District staff reported to the school board that work-based learning participation and Choice Ready initiatives are increasing but that the district is continuing to align schedules and partnerships to improve postsecondary, workforce and military readiness.

The district said 120 students are participating in work‑based learning this fall. Using fall data the presentation projected that about 39% of the Dickinson High School class of 2026 will graduate with a work‑based learning experience; staff said that percentage may increase as additional placements are completed.

Presenters described the district’s use of a state-adopted evaluation tool — the Career Ready Practices — and said they currently evaluate six of the 12 Career Ready Practices this year (leadership, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, time management and skilled work habits) with plans to expand to all 12 next year as required by the state. The district said employers who host students and classroom teachers complete the evaluations, and students complete self-assessments, to measure employability skills.

Board members and staff said scheduling is one barrier to expanding employer partnerships. The presentation noted the district’s AB schedule at DHS can make it difficult for students to match employer or college schedules (including DSU and the CTE center). Staff said the high school has created a Choice Ready subcommittee of the guiding coalition to examine data, identify areas of success and recommend steps to increase Choice Ready metrics.

The Choice Ready definition explained to the board includes five “essential skills” for the state measure (earn a high school diploma, complete a nine-week career education course or individual counseling, financial literacy, the North Dakota civics test and a computer science or cybersecurity requirement) plus a menu of nine additional indicators from which students must complete four. Postsecondary, workforce and military readiness measures include test scores, dual enrollment, work-based learning and military readiness indicators such as ASVAB scores and physical fitness attributes.

A district presenter said Choice Ready data is not yet final: the state has given schools through November to finalize Choice Ready reporting, and staff offered to return in November or December with full Choice Ready data for DHS. No formal action was taken; the item was presented for information and planning.