rubbermaid. Doing well. 1 student is at the county bus shop--heavy & light duty experience. 1 student will be at 84 lumber and will start next week and will pay him directly. 2 students possibly at Frame Bridge-manufacturing in the area--customized framing. DARS worked closely to find business partners.

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Students are working with the Government Center and all are doing great! Transportation is a challenge on Fridays due to technical issues, absentism due to illness. Confidence is growing.

6 students

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Going back to the local restaurant instead of the hospital because a student wouldn't the flu shot. 4 Students in the cohort

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Salem High School's SOS program is in their first year and starting off strong interning at the Salem Family YMCA. They also spend two days at the Salem Civic Center. Students are enthusiastic and ready to learn and earn!

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A huge thank you to the Salem YMCA and the Salem Civic Center for hosting our Salem High School Start on Success (SOS) students each week! Through these partnerships, students gain valuable, real-world work experience, build essential job skills, earn course credit, and even receive a paycheck for their work.

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This easy-to-use guide empowers families to navigate post-secondary transition planning for children with disabilities, starting in early childhood and continuing into adulthood. It covers four key areas of transition planning: self-determination, postsecondary education and training, employment, and independent living and community participation.

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Pre-K - VCU Center on Transition Innovations

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Here is GoogleSlide template for a SOS presentation to the school board. Plan to get on the School Board agenda and invite SOS graduates to share their experience and report on student outcomes.

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Here are is a document from VA Beach SOS with worksite expectations that must be signed by the student and parent/guardian. By sharing expectations with families, you can engage them in supporting student success by sharing progress.

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Copy of Work Site Expectations 2024-25 for SOS

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Stafford SOS program is represented on the school division's webpage. It includes a overview video, key highlights, and contact information. What a great way to market SOS and demonstrate the impact on students.

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Start On Success - Stafford County Public Schools

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Start On Success - Stafford County Public Schools

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VA Beach SOS forms & docs in these folders to track & report student progress. The teacher & job coaches can see student work performance live & use data to report to other stakeholders. You will need to make a copy of the documents & forms to revise & make them your own

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Students have their internship assignments at the Stafford Government Center

Students are completing paperwork for payment with Stafford

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Rebecca and Wendy went to Aquarium to discuss placements and students SPIN connections. Maintenance won't be a spot unfortunately; looking at new departments--marketing-social media and matching with photography interest of the students;

Reality store provided by local banks- students go through real-life scenarios related to budgeting.

Hampton Roads Transportation-will be coming to class

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Mock interviews with school counselor

Bon Secour Hospital placement in Petersburg is a possibility- rotating to different areas; 4 students

Starting on recruitment for 26-27

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Here is CTE's HQWBL Mentor evaluation form that they use for work-based learning experiences as appropriate.

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Here is a sample SOS Mentor survey that you could ask mentors to complete at the end of the internship.

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Transition Across the Grade Span: From Pre-K to Post-Grad

This easy-to-use guide empowers families to navigate post-secondary transition planning for children with disabilities, starting in early childhood and continuing into adulthood. It covers four key areas of transition planning: self-determination, postsecondary education and training, employment, and independent living and community participation. Regardless of where your child begins their special education journey, these considerations provide a supportive framework for addressing your child's unique needs. Plan and help your child thrive in every stage of life!

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Pre-K - VCU Center on Transition Innovations

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Follow the policies and procedures set by VDOE CTE for High Quality Work-Based Learning. Find the traning agreements for students and businesses as well as other important information.

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Career and Technical Education (CTE) | Virginia Department of Education

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Career and technical education (CTE) programs in Virginia public schools serve more than 690,000 students in CTE courses in grades 6-12. These programs are designed to prepare young people for productive futures while meeting the commonwealth’s need for well-trained and industry-certified technical workers.

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Business mentors

Once the business liaison has been appointed, one of the first responsibilities is to approach each department within the company and seek out employees who have an interest in becoming an SOS business mentor. A mentor is a business employee who volunteers to provide training, support, and encouragement to students in acclimating to the business culture.

Key Responsibilities

Assist with the implementation of training

Create a safe learning environment

Identify work routine

Set high expectations and promote independence

Seek guidance from school staff if additional support is needed

Assess and provide feedback on student performance

Communicate needs with business liaison

Complete data forms for the SOS study

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SOS Teacher Resources for Student Internships: Shared Folder

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SOS Teacher Resources for Student Internships: Shared Folder

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Inside this folder you will find sample forms for evaluating student performance; student self-reflection forms; mentor feedback forms.

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Useful for breaking down the competencies to identify areas of strength and growth.

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Implement Better Practices: Effective Practices and Predictors of Positive Post School Outcomes

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Implement Better Practices: Effective Practices and Predictors of Positive Post School Outcomes

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Explore the resources on this website to discover ways to put students in the driver's seat of their lives. Look for Student-Led IEP resources as well as Student-Led Conferences information.

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The I'm Determined project, a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior.

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Increase Awareness: Spotlight Virginians video series

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Increase Awareness: Spotlight Virginians video series

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Spotlight Virginians: Student Success Stories is a video series that invites you to follow along the journey of several young adults with disabilities in Virginia as they share their stories of successful transition outcomes.

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Employment & Disability: Expanding Employment Opportunities

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Employment & Disability: Expanding Employment Opportunities

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What you do matters! From the early grades through high school, the work you do with students influences their outcomes. Start now and keep the end in mind and prepare students for competitive integrated employment.

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Increase Awareness: A Guide to Networking With Businesses

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Increase Awareness: A Guide to Networking With Businesses

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Once you’ve determined the type of work-based learning experience a student will need to increase career-readiness skills, it’s time to secure a host site in the local community. Networking with businesses is a critical step in developing a work-based learning experience.

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Enhancing Collaboration: Bridging Gaps in Transition Services:

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Enhancing Collaboration: Bridging Gaps in Transition Services:

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Strengthening Transition Services

Through DARS and School Partnerships

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Here is an example of Unit 1 in the lesson sequence Nicole Ashby created

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Nicole Ashby from Stafford created this sequence of Units to cover all of the competencies in the EFE 9085 course

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Dollars & Sense is a budgeting game for middle and high school students. Students select a lifestyle and budget for expenses and unexpected events.

Related Resources
To reinforce the concepts found in the game, check out these other Federal Reserve resources:

Meet Joe is a budgeting video from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's PSAs in the Classroom video series. This video covers the concept of budgeting and encourages students to plan before they spend, rather than spend before they plan. This video is a perfect pairing to the "Dollars & Sense" classroom activity.

Invest in What's Next: Life After High School is an online mini-course developed by the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and San Francisco to help students navigate their first major financial decision: what path to pursue after high school. The course encourages students to explore multiple post-secondary education paths and job options and to think about how investing in their knowledge and skills may contribute to their future well-being.

Budgeting Basics is a lesson plan from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta teaches students how to budget and underscores the importance of building an emergency fund.

Budgeting 101 is an online course for teachers and students. Students are given the hands-on opportunity to create budgets for fictional "Regan" during her sophomore year in nursing school, and, later, as a recent graduate with an apartment and a new car. This online course utilizes ECON Lowdown a Learning Management System brought to you by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Why Budget is an infographic from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta that helps students understand how a budget will put them on a path to meet their financial goals.

Standards Correlations
The content of Dollars and Sense, in conjunction with other instruction, can be used to address the following standards:

Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics

Content Standard 1: Scarcity

Content Standard 2: Decision Making

Content Standard 12: Interest Rates

Content Standard 13: Income

CEE National Standards for Financial Literacy

Standard I: Earning Income

Standard II: Buying Goods and Services

Standard III: Saving

Standard IV: Using Credit

Stay Connected

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Dollars & Sense is a budgeting game for middle and high school students. Students select a lifestyle and budget for expenses and unexpected events. Related Resources To reinforce the concepts found in the game, check out these other Federal Reserve resources: Meet Joe is a budgeting video from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's PSAs in the Classroom video series.

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October Disability Employment Awareness Month

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October Disability Employment Awareness Month

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In recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. How can you spread the word?

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National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

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The workplace is an important part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

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Here are some resources that SOS teachers have used to supplement the EFE curriculum

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This folder contains work performance forms, possible jobs at different worksites, student reflection forms, and feedback forms for mentors & supervisors.

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Hampton City Schools SOS interns and VA Air& Space Science Center make history

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Hampton City Schools SOS interns and VA Air& Space Science Center make history

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One of the interactive exhibits at the museum is the Pedal Plane Project. Young guests learn to "fly" wooden pedal planes modeled after the red tail design used by the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII. This group did a fantastic job and had the

opportunity to learn how to paint and do some light maintenance on the planes. Kids will enjoy these for years to come, and these interns now have a lasting legacy here at the Virginia Air and Space Science Center.

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Stafford Government Center receiving award - NACO award for SOS program - it’s a BIG DEAL!

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Stafford Government Center receiving award - NACO award for SOS program - it’s a BIG DEAL!

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Announcement of the Award

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Stafford County captured two National Association of Counties (NACo) 2025 Achievement Awards, awards that recognize outstanding government programs and services. Stafford County has a long history of winning NACo Awards, having received 17 awards over the last decade. This year, Stafford won an award in the Children and Youth category and one in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training category.

"These awards validate our continuous efforts to serve our residents better," said Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Deuntay Diggs. "I am particularly proud that both of these awards were for services we provided to students to encourage art talent and to give students with disabilities real-life job experience."

Stafford County's Rappahannock Regional Solid Waste Management Board (R-Board) "Get Rid of Litter Dimensional Recycled Art Contest" won in the Children and Youth category. The 3-D Art Contest helped the R-Board achieve the goal of promoting and encouraging waste reduction. They educated and empowered students and the public to reuse and recycle materials that would have otherwise been disposed of. The 3-D Art Contest and judging ceremony provided an excellent opportunity to celebrate the efforts of student artists, gain media exposure, and promote waste prevention to the public.

Stafford County Government and Stafford County Public Schools partnered on the Start on Success Program (SOS) to help bridge the gap for students with disabilities in accessing opportunities. Designed for rising juniors and seniors with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), the initiative combines part-time government jobs with classroom instruction to build real-world skills and confidence. County employees mentor students through hands-on training tailored to their strengths. Having just finished its second year, the program has already led to successful employment for a student at Stafford's Animal Shelter. With strong collaboration between schools and the government, this model is both impactful and easily replicable. Stafford SOS is part of a larger statewide program that includes student outcomes such as college attendance, employment, and military participation.

A list of all NACo Achievement Award winners and more information on the awards may be found at: https://www.naco.org/page/achievement-awards#database.

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Stafford County Adds Two More Achievement Awards to Its NACo Awards Collection

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Stafford County captured two National Association of Counties (NACo) 2025 Achievement Awards, awards that recognize outstanding government programs and services. Stafford County has a long history of winning NACo Awards, having received 17 awards over the last decade. This year, Stafford won an award in the Children and Youth category and one in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training category.

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Donna Martin and Matt Luther shared this resource to assist schools with the reimbursement process for the SOS internship.

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VA Beach has 8 new students for their 9th cohort of SOS

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VA Beach has 8 new students for their 9th cohort of SOS

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Frederick has a great  group of students

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Frederick has a great  group of students

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SOS Teacher reported that this group is the most motivated and engaged students in her 20 years of teaching. They are in for an amazing SOS experience

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Student was connected by DARS with Verizon and he went through the training and he's completed it . Rebecca

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2021 VA Beach SOS Grad is working at Nauticus-Wisconsin

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2021 VA Beach SOS Grad is working at Nauticus-Wisconsin

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2018 SOS Grad from VA Beach is police officer!!

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2018 SOS Grad from VA Beach is police officer!!

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This student was absent often and not engaged in school until he experienced SOS and got connected with the right people and services.

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Pathful is an online platform for students to build their skills and knowlege for career awareness, exploration, and preparation. It's free to VA educators. Contact

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Now, one place to get college & career awareness, planning, exploration and live industry connections for a more insightful, impactful and meaningful experience.

Now, one place to get college & career awareness, planning, exploration and live industry connections for a more insightful, impactful and meaningful experience.

Career Awareness Platform

Make K-5 career discovery meaningful

Pathful Junior is a K-5 career awareness platform with digital lessons that cultivate elementary students' interest in a variety of professions while strengthening their digital literacy skills and reinforcing their academic coursework. It is designed to captivate, inspire, and empower elementary students to pursue their ambitions.

College & Career Exploration & Planning Platform

Make career exploration and planning more insightful

Pathful Explore is a K-12 exploration and planning platform that prepares students for college and/or career. With a combination of interactive tools, assessments, and real-world exploration, students can discover diverse career pathways and chart their individualized path.

Live Connections Platform

Make the connection between industry and education impactful

Pathful Connect is a K-12 live connections platform that matches educators and learners with a network of industry professionals, virtually bringing real-world relevance and career exposure to all students while providing an effective way for companies to extend education outreach and create equity of access.

Planning

Aptitud, values, and interest assesments

Short- and long-term goals

Postsecondary and individualized graduation plans

Live ask an industry expert opportunities

Exploration

Career and college info and research tools with up-to-date data

Local links to make required website research of employers easily accessible

Access to 50,000+industry professionals to bring life into the classroom

Preparation

Customizable employability and WorkAbility lessons

Asynchronous and live resumes and cover letter support

Asynchronous and live financial literacy instruction

Live career talks connect to math, ELA, science & social studies

Experiences

3,000+Virtual Job Shadow and Q&A videos

Live, virtual, work-based learning opportunities (i.e. capstone project feedback)

Live, virtual workspace and college tours

Placement

Internship, work-based learning and job boards

Asynchronous and live financial aid and scholarship support

E-transcript & Common App* Integrations

Employer landing pages & employer registry

Career Readiness

Industry-Driven Content

Driven by industry workforce needs, Virtual Job Shadow videos and live, virtual industry sessions are designed with an intentional emphasis on spotlighting individuals typically underrepresented in their career cluster.

Teacher-Driven Content

Driven by teacher requests, informed by curricular and instructional needs, and filled by 50,000 industry professionals, Live Events expose students to the authentic diversity within the workforce.

Industry content brought to you by:

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Explore career options, discover your future path, and research what it takes to get there

Pathful will make it even easier for educators and students to access and gain insights from one place

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Your College & Career Readiness Journey | Pathful

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Pathful is the complete college and career readiness system that helps students decide what they want to be and how to prepare for life beyond the classroom.

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Check out the research, data, and resources to support your Start on Success program.

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Start on Success - VCU Center on Transition Innovations

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Through collaboration between students, families, schools, community agencies, and employers, Start on Success (SOS) provides high school students with IEPs who are pursuing standard diplomas with a high quality work-based learning experience. Selected students enroll in a credit-bearing…

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Nicole Ashby, from Stafford's SOS Program, created this project for her students to complete during the SOS program. She guided them in developing a professional Google Site to showcase their skills & experience for future job applications.

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Students can use this checklist in the spring semester to reflect on their SOS experience, apply what they learned to future transition planning, and identify goals and next steps.

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Students can use this checklist in the fall for transition planning. They can identify people they need to contact, tasks they need to complete, and additional training & learning required to meet their career goals.

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Education for Employment Development Course EFE 9085

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Education for Employment Development Course EFE 9085

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-Modules with lessons for each competency

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Course Modules: Education for Employment II (Development) (22903-18)

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Here is a folder of resources shared by SOS programs over the last five years.