Virginia Department of Education
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Career Connections
Office of Career and Technical Education
Career Connections is the area designed
to help students prepare for careers and continuing education in a challenging and rapidly changing
workplace. This service area provides connecting links for students in pursuit of career development
and related career information resources. Connecting links include pathways, program models, or processes
that lead to, or point the way to, career goals. The total concept of Career Connections includes the
components of career information resources, career development, and career connecting links.
Career Information Resources
Career information resources include organizations/associations, agencies, representatives of
technical and professional fields, mentors, and other individuals and groups who provide career-
related services.
Career Development
Career development refers to the on-going process of preparing for and adapting to changes in life
roles, with emphasis on occupational and related roles. Examples of instructional units that support
career development are Careers and You, Career Pathways, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, and
the program area of Education for Employment. In addition, Career Connections provides opportunities
for the vocational program mix.
Career Connecting Links
At the secondary level, career connecting links blend instruction with program models that provide
for actual or simulated work-based experiences planned to apply classroom instruction to real-life
employment situations and requirements. These links include the primary program models of:
Various combinations of these career preparation pathways result in multiple continuing education connections.
CTE Clusters Coordinator
Anne.Rowe@doe.virginia.gov
Office of Career and Technical Education Services
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
804 225-2838 (office)
804 371-2456 (fax)
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