Oct-Dec 2026

Mark your calendars for the 2026-2027 Careers Collaborative:

November 3, 2026, TBD

January 12, 2027, @ICTC

March 9, 2027, @Marion Center Area Junior/Senior High School

May 4, 2027, TBD

(Visit ARIN's Course Registration site (opens in new window) to register for the trainings)

KEYSTONE SCHOLARS jumpstarts educational savings by providing a $100 scholarship for every child born to a PA family in 2019 and later for future education. The scholarship can be used between the ages of 18-29 for post-high school technical, collegiate, apprenticeship, and credentialing educational expenses.

You can encourage parents to claim their child’s account (opens in new window). Only three pieces of information are needed:

o Child’s date of birth,

o Zip code on file when child was born, and

o State File Number from child’s PA birth certificate.

Once claimed, parents may open a companion PA 529 account to contribute their own savings! Families can start savings with as little as $1/month.

Act 47 of 2025 established a statewide FAFSA completion requirement. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, all Pennsylvania high school seniors will be required to file the FAFSA unless a parent, guardian, or eligible student submits a completed opt-out form. This puts direct implementation responsibility on schools.

Schools should designate a district FAFSA lead, review guidance to develop local implementation plans, and ensure students and families receive FAFSA information no later than the start of senior year. PDE and PHEAA have been running counselor webinars to support this rollout.

Currently, 57.5% of PA high school seniors completed the FAFSA last year, so there's a meaningful gap to close before this becomes universal.

PDE revised its guidance in July 2025 on identifying and reporting industry-based learning credentials for non-CTE students. Anyone supporting the Evidence-Based or CTE graduation pathways should make sure they're working from the updated guidance document.

Read more here (opens in new window).

A free event open to all high school students. Students can register in advance to receive a barcode that lets them quickly share their information with colleges they're interested in.

October 7, 2026, 6:00–7:30 PM ET

Robert Morris University, UPMC Events Center

6001 University Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15108 (opens in new window)

Register: www.StriveFair.com (opens in new window)

Questions? Contact Caitlin Engel at engel@rmu.edu or 412-397-5218

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's 2026 SAS Institute is scheduled for December 6-9, 2026, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

The SAS Institute convenes educational leaders from across the Commonwealth for four days of professional learning focused on strengthening systems, advancing instructional leadership, and improving organizational health.

Click here to register. (Link opens in new window)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's "Career Opportunities" page (opens in new window) offers resources for individuals interested in educational careers within the state. It provides information on current job openings, recruitment initiatives, and recognition programs aimed at attracting and retaining qualified educators. The page serves as a central hub for those seeking to contribute to Pennsylvania's educational system.

For the most up-to-date listings and detailed information, please visit the official page. (opens in new window)

The career fair will be held on April 1, 2027; more information is forthcoming.

Join NCWIT and PaTTAN CSinPA initiative for a full-day professional learning experience designed to help middle and high school counselors, CTE advisors, career coaches, educators, and other professionals involved in student advising or cybersecurity career preparation better understand the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity and the educational pathways available to students.

WHEN & WHERE

Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3
Address: 475 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120
*Look for more dates and locations for the Spring of 2027 Sessions.

Click Here to Register (opens in new window)

About the Workshop

Cybersecurity careers extend far beyond coding. The field needs individuals with a wide range of interests and skills. These skills include problem-solving, communication, creativity, leadership, risk management, and technical expertise.

Through conversations with K–12 education, higher education, workforce, and industry partners, participants will explore:

• Cybersecurity careers and current workforce trends
• Industry-recognized certifications and credentials
• Career and Technical Education opportunities
• Postsecondary programs and degree pathways
• K–12 learning experiences that prepare students for success
• Strategies for increasing awareness and expanding access to cybersecurity opportunities

Counselors will leave better prepared to help students recognize how their strengths, interests, and experiences can connect to careers in cybersecurity and other technology-related fields.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Explore current cybersecurity workforce trends and high-demand career opportunities.
• Identify K–12, postsecondary, certification, and industry pathways available to students interested in cybersecurity.
• Recognize the important role school counselors play in expanding student access to cybersecurity education and careers.
• Examine strategies for promoting equitable and inclusive participation in cybersecurity pathways.
• Access resources that can be used to support career conversations with students and families.

What You’ll Receive

• Insights from expert panelists representing K–12 education, higher education, industry, and workforce development
• Practical strategies and resources for supporting student career exploration
• Information about certifications, CTE programs, and postsecondary pathways
• Free cybersecurity career resources to use with students
• Act 48 professional development hours

No previous cybersecurity experience is required.

If you have any questions, please reach out to csforall@pattan.net.

The Careers in Your Community Challenge (opens in new window) invites high schools to design student-led solutions that improve how students explore careers, education pathways, and local opportunities. Rather than relying on generic tools built for broad audiences, this challenge puts students in the driver's seat to build something that actually reflects the questions they are asking and the gaps they see. Winning solutions might be a digital tool, a guide, an event, a new employer partnership, or something entirely original.

A few details that matter for planning:

Eligibility: Schools must be eligible for Perkins V funding to participate. You do not need to currently receive Perkins V funds, just be eligible.

Timeline: Submissions open now and are due by 6:00 p.m. ET on November 19, 2026.

Prize: Up to 10 winning teams will split a $50,000 prize pool, with winners announced in early 2027.

I am happy to help think through a submission if your school wants to pursue this. Let me know if you would like more information or want to discuss next steps.

The ACCL received funding from United Way and are now advertising for a full-time ACCL Program Coordinator to help to implement this initiative and advance the goals outlined in the ACCL’s strategic plan. The position will focus on workforce development, career awareness, community education, employer and educational partnerships and other ACCL programming.

The complete job description is also available at www.armstrongcenter.org. (click on link to open new window)

To apply, candidates should email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to justin@armstrongcenter.org.

Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled.

October 1 and 2, 2026
Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College, PA

The Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators is proud to announce its annual Workshop for Career and Technical Education School Counselors. The workshop will focus on increasing access for students to career and technical education and assisting them in the transition to careers and postsecondary education. The workshop will be held from 11:00 a.m. on October 1 to Noon on October 2 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College.

NOTE: Although this workshop is designed primarily for CTE School Counselors, it is open to all PACTA members.

Date and Location
The workshop will be held at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, 215 Innovation Boulevard, State College. Registration will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on October 1. The workshop will start at 11:00 a.m. on October 1 and end at Noon on October 2.

Registration (opens in new window)
The cost of the workshop is $245.00 for PACTA members and $275.00 for non-members. This includes lunch on October 1, a continental breakfast on October 2, refreshments, and all resource materials. The deadline for registration is September 25, 2026. Register online or complete a PDF registration form.

Accommodations
A block of rooms for workshop participants has been reserved at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center for the evenings of September 30 and October 1. The rates are $159.00 single occupancy and double occupancy. Individuals are responsible for making reservations for hotel accommodations. Identify yourself as part of the PACTA group when making reservations. The group reservation identification number is PACT26B. Make your reservations by August 30, 2026. Reservations made after that date will be on an as available basis at regular rates. The telephone number for the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center is (800) 233-7505, email reservations@psu.edu.

Roundtable Discussion Session
Time has been set aside on the agenda for a participant interaction session, better known as a roundtable discussion Session. In order to organize this session, your input as to topics you would like to discuss is needed. Planning will also take place during this session for follow-up regional activities. Please complete the Roundtable Session Input Form and e-mail it to info@pacareertech.org by September 25, 2026.

For further information, contact (717) 761-3381 or info@pacareertech.org.

Workshop participants will be awarded Act 48 credit.