The Ocean Gate Board of Education believes that constructive attitudes and concepts involving the dignity of all kinds of work belong in the curriculum from the beginning grades. Therefore, in fulfillment of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, the board shall develop and implement a comprehensive guidance and counseling system that is designed to provide students opportunities to enhance career awareness, exploration, preparation, and decision-making skills necessary for success in the workplace. The board shall ensure that educational programs shall continuously expose pupils to the nature of the wide variety of careers available. The 21st Century Life and Careers Student Learning Standard shall be infused into the curriculum throughout the grades in age appropriate activities. When any hands on experience requires use of power tools, etc., all eye protection and other appropriate safety regulations shall be observed.

Career Education and Counseling

The board shall develop and implement a comprehensive guidance and academic counseling program for all students to facilitate career awareness, exploration, and preparation in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.2. This program shall:

A. Be linked to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards;

B. Be infused throughout the K-6 curriculum;

C. Be supported by professional development programs;

D. Take into consideration the American School Counselor Association’s National Standards for School Counseling Programs;

E. Provide developmental career guidance and academic counseling linked to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards designed to:

1. Assist students in making and implementing informed educational and career choices, including opportunities to change career focus;
2. Support students’ academic attainment, career development, and personal/social development;
3. Develop the student’s understanding of the relationship between academic attainment, career development, and personal/social development;
4. Encourage students to create and maintain portfolios consisting of student accomplishments in academic and career oriented work;

F. The board shall ensure that students with disabilities (age 14 or younger), if determined appropriate by IEP, have career and academic counseling coordinated with transitional services in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7;

G. The board shall develop and implement curriculum and instructional methods that:

1. Are integrated with technological literacy;
2. Provide all students with an understanding of the career application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom; and
3. Provide all students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real or simulated career challenges.

H. The board will develop and implement for all students a system of career development activities that:

1. Offers the opportunity to explore career interests within, one or more of the Career Clusters (listed below) that are linked to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards;
2. Allows district boards of education to select the appropriate format for offering career-development activities based on district resources, community needs and student interest;
3. Allows the board to select an appropriate delivery format that may include an integrated curriculum based on the New Jersey Student Learning Standards or specialized programs that reflect the needs of students and the community; and
4. Instills the concept of the need for continuous learning throughout one’s life.

All students shall have equal and bias-free access to career and technical education programs and a full range of possible occupational, professional, and career and technical education choices including careers in the science and technology industries and nontraditional careers, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional/sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, pregnancy, disability, English proficiency, immigration status, housing status or socioeconomic status.

NJSBA Review/Update: January 2009, October 2017
Adopted: January 21, 2009
Revised: October 2012
Readopted: October 17, 2012
Revised/Readopted: May 17, 2017
Reviewed:

Key Words

Career Education, Vocational-technical Education

New Jersey Career Clusters:

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction
Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
Business Management and Administration
Education and Training
Finance
Government and Public Administration
Health Science
Hospitality and Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Manufacturing
Marketing
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:11 1 General mandatory powers and duties
N.J.S.A. 18A:38 36 Employment certificates to part time pupils; revocation
N.J.S.A. 18A:40 12.1, 12.2 Protective eye devices required for teachers, pupils and visitors in certain cases
N.J.S.A. 18A:54 20 Powers of board (county vocational schools)
N.J.S.A. 18A:54E-1 Business and school partnerships
through -5
N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.7 Equality in school and classroom practices
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-2.2 Authority for the state plan for vocational education
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.2 Career education and counseling
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1 Graduation requirements

N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-1.1 et seq. State board of examiners and certification
See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 6A:9B 9.4, -11.3, -14.19
through -14.21
N.J.A.C. 6A:19-1.1 et seq. Career and technical education programs and standards
See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 6A:19 1.2, -2.1, -2.3, -3.1,
5.1, -5.2, -6.1, -6.5, -6.7, -6.8
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-17.4 Method of determining tuition rates for county vocational schools
N.J.A.C. 6A:26-12.1 et seq. Operation and Maintenance of Facilities
See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 6A:26-12.2, -12.5
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.1 et seq. Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, P.L.109-270

Possible
Cross References: *3220/3230 State funds; federal funds
*3516 Safety
*5142 Pupil safety
*5145.4 Equal educational opportunity
*6010 Goals and objectives
*6121 Nondiscrimination/affirmative action
*6141 Curriculum design/development
*6142.2 English as a second language; bilingual/bicultural

*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.