NYC Parents Want Career Aptitude Assessments for All High Schoolers

""It helps with the ever popular question of 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'" said Lawrence Lee, one of the sponsors of the resolution the Citywide Council on High Schools passed this week. "It's a big world with lots of different options and choices. I think many people look around and think their choices are only what they can see around them.""

"They believe the career aptitude assessments can help students reflect on their choices to improve how they select courses and work toward real-world goals. "By 11th grade, those decisions directly affect college applications, workforce credentials, and financial planning. Rather than leave those moments to chance, these assessments can give students the agency to better understand their own talents and to see multiple futures for themselves," said Deborah Alexander, one of the resolution's sponsors."

"New York City schools, like other schools across the state and nation, are increasingly focusing on career education. There are more than 130 career and technical schools plus over 260 career and technical programs offering internships, apprenticeships, and job-focused courses across the five boroughs. But often, students are left to navigate a complicated application process without guidance on how various programs, electives, internships, career and technical tracks, and postsecondary paths might align with long-term goals, the high school council board members said."

New York City high schools are increasing focus on career education, with more than 130 career and technical schools and over 260 programs offering internships, apprenticeships, and job-focused courses. A parent board overseeing high schools passed a resolution calling on the Education Department to implement career aptitude assessments for all ninth and 11th graders. Board members said assessments would help students reflect on talents, align program and course choices with long-term goals, and inform college, credential, and financial planning. Sponsors emphasized that assessments can give students agency to see multiple futures. Education Department officials said they will review the resolution and noted existing interactive career-exploration platforms.

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