The Kentucky Department of Education’s Unbridled Learning: College/Career Readiness for All initiative is designed to ensure every student is prepared for college and/or career by the time they graduate from high school. Advising is a key strategy for reaching this goal. Yet, in Kentucky, school counselors face an average 450:1 student to counselor ratio, presenting challenges for establishing effective advising programs.

Operation Preparation is a joint effort of the Kentucky Department of Education and the Department of Workforce Development and provides a powerful opportunity for schools, students, parents and communities to collaborate in the process of effective advising and focus attention on the importance of planning for college and/or career.

During March 2013, trained volunteer community advisors will meet one-on-one with every 8th- and 10th-grade student. The community advisor will use the student’s Individual Learning Plan or ILP (including career interest inventory and EXPLORE/PLAN results) to discuss the student’s:

·         career aspirations, required education/training and workforce skills

·         whether the student is on target to meet their goals

·         whether the student is taking the courses recommended to prepare them for a successful future

It is anticipated that each session will take about 20 minutes. The meeting is designed to provide both information and inspiration for the student to achieve college/career-readiness.

If Kentucky is to remain economically viable and globally competitive, we need to be sure every one of our students and our workforce is prepared and ready to meet the demands of the 21st-century. Operation Preparation is your opportunity to help.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer as a career advisor, please send an email to: angie.jones@grayson.kyschools.us You can find additional information about Operation Preparation at http://education.ky.gov/educational/CCadv/op/Pages/default.aspx