Strengthening Ohio's Career Connected Learning Framework

In May, the Montgomery County ESC (MCESC) welcomed educators and school leaders from across the region for a Career Connected Learning Lab, a workshop focused on Ohio’s updated Career Connected Learning Framework.

Developed and hosted by MCESC Career Connected Learning & Workforce Career Navigators,the event provided participants with practical tools, strategies, and collaborative planning time to strengthen high-quality career experiences across all K–12 grade levels. Throughout the day, district teams collaborated and explored the four core phases of career development:

Awareness: Helping younger students discover what is possible.

Exploration: Guiding middle-grade students as they research and align interests.

Preparation: Providing high school students with targeted, career-focused learning.

Participation: Connecting students to real-world, hands-on workforce experiences.

By the end of the workshop, participants walked away with actionable next steps to ensure local students are equipped with meaningful experiences that directly connect classroom learning to future career pathways.

It was an exciting and informative day, centered on collaboration, innovation, and preparing southwest Ohio students for lifelong success. We are incredibly proud of the impactful work these Career Navigators continue to lead in supporting regional schools and workforce readiness.

Learn to Earn Dayton is a proud partner of this important work, and we are thankful to the investments from Gates Foundation, BlackRock Foundation, and StriveTogether's Pathway Impact Fund who have helped make career navigation possible in many partner districts.