The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework
By the end of the 5th grade
A student should be exposed to:
- The different methods of payment (e.g., cash, credit, debit)
- How to set long and short-term goals for savings
- Practices that develop a growth mindset
A student should be supported to:
By the end of the 6th grade
A student should be exposed to:
- Information and examples of wide range of careers
- How to compare and prioritize needs and wants
A student should be supported to:
- Explore their interests in jobs
- Explore incomes of different careers
By the end of the 7th grade
A student should be exposed to:
- The benefits of financial responsibility and the costs of financial irresponsibility
- How to analyze situations to determine if they represent financially responsible decisions
A student should be supported to:
- Understand a budget and the salary need to meet basic needs
- Explore their strengths
- Identify one trusted adult the student can go to in time of need and success
By the end of the 8th grade
A student should be exposed to:
- Employability skills
- Understand criteria to get into college of choice
- Research postsecondary and tuition options
- Participate in resume building skills
A student should be supported to:
- Attend career exploration events
- Read a sample pay stub
- Understand how to earn postsecondary credit in high school
- Understand relationship between grades and attendance in postsecondary choices
- Memorize/basic profile information (legal name, address, phone numbers, etc)
By the end of the 9th grade
A student should be supported to:
- Understand career clusters and related careers
- Compare and contrast strengths and weaknesses with career choice
- Research career and labor market information and opportunities
- Research career prerequisites and opportunities to learn
- Understand criteria to apply for scholarships
- Create a mock budget
A student should know:
- Complete career and labor market information and opportunities
- Transition planning with BBS Counselor (occurs annually via the IEP process until student leaves ISVI)
- Participate in resume building opportunities
- Understand what debt and credit (specifically a debit card vs. a credit card)
By the end of the 10th grade
A student should be supported to:
- Identify a career pathway
- Understand business communication (resume, email, etc.)
- Work a summer and/or part-time job (look at the home district area and compose letters)
- Attend a career exploration opportunity
- Research career prerequisites and opportunities to learn
- Learn professional etiquette
- Select related high school courses to postsecondary plan
- Understand different banking relationships
- Analyze cost effectiveness of career and lifestyle choices
- Set goals for saving
A student should know:
- Participate in mock interview process
- Write a resume
- Understand the job application process and terms
By the end of the 11th grade
A student should be supported to:
- Complete a job shadowing experience in field of interest
- Revisit career clusters
- Visit one or more workplace
- Speak with recruiters, college representatives and trade representatives
- Identify postsecondary plans related to interests
- Take at least one college entrance exam
- Research and understand different types of financial aid
- Understand real cost of postsecondary options
A student should know:
- Research career prerequisites and opportunities to learn
- Refine resume
- Attend a college fair
- Ensure coursework aligns with postsecondary option
- the different types of post-secondary option including the workforce
By the end of the 12th grade
A student should be supported to:
- Explore internship opportunities
- Research career prerequisites and opportunities to learn--years in college, credential required, tuition or payment costs
- Plan at least two college visits (related to postsecondary options)
- Educate parents and students on financial responsibility related to college tuition, credential programs or job force preparation costs
- Compare and contrast aid offer (until they accept the award)
- Apply for grants or scholarships available
A student should know:
- Make a finalized copy of resume
- Complete community service opportunities
- Complete and submit one workforce application and/or one college application
- Earn postsecondary credit--AP, dual-credit, honors courses.
- Connect with a mentor, in student's college or career area of interest
- Complete most tax and insurance forms
- Complete and understand FAFSA
- About paying bills in a timely manner and how it can impact credit scores
*This is a foundation for ISVI's PACE Framework. ISVI is a 100% special education setting, therefore, each student has highly individualized plan.
