Career Connections is the Educational Advisory Group for the region that includes Lansing, East Lansing, and the counties of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton. The group (see Board Information on this site), appointed by Capital Area Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, is charged with the oversight of the implementation of the Career Preparation System in the area’s school districts. Their philosophy is that whether or not a student goes on to college, they will become part of the workforce at some time, and the Michigan Career Preparation System can help them graduate from high school prepared, motivated and focused on the future.

What the Career Preparation System Is:

• Begins in elementary school by teaching students age-appropriate ways of making informed choices about their futures
• Continues through college or technical school by providing students strategies to help develop their academic, technical and employability skills
• Involves students, parents, teachers, business and the community in the career exploration process

What the Career Preparation System Does:

• Expands students’ educational choices
• Ensures that career preparation is part of students’ educational system
• Increases involvement of private sector and community organizations
• Establishes systems standards to ensure accountability

How the Career Preparation System Works for Students:

Academic Preparation
Provides meaningful academic experiences by presenting coursework in real world contexts.

Career Development
Encourages career awareness, exploration, decision-making, and educational planning that result in life-long career planning skills.

Workplace Readiness/Learning
Offers opportunities to apply academic, team building, personal management, problem-solving and technology skills in real work settings.

Education and Training Options
Provides a wide variety of education and training options both during and after high school, resulting in successful preparation for any career.

The current fiscal agent is Ingham Intermediate School District. As such, they administer the Career Preparation grant that is awarded each year by the Michigan Department of Career Development.

Through the school districts, a Regional Implementation Group (RIG) was formed to coordinate with school districts in developing curriculum for implementing Career Pathways into the system. See Career Pathways on this site.

Contact Information

Ingham Intermediate School District
Sandy Carter
517-244-1307
email: scarter@gov.ingham.k12.mi.us