Pathways were founded by the Kansas Department of Education. That, alongside career clusters, were created in hopes of students being able to discover what career they would like to pursue in the future. Pathways are used as a tool to create a plan for students regarding which classes they should take, considering their interests and future career.
There are 16 career clusters, and Salina South offers 14 pathways for those clusters. A career cluster displays the different careers that each pathway can veer off into.
Students are now able to start their journey for the future earlier, as the career program USD305 uses, Xello, is being introduced in late elementary and early middle school stages. Students use Xello to create an Individual Plan of Study (IPS), which will help them curate careers they would like to pursue.
According to senior counselor Jim Allen, following through with a pathway can greatly contribute to a student’s future. Completion of a pathway can give a student an Industry Recognized Certification, which could give them a leg up in the world. These certifications can help students post graduation by putting their resume at the top of the pile, because it can show interest and possibly training in the field.
For any questions about pathways and what courses are available within them, you can utilize the USD305 Enrollment Guide, on pages 31-36, or use a counselor.
