Missouri Connections
New online resources for middle school and high school students were unveiled on Monday, September 15, 2008 by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Missouri Connections encourages students in middle school through college to begin career exploration and make connections between the careers they are interested in and related educational requirements. Sponsored by DESE since 2003, the education and career planning system is available statewide at no charge to all Missouri students (grades 6-14), their parents, counselors, and educators.
The system continues to offer the Kuder ™ research-based assessments, career portfolio, educational and occupational exploration resources, and the administrative database management system, but also features new exploration resources including an interactive tool on Missouri's Career Paths, Cluster, and Pathways and 16 Career Clusters videos.
With Missouri Connections, students can start planning their classes, explore careers, research postsecondary options, and get a hold of their future. Research has proven that with career and postsecondary preparation, students are more likely to stay in school, graduate on time, and accomplish personal goals.
Missouri Connections also allows parents and/or guardians to play an active role in the educational and career planning of their children by participating in the system with them.
The Jackson R-2 School District uses the system to assist with indivdual career counseling, guide course selection and postsecondary decisions, as well facilitate communication with students and parents. Career interest and other research-based assessments can be taken with a free log-in and the school's batch code number.
For more information about Missouri Connections and how parents and students can access batch codes to use the system, please contact one of the counselors at Jackson Middle School, Jackson Jr. High, and Jackson High School.