Middle school students don’t need to choose a career—but they should have opportunities to discover what’s possible. Exploring interests, careers, skills, pathways and even money basics now can help students enter high school better prepared to plan for their future.
ICAN is expanding its Step 1 School Grants program with new funding opportunities for all Iowa high schools and renewal grants for first-year recipients. The grants support increased scholarship access, financial aid planning, and FAFSA completion, helping more students prepare to pay for education after high school. Applications for new grants open October 7.
Senior year moves quickly, and fall is the time to turn plans for life after high school into action. Whether students are considering college, an apprenticeship, career training, military service or another pathway, these five steps can help them stay on track.
FAFSA season is here, but families don’t have to wait until they’re ready to file to start preparing. From setting up StudentAid.gov accounts to understanding who needs to participate and what happens after submission, a few steps now can make the financial aid process easier to navigate.
Students don’t need to have their future figured out to start career planning. Learn how exploring interests, discovering careers, understanding education and training pathways, and gaining real-world experience can help students make more informed decisions about what comes next.
Explore colleges, careers, education and training opportunities all in one place at the 2026 Golden Circle College & Career Fair. Students and families can connect directly with representatives, ask questions and discover possibilities for life after high school.
A college and career fair can be much more than a chance to collect brochures. A little preparation, the right questions and a willingness to explore something new can help students turn a fair into a valuable step toward discovering their future.
Every year of high school brings different decisions and opportunities. ICAN’s free On Track programs help students and families understand what matters most at each grade level and take the right steps now to prepare for what comes next.
A new school year means new classes, new activities and new opportunities. It also means students are one year closer to answering an important question: What's next after high school?
ICAN is helping students and families answer that question through On Track, a series of free virtual programs designed to provide timely career and college planning guidance for students at each stage of high school.
Career and college readiness is a process that begins long before senior year. As Iowa schools start a new academic year, ICAN is providing K–12 resources, curriculum and support to help educators give students the information and opportunities they need to explore careers, plan for their future and take their next steps after high school.
