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Minnesota Durable Skills & Career Readiness Alignment
Renzulli Learning is the K-12 platform that both assesses and develops the durable skills Minnesota’s Career and College Readiness (CCR) framework, the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Legislation, the 21.5-credit graduation requirement, the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) framework, the Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS), the 5 CTE Career Fields, the 23 Perkins V Consortia, and partnerships with Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations demand — critical thinking, creativity, executive function, leadership, collaboration, communication, and self-direction.
The CCR Framework, the PLP & Why Durable Skills Are the Center of Career Readiness
Minnesota’s career readiness framework is anchored by MDE’s Career and College Readiness (CCR) framework, which defines “a sufficiently prepared student” as one who has the knowledge, skills, mindset, and experiences in the academic, workplace, and personal/social domains to keep learning and, beyond secondary school, to successfully navigate toward and adapt to an economically viable career. The MDE Career and College Success division developed this holistic vision in March 2016 in collaboration with REL Midwest and the Midwest Comprehensive Center.
Minnesota’s Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Legislation requires all students starting in 9th grade to have a PLP that includes academic scheduling, career exploration, 21st Century Skills, community partnerships, college access, all forms of postsecondary training, and experiential learning opportunities. Minnesota requires a minimum of 21.5 course credits for graduation under Minnesota Statutes 2025 section 120B.024. In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature renamed World’s Best Workforce (WBWF) to Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR), emphasizing dual roles of academic achievement and active community membership after graduation. Minnesota CTE organizes the 14 federally defined Career Clusters into 5 Career Fields: Cultivating Resources; Investing in the Future; Creating & Experiencing; Building & Moving; and Caring for Communities. The challenge for Minnesota counselors is that durable skills are easy to name across the PLP and CCR domains but hard to measure and develop systematically across multi-year cycles.
Each Minnesota Framework Component Mapped to a Renzulli Tool That Measures and Develops It
Minnesota’s framework is anchored by the 3-domain CCR framework and the multi-element PLP. Each component pairs with the Renzulli instruments and content that measure and develop the durable skills behind it:
Develop: SEM Type III PBL + PSP
Develop: PSP year-round goal cycles
Develop: SEM Type III PBL + Enrichment Database
Develop: Group PBL + civic projects
Develop: PSP year-round goal cycles
Develop: CTSO-aligned PBL + capstones
Durable Skills, Defined: What Renzulli Learning Assesses and Develops
Renzulli Learning is built around seven canonical durable skills — the same skills Minnesota’s CCR framework, PLP, 21.5-credit diploma, CACR, MCIS, and 5 Career Fields demand. Each skill has a specific Renzulli instrument that measures it and a specific platform feature that develops it:
Critical Thinking
Measure: CTC
Develop: SEM Type III PBL
Creativity
Measure: CTC (US Patent 12,087,176)
Develop: Enrichment Database + PBL
Executive Function
Measure: EFA
Develop: PSP cycles + PBL planning
Leadership
Measure: Leadership Assessment
Develop: CTSO-aligned PBL + group projects
Collaboration
Measure: Leadership Assessment
Develop: Group PBL + peer feedback
Communication
Measure: 21st-century skills rubrics
Develop: PBL presentations & portfolios
Self-Direction
Measure: Profiler + EFA
Develop: PSP year-round goal cycles
The Minnesota Diploma: 21.5 Credits + PLP + CCR Framework
Minnesota high school graduation is governed by Minnesota Statutes 2025 section 120B.024 and the PLP Legislation. Renzulli Learning develops the durable skills behind each pillar:
What Minnesota Counselors & CTE Coordinators Struggle With
These are the durable-skills-and-career-readiness challenges we consistently hear from Minnesota educators implementing the CCR framework, the PLP, the 21.5-credit diploma, the 5 Career Fields, the 23 Perkins V Consortia, and tribal partnerships:
Sustaining the multi-year PLP
The Personal Learning Plan is required for all students starting in 9th grade. Districts need durable-skills measurement and development tools that produce evidence across all four years and span all PLP elements: academic scheduling, career exploration, 21st Century Skills, community partnerships, college access, postsecondary training, and experiential learning.
Operationalizing the 3-domain CCR vision
Minnesota’s CCR framework spans academic, workplace, and personal/social domains. Counselors need integrated tools that measure and develop all 3 dimensions — not just academic preparation — with year-round evidence districts can use for CCR program planning.
Reporting on the new CACR framework
The Minnesota Legislature renamed WBWF to CACR in 2024, effective for 2024-25 strategic plans and Fall 2025 annual summary report. CACR adds a 5th goal area: lifelong learners. Districts need exportable durable-skills evidence to include in CACR strategic plans and annual summary reports submitted through MEGS.
Connecting CTE to 5 Career Fields / 23 Consortia
Minnesota CTE organizes 14 federally defined Career Clusters into 5 Career Fields delivered through 23 Perkins V Consortia. Districts need durable-skills tools that produce measurable evidence of student growth across all 5 Career Fields and complement Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) data.
Integrating MCIS with PLP and SLEDS
The Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) supports CCR and CACR/WBWF goals and helps meet PLP Legislation requirements. MCIS partnership with the Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS) provides outcome data. Districts need Profiler and PSP workflows that complement MCIS without duplicating effort.
Partnering with 11 tribal nations
Minnesota has 11 federally-recognized tribal nations — 7 Anishinaabe (Ojibwe/Chippewa) reservations and 4 Dakota (Sioux) communities. MDE engages these nations through the Tribal Nations Education Committee (TNEC). Districts need durable-skills tools that work equitably across linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Renzulli Learning Tools Mapped to Minnesota’s Durable Skills Demands
Each Renzulli tool maps to specific CCR domains, PLP elements, 21.5-credit diploma requirements, CACR goal areas, and Minnesota CTE Career Fields — producing concrete, exportable evidence of durable skills growth:
Minnesota Career Readiness Requirements & Renzulli Durable Skills Platform: Side by Side
CCR Framework PLP from Grade 9 Minn. Stat. 120B.024 21.5 Credits CACR / WBWF 5 Career Fields 23 Perkins Consortia 11 Tribal NationsHow Renzulli Learning addresses each core Minnesota requirement — with durable skills measurement and development at the center:
| Minnesota Requirement | Renzulli Learning Contribution |
|---|---|
| PLP Personal Learning Plan (PLP) MN Legislation requires all students starting in 9th grade to have a PLP including academic scheduling, career exploration, 21st Century Skills, community partnerships, college access, all forms of postsecondary training, and experiential learning | Renzulli is the K-12 platform that both assesses and develops the durable skills behind every PLP element. Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests for PLP career exploration. PSP complements multi-year PLP documentation across grades 9-12 spanning all PLP elements. |
| CCR MDE Career & College Readiness Framework Holistic CCR vision developed March 2016: a sufficiently prepared student has knowledge, skills, mindset, and experiences in academic, workplace, and personal/social domains to keep learning and successfully navigate to an economically viable career | EFA develops academic-domain durable skills. Leadership Assessment develops workplace and personal/social-domain durable skills. CTC measures cognitive preparation across all 3 domains. SEM Type III PBL integrates all 3 domains. |
| Diploma 21.5-Credit Graduation Minn. Stat. 2025 section 120B.024; minimum 21.5 credits including 4 credits of language arts, plus math, science, social studies, arts, PE, health, electives; credit equivalencies allowed (CTE, Project Lead the Way, ethnic studies) | EFA develops persistence to complete 21.5+ credits. SEM Type III PBL produces portfolio artifacts. 40,000+ Enrichment Database includes resources for all required content areas including ethnic studies and CTE-equivalent courses. |
| CACR Comprehensive Achievement & Civic Readiness Renamed from World’s Best Workforce (WBWF) by MN Legislature in 2024; effective 2024-25 strategic plans and Fall 2025 annual report; addresses 4 WBWF goals plus lifelong learners goal; submitted via MEGS in ESEA Consolidated Application | All four Renzulli assessments generate exportable disaggregated data for CACR strategic plans. SEM Type III PBL produces project portfolios aligned with CACR goal areas. PSP documents multi-year evidence supporting CACR analysis. |
| CTE 5 CTE Career Fields + 14 Clusters MN CTE organizes 14 federally defined Career Clusters into 5 Career Fields: Cultivating Resources; Investing in the Future; Creating & Experiencing; Building & Moving; Caring for Communities. CTSOs include DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA, TSA | Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests across all 5 Career Fields and 14 Clusters. PSP guides Field exploration. PBL produces capstone artifacts. Leadership Assessment supports MN CTSO leadership. |
| Perkins V 23 MN Perkins V Consortia MN State Colleges and Universities = Sole State Agency for Perkins V under Minn. State Stat. 136F.79; consortium model with 23 Perkins/CTE Consortia statewide; each consortium conducts a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA); Programs of Study and MnPOS search | All four Renzulli assessments produce CLNA-ready disaggregated durable-skills data. SEM Type III PBL produces capstone artifacts complementing Programs of Study. PSP + 40,000+ Enrichment Database support Perkins V quality programming. |
What Implementation Looks Like in Minnesota Districts
“The CCR framework gives us 3 domains and the PLP gives us 7 required elements — but operationalizing all of that AND tracking durable-skills growth across the new CACR goal areas has been hard. With Renzulli’s Profiler complementing MCIS in 20+ languages, the EFA showing us which students need scaffolding to hit the 21.5-credit bar, the Leadership Assessment supporting our CTSO students across all 5 Career Fields, and SEM Type III PBL producing artifacts that work for the PLP experiential learning element AND CACR strategic plan, our Perkins V Consortium conversations have finally become evidence-driven. The CTC has been particularly important for our partnership work with the Mille Lacs Band and TNEC.”Career and Technical Education Coordinator · Minnesota school district
Minnesota Durable Skills & Career Readiness: Common Questions
Questions Minnesota counselors and CTE coordinators ask most often:
How does Renzulli Learning align with Minnesota’s Career and College Readiness (CCR) framework and Personal Learning Plan (PLP)?
What durable skills does Renzulli Learning develop, and how does that connect to Minnesota’s career readiness framework?
How does Renzulli Learning support Minnesota’s 21.5-credit graduation requirement?
How does Renzulli Learning support Minnesota’s Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR), formerly World’s Best Workforce (WBWF)?
How does Renzulli Learning support Minnesota CTE — the 5 Career Fields and 14 Career Clusters?
How does Renzulli Learning support the Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) and SLEDS?
How much does Renzulli Learning cost for Minnesota districts?
How does Renzulli Learning support equity for Minnesota’s tribal and rural learners?
Minnesota Durable Skills & Career Readiness Resources
All compliance decisions should reference these primary MDE sources. Renzulli Learning complements — not replaces — Minnesota’s CCR framework, PLP Legislation, 21.5-credit graduation requirement, CACR/WBWF framework, MCIS, and 5 CTE Career Fields structure.
- Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)
- MDE — Career and College Success / CCR Framework
- MDE — Graduation Requirements (Minn. Stat. 120B.024)
- MDE — CACR / World’s Best Workforce
- MDE — Career and Technical Education
- Minnesota State — CTE & Perkins V (23 Consortia)
- MDE — Tribal Nations of Minnesota / TNEC
Custom District Alignments
Need a custom alignment for your district’s CCR program planning, PLP rollout, CACR strategic plan, or Perkins V Consortium CLNA?
Explore Renzulli Learning’s alignment for other states:
Ready to Document Your Minnesota District’s Durable Skills Growth?
Start a 30-day free trial with full platform access — no credit card required. Or schedule a free QuickStart with a consultant who knows Minnesota’s CCR framework, the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Legislation, the 21.5-credit graduation requirement (Minn. Stat. 120B.024), the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) framework, the Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS), the 5 CTE Career Fields, the 23 Perkins V Consortia, and partnerships with Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations.
Call +1 (203) 680-8301 · Email [email protected]