Find Your Grind Achieves Major Validation, Expanding Career Readiness Nationwide

Find Your Grind's Milestone Achievement

In a significant development for educational systems seeking to modernize career readiness, Find Your Grind has achieved ESSA Tier 2 validation, solidifying its status as a premier learning solution that caters to the needs of middle and high school students nationwide. This validation allows schools to access much-needed federal and state funding to support an evidence-based curriculum focused on career exploration. With this achievement, the platform can potentially reach thousands more students, making future-ready learning programs more widespread and effective.

Impact of ESSA Tier 2 Validation

The validation process involved a comprehensive quasi-experimental study conducted by WestEd, a respected research organization in education. The assessment revealed substantial positive outcomes for students utilizing Find Your Grind, such as enhanced self-awareness, improved career readiness, and significant social-emotional development. Notably, students using the platform outperformed their peers by up to 22 percentile points in essential skills areas including future planning, collaboration, and communication. Nick Gross, the founder and CEO of Find Your Grind, emphasized the importance of this validation, stating, "WestEd's conclusion that Find Your Grind significantly improves student engagement was essential for achieving ESSA Tier 2 status."

Expansion Across the Nation

Beyond gaining validation, Find Your Grind is rapidly growing its presence in educational institutions across the United States. In Ohio, the platform has partnered with numerous school districts to launch Lifestyle Fairs, immersive experiences aimed at providing students with insights into future careers through hands-on activities and industry mentorship. Recent events, like the one held with Hilliard City Schools, attracted over 1,200 seventh-grade students, all eager to discover their identities and potential career paths in real-world settings.

Collaborative Efforts in Georgia and Hawaii

Further increasing its impact, Find Your Grind is collaborating with the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Resource Network in Georgia. This partnership focuses on enhancing educator support through professional development opportunities and broader implementation of the curriculum. Lynne Wilson, the executive director of the CTAE Resource Network, remarked on the significance of this partnership, saying, "This collaboration marks a vital step forward in helping Georgia students explore their futures."

Simultaneously, Find Your Grind is eyeing a state-wide pilot program in Hawaii, aiming to reach a quarter of the state's middle school population in its first year of implementation. The initiative aligns with Hawaii’s 13 CTE pathway courses, empowering students across the islands to explore, prepare for, and choose careers that resonate with their passions. Margaret Pearlman, a CTE resource teacher, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "I am thrilled that Find Your Grind will expand to high schools and middle schools across our islands, providing valuable experiences tailored to our students’ diverse needs."

Conclusion

Find Your Grind remains committed to transforming how students engage with career exploration. By leveraging research, hands-on experiences, and strategic partnerships, they prepare students not just to meet the workforce demands of the future but to thrive in a rapidly changing world. To explore more about Find Your Grind's initiatives and impacts, visit their website at www.findyourgrind.com.

This journey of validation and expansion marks just the beginning for Find Your Grind, as it continues to forge pathways for students toward successful and fulfilling careers.