eCTE Career Exploration
Career Exploration and Introduction to Early CTE Knowledge and Skills
- Grades 6-8 - Download
The Arizona Career Literacy Standards were created in 2019 and updated and renamed Career Exploration and Introduction to Early (eCTE) Career and Technical Education for Grades 6-8 in June 2024. This update includes the investigation of career clusters, occupations, jobs, and employability skills, as well, as the introduction to high school CTE programs.
Family & Consumer Science Career Cluster Knowledge and Skills
- Grades 6-8 - Download
Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) career knowledge and skills were developed in 2024 by a committee of teachers and administrators from grades 6-12. The content of this document introduces students to careers in Culinary, Hospitality, Fashion, and Interior Design in preparation for high school academic studies and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
| Advanced Manufacturing Career areas: engineering, robotics, industrial machinery, production | Employability/Professional Skills Career areas: all |
| Agriculture Career areas: plant, animal, and water systems | Family & Consumer Sciences Career areas: eCTE Culinary, Hospitality, Fashion, and Interior design |
| Construction Career areas: architecture, equipment operation, and skilled trades | Healthcare & Human Services Career areas: mental and physical healthcare, biotechnology, personal care |
| Digital Technology Career areas: software solutions, network, cybersecurity, IT support, data science | Management & Entrepreneurship Career areas: business, leadership and management, entrepreneurship |
My Future AZ: Career exploration and discovery tool for Arizona middle school students. My Future AZ provides visibility of local high school CTE courses to enable students to make informed choices about high school careers. Middle School Get Started Guide
Defined Learning: Hands-on career experiences through ready-made project-based learning.
Career Addict: How to Choose the Right Career Path in 7 Simple Steps.
Edge Factor: Inspires people to explore, prepare, and connect on their Career Journey.
Possible Futures Career Exploration: Center for the Future of AZ (CFA) - Committed to building systems of college and career pathways for Arizona students. CFA's Pathways team offers services to support the launch and scaling of career exploration programs.
Junior Achievement of Arizona for Middle School - JA Inspire: Our dynamic career development experiences provide middle school students access to local employers, post-secondary education opportunities, and interactive career activities.
Arizona Career Exploration and Development (ACED) Project: Curriculum developed for students to explore career pathways using career media and interactive activities suitable for both classroom and virtual learning settings. Explore our engaging curriculums to impart inspiring real-life stories, assign interactive activities, and access downloadable lesson plans.
Exploring: Career Exploration Lessons for 6th – 7th grades. Aims to teach important life and career skills to young people from all backgrounds through immersive career experiences.
Educator Pro Connect: Providing teachers with industry and STEM professional connections. An online resource from the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office. Free to all teachers and professionals in Arizona.
Discovery Education: Giving educators innovative ways to design and deliver engaging learning experiences every day. Boeing Virtual Field Trip
iCEV Middle School Curriculum: Digital literacy and career exploration lessons tied to the AZ Career Literacy Standards.
American School Counselor Association (ASCA): Middle School Career Conversations: "When thinking of your future, are there any skills you would like to further develop?" - English ~ Spanish
Career Exploration: “What Problem do you want to solve?”
Please note: The Arizona Department of Education does not endorse curriculum. The curricular resources on this webpage are posted for teacher consideration and offer instructional ideas to teach Career Awareness.
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE): Career Exploration in Middle School, Setting Students on the Path to Success
Advance CTE: Design Principles for Middle School CTE
America Student Assistance (ASA): National Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration
eDynamic Learning: How Career Exploration Can Change a Student's Path in Life
