Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Grades 6-8

Other Maryland Career Development Framework For College and Career Readiness sets

Self-Awareness – Students shall acquire and apply self-knowledge in order to develop personal, learning and career goals.1

  • A

    Acquire and apply self-knowledge to understand one’s abilities, strengths, interests, skills, and talents as seen by self and others.1.A

    1. 1a

      Demonstrate behavior and decisions that reflect interests, likes and dislikes.1.A.1a

    2. 1b

      Identify abilities, strengths, skills and talents as seen by self and others and explain the significance to education and career plans.1.A.1b

    3. 2

      Demonstrate and evaluate behaviors that show selfconfidence, self-efficacy, and a positive self-concept. 1.A.2

    4. 3

      Engage in behaviors and express attitudes that positively affect self-concept and the self-concept of others.1.A.3

  • B

    Demonstrate positive interpersonal skills and respect for diversity to facilitate one’s career development.1.B

    1. 1

      Assess the degree to which interactions and feedback is used to adjust behavior in group activities in a way that is honest, fair, helpful, and respectful.1.B.1

    2. 2

      Demonstrate personal responsibility for actions including dealing with outside pressures and contributing to group activities. 1.B.2

    3. 3

      Analyze the impact of academic achievement on the ability to work cooperatively in a group.1.B.3

    4. 4

      Identify and resolve conflicts and bring to consensus when appropriate.1.B.4

    5. 5

      Demonstrate, problem-solve and evaluate communication experiences and use of effective strategies such as paraphrasing, reflections, active listening, and assertive communication.1.B.5

  • C

    Recognize that growth and change are integral parts of the career development process.1.C

    1. 1

      Recognize that growth and change in mind and body is experienced throughout life. 1.C.1

    2. 2a

      Identify situations and access resources, including other people, to seek assistance when needed.1.C.2a

    3. 2b

      Recognize that external events often cause life changes.1.C.2b

    4. 2c

      Identify motivations and aspirations.1.C.2c

    5. 3

      Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility when initiating or responding to change.1.C.3

    6. 4

      Recognize that one’s motivations and aspirations are likely to change with time and circumstances.1.C.4

  • D

    Apply self-knowledge to decision-making and goal-setting.1.D

    1. 1a

      Demonstrate an awareness of strategic thinking to make effective decisions about goals for learning and performance.1.D.1a

    2. 1b

      Assess career and academic interests to make decisions about academic course selection and career program of study choices.1.D.1b

    3. 1c

      Analyze financial choices based on available resources, needs, and wants for goods and services.1.D.1c

Career Awareness – Students shall use the Maryland Career Clusters and career pathways including Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs of study in order to understand their relationship to educational achievement and life-long learning.2

  • A

    Analyze/compare the industries represented in Maryland’s 10 Career Clusters and how they relate to the needs and functions of the economy and society.2.A

    1. 1a

      Identify career clusters and related CTE programs of study.2.A.1a

    2. 1b

      Describe how career clusters relate to the needs and functions of Maryland’s economy.2.A.1b

    3. 1c

      Research occupations and careers within each career cluster and identify academic and CTE programs of study to inform academic and career planning2.A.1c

    4. 2

      Compare/contrast the shift in the work organization of the 21st century versus the past.2.A.2

  • B

    Understand the connections among educational achievement, lifelong learning and the career options across career pathways.2.B

    1. 1a

      Use knowledge of one’s learning style, positive attitude, and behaviors to improve educational attainment and adjust behavior, when needed, to maximize achievement.2.B.1a

    2. 1b

      Identify the connections between one’s educational achievement and personal and career goals.2.B.1b

    3. 2a

      Assess one’s educational achievement and explain how it impacts on the selection and attainment of career options to develop personal and career goals.2.B.2a

    4. 2b

      Use study skills, strategies and learning habits to improve achievement.2.B.2b

    5. 2c

      Use technology to access, store, manage, analyze, and communicate information to enhance and improve achievement.2.B.2c

  • C

    Understand how accurate, current and unbiased career information is necessary for successful career planning and management using career clusters.2.C

    1. 1a

      Recognize the relevance of career information to career planning including, knowledge about career clusters and related economic information, career options, education degrees, and training requirements.2.C.1a

    2. 1b

      Recognize that there are a variety of resources available which vary in quality such as accuracy, bias, timeliness and impartiality.2.C.1b

    3. 2

      Investigate career clusters and career options, including those that may be nontraditional (i.e. relative to one’s gender, race, culture, or ability.)2.C.2

    4. 3

      Evaluate assessments of personal career results to knowledge of self and career clusters. 2.C.3

  • D

    Recognize that decision-making is an important part of an individual’s career development.2.D

    1. 1a

      Identify resources for gathering career information relevant to making a decision.2.D.1a

    2. 1b

      Examine the relationships among education, skills, career choices, economic conditions and income.2.D.1b

    3. 2

      Recognize how one’s personal priorities (e.g. financial, educational, leisure) are part of one’s decision-making.2.D.2

    4. 3

      Negotiate alternatives and their outcomes to make informed decisions. 2.D.3

    5. 4

      Explain how decision-making may involve compromise and cite examples.2.D.4

  • E

    Understand that balancing personal, leisure, community, learner and work roles is an important part of one’s career development.2.E

    1. 1

      Explore that one has personal, leisure, community, work roles, and responsibilities which must be balanced and that there are many ways to do so.2.E.1

    2. 2

      N/A2.E.2

Career Exploration – Students shall assess career cluster choices and related career pathways including Career Technology Education (CTE) programs of study in order to develop an academic and career plan.3

  • A

    Prepare an academic and career plan based on high school graduation requirements, a sequence of Career Technology Education (CTE) program of study courses, related academics and postsecondary options.3.A

    1. 1

      Develop an academic and career plan that includes postsecondary options.3.A.1

    2. 2

      Explore the requirements for effective transition from one learning level to the next (i.e. middle to high school and high school to postsecondary).3.A.2

    3. 3

      Investigate program sequences for career clusters including CTE programs of study of interest that overlap with other career pathways.3.A.3

    4. 4

      Explore specific learning experiences within and across career clusters.3.A.4

    5. 5

      Select options for further education and/or training (i.e. dual enrollment, articulated credit, advanced placement, certification, two-year colleges, four-year colleges, apprenticeships, and technical schools).3.A.5

  • B

    Use a process/model for knowing and thinking about how one makes decisions.3.B

    1. 1

      Explain/apply steps of a decision-making model to inform academic and career planning.3.B.1

    2. 2

      Identify how cultural beliefs and attitudes impact one’s career decisions.3.B.2

Career Preparation: Students shall prepare for postsecondary and career success through a sequenced academic and technical program of study and related workplace experiences.4

  • A

    Acquire cluster and academic content knowledge and skills to succeed in high school and beyond.4.A

    1. 1

      Apply academic content standards of the Maryland State Curriculum.4.A.1

    2. 2

      Apply cluster content knowledge and skills (foundation, pathway, cross cluster) through technology, research, problemsolving, and project-based learning.4.A.2

    3. 3

      Explore academic and careerrelated skills and the Skills for Success through project-based learning and career connecting activities.4.A.3

    4. 4

      N/A4.A.4

  • B

    Use the selected decision-making process/model to update and modify the six-year academic and career plan.4.B

    1. 1

      N/A4.B.1

    2. 2

      N/A4.B.2

Job-Seeking and Advancement – Students shall demonstrate skills to secure, maintain and advance in employment.5

  • A

    Understand how academic, technical, cross cluster and employability skills are needed to obtain or create, maintain, and advance in one’s career.5.A

    1. 1

      N/A5.A.1

    2. 2

      N/A5.A.2

    3. 3

      N/A5.A.3

    4. 4

      N/A5.A.4

    5. 5

      N/A5.A.5

    6. 6

      N/A5.A.6

    7. 7

      N/A5.A.7

Career Satisfaction and Transition – Individuals shall demonstrate how the ongoing attainment of knowledge and skills enhances one’s ability to function and transition effectively in a diverse and changing economy.6

  • A

    Apply career management and decision-making skills to update ones’ career plan as needed.6.A

    1. 1

      N/A6.A.1

    2. 2

      N/A6.A.2

    3. 3

      Explain how education, work, family, national crisis and economic conditions affect decisions.6.A.3

    4. 4

      N/A6.A.4

    5. 5

      N/A6.A.5

    6. 6

      N/A6.A.6

  • B

    Evaluate the impact of lifelong learning on one’s ability to function effectively in a diverse and changing economy.6.B

    1. 1

      N/A6.B.1

    2. 2

      N/A6.B.2

    3. 3

      N/A6.B.3

    4. 4

      N/A6.B.4

    5. 5

      N/A6.B.5

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8

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Career Development Framework For College and Career Readiness