Skills that are essential for students to be successful and competitive in the real world, sometomes called the 4 C's: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.

One of three categories of employability skills, in addition to "effective relationships" and "workplace skills," defined by the U.S. Department of Education; consists of the ability to apply academic knowledge and critical thinking skills on the job.

A test that measures a person's ability or capacity to learn and develop skills in a particular area. Note: The ACT and SAT tests that some colleges require as part of their admissions process aren't aptitude tests; they focus on what students learned in high school.

In the context of Y4Y's career pathways approach, an activity type that provides opportunities for students to learn about themselves (e.g., interests, strengths, aspirations), education and career options, and real-world job expectations. The other activity types are "exploration" and "preparation."

Defined by the National Center for Education Statistics as high school courses and college programs that focus on the skills and knowledge for specific jobs or fields of work.

Sixteen categories of occupations, divided into specific career paths, as described in the National Career Clusters Framework. If students find clusters that interest them, they can choose high school and college courses that will help prepare them for those career categories.

Defined by Y4Y as an approach that provides awareness, exploration and preparation experiences to help students find their own career pathways, which may include college, the trades, the military or workforce advancement.

What a partner or parent will see, hear and feel when they come into your program. The climate will demonstrate what your organization values.  

Readiness for postsecondary success; the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to succeed in educational and career pursuits. Through the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), each state developed its own definition of college and career readiness.

Ongoing review and adjustment of program activities to refine delivery and improve outcomes. Continuous improvement models present a cyclical process with steps for planning, implementing, assessing, and revising activity design and delivery, as needed.

The patterns of beliefs, practices and traditions associated with a group of people. Culture affects a child's development; societal, institutional and cultural norms for developmental stages may differ.

A problem-solving approach that's similar to the engineering design process as well as the creative process used in the arts. Students can use design thinking to develop a product that solves a real-world problem, or to create something people value and find meaningful. The process has five components: (1) empathize — research users' needs (2) define — state users' needs, (3) ideate — challenge your assumptions and document ideas, (4) prototype — create solutions, and (5) test, refine, repeat — try out solutions. The design thinking process includes five components.

The tendency to think or act in a particular way.

One of three categories of employability skills, in addition to "applied knowledge" and "workplace skills," defined by the U.S. Department of Education; consists of interpersonal skills and personal qualities that enable a person to work well with clients, colleagues and supervisors.

These activities provide opportunities to practice literacy skills or concepts in the context of another academic activity, academic enrichment activity or routine. Embedded instruction may be easier to deliver to groups of students who have mixed abilities.

Defined in the U.S. Department of Education’s Employability Skills Framework as skills all high school graduates need: (a) applied academic knowledge and critical thinking; (b) effective relationship skills, including interpersonal skills and personal qualities; and (c) workplace skills like time management.

A career path that involves starting and managing a business while bearing most of the risks and receiving all or most of the rewards. Entrepreneurs are often innovators who create a new product, service, idea or procedure.

These activities focus primarily on direct teaching of concepts and skills. While it doesn’t mean teaching isolated facts and procedures, it does mean that literacy is the main area of academic focus.

In the context of Y4Y's career pathways approach, a type of activity that provides opportunities for students to actively explore education options (including college), career options (including the trades, the military, the workforce and entrepreneurship), and learn which options seem like a good fit. The other two activity types are "awareness" and "preparation."

Students who are in the first generation of their families to go to college and thus may face specific challenges in applying and being prepared for postsecondary education. First-generation students can come from low-income families or from middle- or high-income families without a college-going tradition. Some students may come from families who speak languages other than English at home or from cultures outside the U.S. with different education systems. 

An assessment that helps people identify suitable careers by matching their interests with the interests of people in particular jobs.

Registration as a student candidate in a degree program at an educational institution such as a college or university. Matriculated students have applied and have been accepted into a specific degree program, may quality for financial aid and may earn credits to graduate with a degree from the college or university.

A term used by the CEO of IBM in 2016 to describe jobs that require more skills than typical blue-collar jobs but not the four-year degree required for most white-collar jobs.

A federal law (the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act) that includes the opportunity to connect Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) for grades 5-8 with afterschool programs.

Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.  Students have this quality or demonstrate this behavior to reach a desired goal such as college success or graduation. 

In the context of the Y4Y career pathways approach, an activity type that provides opportunities for students to learn how to learn, solve problems, communicate, work in diverse teams, manage their time, set career goals, create a plan and follow through. Students develop applied academic knowledge and critical thinking, effective relationship and workplace skills, and plans that will move them toward their career goals. The other two activity types are "awareness" and "exploration."

A student-directed learning strategy by which young learners explore topics of high interest to them through in-depth learning experiences lasting more than three (3) days.

A coaching technique that uses questions and dialogue to help someone clarify thinking, set realistic goals and expectations, or make a decision.

A 42-item, behaviorally oriented work assessment instrument deeveloped by psychologist John Holland. It's based on six personality categories: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional (RIASEC).

A career readiness approach with three key components: (a) alignment of classroom and workplace learning; (b) application of academic, technical and employability skills in a work setting; and (c) support from classroom or workplace mentors.

A range of activities, policies and programs employed by economies and employers to create, sustain and retain a viable workforce that can support current and future business and industry.

WIOA is landmark federal legislation designed to strengthen and improve the nation's public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.

One of three categories of employability skills, in addition to "applied knowledge" and "effective relationships," defined by the U.S. Department of Education; consists of the abilities people need to accomplish tasks on the job, like managing time and resources.