April-June Careers

Registration is now open! (opens in new window)

This year’s theme, Connecting Vision to Impact, is all about bringing leaders together to unpack Advance CTE’s new shared vision for the field and to explore how its principles will strengthen Career Technical Education (CTE) experiences and systems and empower learners at every level.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be harnessed to address emerging local, state, and regional problems, driving innovation and the renewal of America in our nation’s Golden Age.

The Presidential AI Challenge seeks to inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate and ignite a new spirit of innovation as we celebrate 250 years of independence and look forward to the next 250 years.

The Presidential AI Challenge will foster interest and expertise in AI technology in America's youth. Early training in the responsible use of AI tools will demystify this technology and prepare America’s students to be confident participants in the AI-assisted workforce, propelling our Nation to new heights of scientific innovation and economic achievement.

Student participants will complete a project that involves the study, development, or use of an AI method or tool to address community challenges, while educators will focus on creative approaches to teaching or using AI technologies in K-12 learning.

Register here (opens in new window)

NOCTI is seeking SMEs for the upcoming Production Agriculture test to begin this spring! Led by a trained NOCTI facilitator, SME teams develop standards and content to ensure NOCTI assessments reflect the latest tools, techniques, and skills needed for success. This work typically involves a series of web meetings and independent assignments, and involvement opportunities are flexible.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has a Career Opportunities page (opens in new window) that serves as a central hub for anyone interested in working in education across the state. Whether you are exploring current job openings, learning about recruitment initiatives, or looking into programs designed to attract and retain qualified educators, this page is a practical starting point for connecting people to Pennsylvania's educational system.

Looking for a way to help students gain real work experience while making a difference? The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps (opens in new window) is open to young people ages 15 to 25 and offers the chance to build new skills, earn paid job experience, and help improve Pennsylvania's public lands. It is a great opportunity to pass along to any students who might be interested.

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, America250PA (opens in new window) is honoring Pennsylvania's long legacy of commitment to education by awarding $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending in-state colleges and universities during the 2026-2027 academic year. Encourage your students to visit the America250PA Scholarship page (opens in new window) to learn more and apply.

The Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness PSA Challenge (opens in new window), sponsored by Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is a statewide competition inviting teams of students in grades 9 through 12 to create a video that makes the case for organ donation. Using the theme "The Power of 1," students will demonstrate how a single donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of 75 people through tissue donation. Entries are judged by members of the Organ Donation Advisory Committee.

The winning team of 2 to 4 students receives a $3,000 award, individual certificates, a traveling trophy and a permanent engraved trophy for their school, and an invitation to the Annual OTDA Spring Conference in State College on May 15, 2026.

The deadline to submit is 11:59 PM on April 13, 2026. Visit the OTDA Challenge website (opens in new window) for full details and judging criteria.

The Green Building Alliance (opens in new window) is inviting students to explore the world of sustainable design, construction, engineering, and green careers at their upcoming Youth Conferences. Each event runs from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and offers students a hands-on, career-focused day that includes an introduction to green building, interactive demonstrations, and a lunch-time career fair with industry professionals and educators.

Students who attend will come away with a foundational understanding of sustainable and high-performance building, exposure to careers across architecture, construction, engineering, and sustainability, and a chance to reflect on how their own skills and interests might connect to this growing field.

Two upcoming dates to save (dates are tentative and subject to change):

June 5, 2026 — Resilient & Healthy Spaces October 2, 2026 — Energy & Performance

Students are welcome to attend a single session or the full series, and transportation reimbursement is available. Reach out to info@gba.org (opens in new window) for more information.

The Career Ready PA Coalition continues to build momentum across Pennsylvania. In November, the session drew over 100 participants and featured Remake Learning's Executive Director Tyler Samstag, who shared the remarkable story of how a pancake breakfast conversation in Pittsburgh 20 years ago sparked a vision for remaking the way kids learn — and grew into a local, statewide, and global network celebrating innovative education.

The 2026 session launched on February 19 with greetings from Secretary Carrie Rowe and a spotlight on education champion Mount Pleasant Area School District and the Portals Project, a community collaboration using 3D visualization software from Case Technology to restore the historic L. E. Smith Glass Factory. More community champions are on the horizon throughout 2026.

Supporting all of this work are the Career Ready PA regional liaisons, who serve as points of contact across all 10 regions of the state, connecting schools and communities to career and workforce readiness opportunities and helping build equitable career pathways for all Pennsylvania learners.

To learn more, access presentations and recorded sessions, or connect with a regional liaison, visit the Career Ready PA Coalition website (opens in new window). Follow #CareerReadyPA to stay connected.

Expanding Opportunities and Strengthening PA’s Workforce: Shapiro Administration Invests Nearly $4.2 Million in Advanced Manufacturing Training Programs

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, through the Apprenticeship and Training Office, has announced the grantees of the Supporting Pennsylvania’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Through Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships Grant Program. The grant period officially began on January 1, 2026. The official announcement can be found here: Press Release (opens in new window)

Any questions may be submitted to: atogrants@pa.gov (opens in new window)

The National Career Clusters Framework (opens in new window), maintained by Advance CTE, is a nationally recognized structure designed to help students explore careers and connect their education to the world of work. Originally created in 2002 and modernized in 2024 after two years of input and validation, the Framework serves as a shared foundation for designing consistent, high-quality Career Technical Education programs across the United States.

The modernized Framework organizes careers into 14 Clusters and 72 Sub-Clusters, grouped under six broad purpose-driven categories that help students align their interests and values with career direction: Building & Moving, Caring for Communities, Connecting & Supporting Success, Creating & Experiencing, Cultivating Resources, and Investing in the Future. Three Cross-Cutting Clusters address skills and careers that intersect across multiple fields, and twelve Career Ready Practices — drawn from a meta-analysis of over 30 industry and education skill sets — are woven throughout to ensure every student builds the foundational competencies needed in any career.

The 14 Career Clusters span a wide range of industries, including Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Digital Technology, Healthcare & Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Financial Services, Arts & Design, Public Service & Safety, and more.

For school counselors, the Framework is a practical tool for career advising conversations, helping students at any stage connect their interests and strengths to specific pathways, programs, and ultimately, careers. The site also offers implementation resources, a guidebook, and support for educators looking to integrate the Framework into their work.

Longwood Gardens: A Hidden Gem for Career Coordinators

Longwood Gardens' Pre-K–12 Teacher & Student Programs (opens in new page) page is far more than a field trip resource — for career coordinators, it is a practical gateway to authentic career exploration in the growing green industry.

Career Exploration Built Right In

Longwood offers a dedicated career shadowing program for high school students specifically designed to help fulfill career-shadowing graduation requirements, giving coordinators a ready-made, meaningful option to connect students with real-world professionals in horticulture, design, conservation, engineering, and operations. The gardens themselves serve as a living classroom where students can observe careers in action across multiple fields.

Outreach to Your School

One of the most valuable features for career coordinators is Longwood's offer to bring interactive career exhibits directly to schools. Their team of educators will come to career fairs, STEM nights, and family nights to engage students in grades Pre-K through 12 with hands-on exploration of careers in the green industry, hydroponics, plant propagation, and more. Travel is limited to within 20 miles of Kennett Square, PA, so this is worth checking for schools in that radius.

Free and Accessible

Field trips are free for school groups of 15 or more students, and a Title I grant is available to reimburse up to $500 per school bus for transportation costs — removing one of the most common barriers to participation. Programs are available for every grade band from Pre-K through 12, and an Accessible Garden Discovery Program ensures students with disabilities or those needing supportive services are fully included.

Teen Volunteer Program

For coordinators looking to help students build leadership skills and explore long-term career interests, Longwood's Teen Volunteer Program offers teens an ongoing opportunity to develop professionally while connecting with others in a meaningful environment.

Spring 2026 Field Trips

Field trips for Spring 2026 are available from March 11 through June 11, 2026, with both educator-guided and self-guided options. For questions, contact Longwood at k12@longwoodgardens.org or 610-388-5223.

The 2026 PennACE Annual Conference (opens in new window) is taking place May 19-21, 2026 in State College, PA at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. Themed "Purpose, Pathways and Possibilities: Empowering People for a Changing World of Work," the three-day in-person event brings together career development professionals from across Pennsylvania for engaging speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and social events. PACDA members can register at a discounted rate. Visit the event page for full registration details and the conference schedule.

ACEC/ PA's Western Region STEAM Day

Description: This event is open to middle school students who like building things, solving puzzles and making ideas come to life. There will be hand-on activities and opportunities to get up close with some of the large equipment. Lunch is included and space will be limited.

Where: Commonwealth Charter Academy 162 East Bridge Street Homestead, PA 15120-5003 United States

When: Friday, April 17, 20269:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Contact Information:amy.mcshane@aiu3.net, https://www.acecpa.org/events/steam-day-in-western-pa-4172026 (opens in new window)

Math Options Career Day

Description: The Math Options program, a math, science, technology, engineering, and business career day for seventh- and eighth-grade students, was designed to provide information on careers in these fields to students at a time when they are making important academic decisions. Students from schools in Erie, Crawford, Potter, Venango, and Warren counties attend the Math Options program. Membership or participation in this program is not limited by sex or gender. This program is open to all applicants who satisfy its academic criteria. Purpose Studies have shown that students who do not take upper-level math courses in junior and senior high school are often limited in choosing college majors and, subsequently, careers. This is true not only of jobs directly related to mathematics and science but also of careers that require academic preparation for math and science, including the social and medical sciences. Moreover, since many young people change their career goals several times during the college years, we strongly advocate the study of mathematics and science throughout high school for all students so they will have as many college major and career options as possible. https://behrend.psu.edu/research-outreach/youth-education-outreach/k-12-outreach-events/math-options (opens in new window)

Where: Penn State Behrend, 4701 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563

When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Contact Information:YouthOutreach@psu.edu; 814-898-6871.