281—49.5(279) Career information and decision-making systems. Each district shall use a career information and decision-making system that meets the standards established in subrule 49.5(3).
	49.5(1) Review process. The department will establish a process for the review of vendor-provided career information and decision-making systems to determine which career information and decision-making systems meet the minimum specifications established in subrule 49.5(3).
	49.5(2) State-designated system. The department will establish a process for the review and approval of a single state-designated career information and decision-making system from among the systems approved through the process established in subrule 49.5(1), which districts may use in compliance with this chapter.
	49.5(3) Minimum functions of approved systems. An approved system is to, at a minimum, support implementation of rule 281—49.2(279) and meet the following specifications:
	a. 	Allow for the creation of student accounts, which allow a student to store and access the results and information gathered from the inventories, searches, and associated activities outlined in paragraphs 49.5(3)“b” through “d.”
	b. 	Include developmentally appropriate inventories and assessments that promote self-understanding and the connection to work. Inventories and assessments are to include an interest inventory; a work values assessment; and an abilities, strengths, or skills assessment.
	c. 	Include a search platform for career information. The platform is to allow a student to access and review career information related to the results of the inventories listed in paragraph 49.5(3)“b.” Career information will include current and accurate state and national wage, earning, and employment outlook data for a given occupation; job descriptions, including such information as essential duties and aptitudes; and training and education requirements. The career information search platform is to, at a minimum, allow a student to sort information by wage and earning, career cluster, and training and education requirements.
	d. 	Include a search platform for postsecondary information. Postsecondary information is to include, but not be limited to, a current, accurate, and comprehensive database of accredited professional colleges, technical and community colleges, and public and private baccalaureate colleges and universities; and include or provide links to apprenticeship and military opportunities. The postsecondary information search platform will, at a minimum, allow a student to sort information by program and degree type, institution type, location, size of enrollment, and affiliation and appropriate institutional characteristics, such as designation as a historically black college and university or Hispanic-serving institution, and religious affiliation.
	e. 	Track basic utilization for the functions outlined in paragraphs 49.5(3)“a” through “d.” Districts are to have the ability to generate and export a report on the utilization statistics.
	f. 	Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state civil rights laws.
	g. 	Disclose the source and age of, as well as frequency of updates to, all information and data.
	h. 	Provide auxiliary services, including:
	(1)	A process for districts to submit comments, feedback, and modification requests to the vendor.
	(2)	Technical assistance during regular school district operating hours.
	(3)	Appropriate training for users.
	49.5(4) Supplemental systems. The department will maintain a list of supplemental systems that districts may use to satisfy the components of rule 281—49.2(279).
	a. 	The department is to establish a process for the review of supplemental systems. The review will, at a minimum, identify the components of rule 281—49.2(279) and paragraphs 49.5(3)“b” through “d,” which are satisfied through the supplemental system. All supplemental systems are to comply with paragraphs 49.5(3)“f” and “g.”
	b. 	A district that chooses to use a supplemental system is to specify which components of rule 281—49.2(279) are satisfied through the use of the supplemental system in the district plan established in rule 281—49.4(279). A district that chooses to utilize a supplemental tool must continue to utilize and make available to students an approved system.
[ARC 7659C, IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24]