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School District 49

Career and College Software Platform Committee

Building a road map to success graphic

D49’s Applied and Advanced Learning (AAL) Department is continually seeking to improve our students’ experience as they plot their own course for the next exciting chapter of life after graduation. Right now, we need your valuable recommendations as we pursue a new online tool in our Career and College program to help learners design their personal roadmaps to success.

As part of our research, we are inviting community members, parents, students, and staff to join a team to dig into important questions such as:

  • What should this tool look like?
  • How can it help students discover potential career paths that match their interests and skills?
  • How can it provide families with access to relevant resources, such as college fairs, workshops, and financial aid information?

We will host a series of in-person committee meetings in early 2025 to begin developing this tool. As always, we are here to launch students to success, and committed to holding these conversations in collaboration with our stakeholders.

Committee Work Summary

The committee is tasked with identifying the essential features and functionalities that families, students, and community members desire in a new college and career software platform for the school district. Through research, stakeholder input, and prioritization, the committee will develop a detailed requirements document outlining the desired features for the new platform. This will ensure that the competition for the final product meets the needs of all stakeholders and supports the school district's college and career readiness goals.

Committee Goal: To identify the essential features and functionalities that families, students, and community members desire in a new college and career software platform for the school district.

Key Areas of Focus:

Student Needs and Goals:

  • Career Exploration: How can the platform help students discover potential career paths aligned with their interests and skills?

  • College Application Process: What features would streamline the college application process, including essay writing, financial aid, and scholarship searches?
  • Post-Secondary Planning: How can the platform assist students in making informed decisions about their post-secondary education and career options?

Family Involvement and Engagement:

  • Communication Tools: What features would facilitate effective communication between families, students, and school counselors?
  • Resource Access: How can the platform provide families with access to relevant resources, such as college fairs, workshops, and financial aid information?
  • Data Tracking: What data should be accessible to families to monitor their child's progress and engagement?

Community Partnerships:

  • Industry Connections: How can the platform foster connections between students and local businesses or industries?
  • Mentorship Programs: What features would support mentorship programs and networking opportunities?
  • Community Resources: How can the platform highlight community resources and services relevant to students' career goals?

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Committee Tasks:

  • Conduct Research: Gather information on existing college and career software platforms and their features.
  • Gather Stakeholder Input: Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups with students, families, teachers, counselors, and community members to identify their needs and preferences.
  • Prioritize Features: Based on the collected feedback, prioritize the most essential features and functionalities for the new platform.
  • Develop Requirements Document: Create a detailed document outlining the desired features, functionalities, and technical specifications for the new software platform.

Considerations:

  • Accessibility: Ensure the platform is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
  • Data Privacy: Protect the privacy and security of student and family data.
  • Integration: Consider how the new platform will integrate with other school systems and applications.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of different features and functionalities.

Interest Survey

If you are interested in participating in this committee, please fill out this form. 

Interest Form

Committee Formation and Timeline

We are seeking to form a committee of 10-15 individuals representing diverse perspectives, including students, teachers, school administrators, parents, community members, and business partners. The committee will meet for 3-4 one-hour sessions, with most meetings conducted via video conferencing and one in-person meeting. The goal is to complete the committee's work by the end of the first semester of the 24-25 school year and send the recommends to RFP in January.