College and Career Readiness (CCR) Tools

Student Success Plans address preparation for college, career, and community engagement. Interest inventory and skills assessment tools provide schools multiple measures of student academic achievement and growth to assist with development of the student success plan. Access to survey tools in grades 8-12 can provide students insight into their personal strengths, aptitudes, and interests. This information can better enable students to be successful in college, career, and life.

To support this process, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is providing access to College and Career Readiness Tools (CCR Tools) for Arkansas students in grades 8-12. Through the state procurement process, a list of providers has been selected as viable vendors who meet the minimum qualifications to adequately assess student aptitude using a variety of research based solutions. School districts who select a vendor from this list will have the cost of contract for students in grades 8-12 provided by DESE. This will allow the schools to maintain local decision making ability while allowing DESE and the Division of Career and Technical Education (DCTE) to ensure quality assessment tools for career planning.

2023 Vendor Selection Process

School districts have had access to their selected vendor tool for three years. DESE is providing schools an opportunity to change their selected vendor for the final three year cycle. A certified selection link will be provided to superintendents in early March 2023, allowing 7-8 weeks for submission. By May 5, 2023, superintendents must submit the selection of a provider for the 2023-24 through 2025-26 school years.

To facilitate selection, DESE will host a Virtual Vendor Fair on March 1, 2023, for the approved providers of the CCR Tools. Each virtual session will be recorded. Information on each vendor can be found by clicking on the vendor links to the right.

To assist with selection of the CCR Tools, districts may review this Selection Guide. Districts are encouraged to have a team participate in the selection and implementation process. Consider the following roles when putting together a team:

CCR Tool point of contact (manages communication between the district, DESE, and selected vendor),
building principals, curriculum coordinators, or other administration,
counselors, career coaches, teacher advisors, or other student mentor program staff,
classroom teachers including academic, ALE, CTE, ESOL, GT, and SPED,
other staff who work with scheduling, advising, or coaching students toward graduation and future planning.

Whether a district remains with their current provider for the coming cycle or elects to change providers, the focus should now be on broadening student use of the resources and services provided. Superintendents are asked to read this letter to assist with district and building level implementation.

Approved CCR Tool Vendors:

These vendors were found to provide a standard set of desired services and features. Aptitude tracking, skill assessment, and interest inventories will be used to guide students toward possible career options while allowing for exploration on a wide variety of career fields. Personal accomplishments such as awards, community service, or work experience can be added to a student’s profile. Students will have access to local, state, and national employment data and occupational profiles for various careers. Parents/guardians will be able to review and approve student plans within the system as well as monitor and assist with target goals. School districts will have the ability to upload local and student information such as master schedules, course history, graduation requirements, and assessment data. Planning tools allow for tracking progress toward goals, assistance with scholarships and financial aid, and college applications. Students will have access to their accounts for a minimum of one year post graduation.

School districts may elect to provide additional services or provide access to CCR Tools to additional grade levels through their own contracts.

DESE-provided CCR Tools vendors:

Resources:

College and Career Planning Tools Comparison Chart for Districts (PDF)

District College and Career Readiness Vendor Choices for 2019-2020 (as of 8/27/2019)

Districts CCR Vendor selection list for the 2020-2021 thru 2022-2023 school years (as of 2/8/2023)

For more information, please contact:

Sheree Baird, Assessment Program Coordinator

Arkansas Department of Education

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Public School Accountability | Assessment

One Capitol Mall Ave., Suite 4C-300