College and Career Readiness Toolkit

The pathways toward careers and college can be complex to navigate. Some pathways require early decisions in coursework. College and other post-secondary choices are directly related to family finances, planning, eligibility for aid, and accessibility of completing aid forms. Financial challenges are just part of the list of barriers facing first-generation college goers, including racial disparities, unfamiliarity with college cultures, and lack of broader support networks.

This toolkit provides practical resources, information, and activities for out-of-school time programs to move through this continuum, starting with foundational skills, career and college readiness culture building, and awareness. It also provides how-to’s on building partnerships with colleges and industry to make the transition to applied learning that prepares students for next steps.