Introduce a Career Planning Credit Into Minnesota High School Graduation Requirements

 

The purpose of this bill is to add a requirement to take a 0.5-credit Career Planning class to the high school

graduation requirements of the Class of 2031 and subsequent classes, ensuring that incoming students are well-informed

about their future career options.

 

This bill is necessary because it is essential that high school students are informed of their options coming out of

high school and transitioning into adulthood. A large number of adults today regret the career path they took when they

were younger. For example, in a 2021 survey from CNBC, of 1,000 American adults aged 33-40, 47% reported wishing they

had chosen a different career path when they were younger. This suggests that high schoolers would benefit from more

education about their career options, specifically so they do not regret their career decisions later on.

 

“Career Planning Class” shall be defined as any class with a primary focus on educating students on different career

paths, and which educational and vocational options are available after graduating from secondary school.

“Graduation Requirements” shall be defined as the Minnesota Department of Education’s standards needed to graduate from

secondary school.

“Credit” is defined as the successful completion of one academic year of study.

 

 

Funding for these new classes, if there is a need for new classes in certain schools that fit the criteria of a Career

Planning class, will come from a combination of state and federal funding, and money from the Strengthening Career and

Technical Education for the 21st Century Act can be used as needed.

 

Schools that fail to offer a class that meets this requirement will face punishment as determined by the Minnesota

Department of Education.

 

This bill would be enacted on July 1, 2026.