Defined in California

Defined connects classrooms to careers through deeper learning. Our vision is to transform learning environments where every student discovers their potential through authentic learning experiences that bridge education and future success. Explore how the Defined ecosystem aligns with and supports career-connected deeper learning in California!

Defined & California

Defined & California Alignment

Alignment with California Standards

Defined's content aligns with California's Common Core State Standards by helping bridge classroom content with authentic career applications, enabling students to develop and transfer knowledge while building essential future-ready skills.

Our ecosystem of career-connected deeper learning resources supports California’s College and Career Readiness Framework and the principles of the California Multi-Tiered System of Support (CA MTSS). We provide schools and districts with high-quality content and an integrated assessment system that helps set and measure Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) goals ensuring students are prepared for success in postsecondary education, careers, and civic life.

Career-Connected Learning

Defined’s comprehensive career-connected learning platform supports the implementation of the California Career Technical Education (CTE) Model Curriculum Standards and the California Career Technical Education Framework by helping students develop career awareness, exploring industry sectors, and identifying personal interests and strengths. Our ecosystem equips districts with tools and resources to enhance implementation of California’s Perkins V State Plan and promote seamless coordination between secondary and postsecondary CTE pathways across the state’s 15 high-demand industry sectors.

Defined features hands-on, minds-on projects that span all CTE pathways, immersing students in authentic industry scenarios that build real-world skills and foster deeper learning. Students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while gaining exposure to career opportunities empowering them to make informed choices about college, career, and life after high school.

In addition, Defined supports California’s goals for work-based learning (WBL) outlined in the College and Career Indicator (CCI) by offering experiences that bridge classroom instruction with real-world application. Our platform enhances student engagement and readiness through authentic WBL activities, helping to prepare all learners for success in California’s evolving workforce.

Defined & Career-Connected Learning in California

Defined Careers Elementary School

Computer Science & STEM

From artificial intelligence to clean energy, California’s innovatiove economy demands strong computer science and STEM skills. Defined helps educators prepare K–12 students for these high-growth fields through career-connected deeper learning experiences that bridge academic concepts with real-world applications.

Defined’s engaging projects support the goals of California’s Computer Science Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), while also aligning with the California STEM Strategic Plan. Our content engages students across grade levels in meaningful exploration of computer science and STEM fields including computing, engineering, scientific practices, and more. Defined empowers students to think critically, solve complex problems, and imagine their place in the future workforce.

By integrating career awareness and technical skills development into computer science and STEM instruction, Defined helps schools and districts meet California’s goals for equity, access, and workforce readiness.

Partnerships in California

Explore Our Engaging Career-Connected Projects

Defined provides K-12 career-connected learning opportunities for every student. Our extensive course catalog contains standards-aligned academic programming across all grade levels and subject areas. Our projects actively engage students in hands-on experiences that offer a real-world perspective, mirroring the work of industry professionals to expand career exploration for all students. Check out a few Defined Learning and Defined Careers projects below!

Defined Careers Grades K-2

Computer Programmer: App Designer

Students take on the role of an App Designer to create a fun and engaging app for students to use during indoor recess. This app should be educational and something students can play together.

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Defined Learning Grades 2-3 Math

Backpack Designer

In this task, students will explore how math and engineering play a significant role in product design. They will be measuring to ¼ inch and determining areas to help design and manufacture a backpack for a specific audience.

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Defined Careers Grades 3-5

Veterinary Assistant

Students step into the role of a Vet Assistant. Vet Assistants work with pets and their owners. They help take care of sick and hurt pets. Part of their job is to teach pet owners how to care for their pets to keep them from getting sick. Students make sure pet owners have the information they need to keep their pets healthy.

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Defined Learning Grades 3-5 Life Science

Wildlife Biologist: Bats

Students step into the role of a wildlife biologist studying bats. Acting as an expert, students explore the important role bats play in the environment while working to dispel common myths about these fascinating and beneficial creatures. Students will also explain how bats use echolocation to navigate and survive. Their ultimate goal: to get the public excited about welcoming bats into the neighborhood!

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Defined Careers Grades 6-8

Biomedical Engineers

Students apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.

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Defined Learning Grade 6 Math

Food Truck Entrepreneur

In this task, students will be creating their own food truck. Students make informed decisions about the food they'll be serving, the truck, and their business strategies. Additionally, students will create equations to create a fuel expense chart and determine profit and income for a monthly budget.

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Defined Careers Grades 9-12

Game Designer

Students step into the role of a Game Designer, designing core features of video games. This role includes specifying innovative game and role-play mechanics, storylines, and character biographies; creating and maintaining design documentation; and guiding and collaborating with production staff to produce games as designed.

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Defined Learning Grades 9-12 Biology

Forensic Entomologist

Students take on the role of a Forensic Entomologist helping the production staff of a new streaming series create a show focused on forensic science, and specifically how forensic entomology can help to solve crimes.

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Read the Research

Explore how Defined is connecting classrooms to careers through career-connected deeper learning in California!

Symposium: Building Tomorrow's Skills Today: Career-Connected Learning

In this symposium, education leaders and administrators from across the country, including Santa Rosa County School District in California, dive into how schools and districts are providing students with meaningful career-connected learning opportunities that build critical future-ready skills and expand career pathways.

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Webinar: Bringing Careers to the Classroom: Empowering Future-Ready Middle School Students

Educators from Santa Paula Unified School District in California share their experience implementing and utilizing Defined Careers to support their college and career readiness initiatives at the middle school level.

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Webinar: Building Portrait of a Graduate Competencies & Promoting Deeper Learning Through PBL

John Larmer and administrators from San Ramon Unified School District in California discuss how to map what the future workforce demands of the K-8 curriculum and how to embed your school or district's Portrait of a Graduate goals in the classroom.

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Webinar: From Poster to Practice Part 2: Using PBL for a Portrait of a Graduate

Learn how high-quality project-based learning effectively brings Portrait of a Graduate competencies from poster to practice and hear the experiences of elementary educators in San Ramon Valley Unified School District in California.

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Webinar: Driving Outcomes Through Competency-Based Learning & Differentiation

View this webinar to hear from bestselling author Carol Ann Tomlinson and leaders from Lindsay Unified School District in California as they make the case for competency-based learning and authentic performance tasks.

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Webinar: Leading to Create a PBL Culture

In this webinar, educators, including Dr. Simone Charles from Los Angeles Unified School District in California, discuss challenges, successes, and lessons learned when implementing and maintaining a supportive PBL culture.

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Webinar: Driving Student Success with Career-Connected Learning

Jay McTighe, Joe Sanfelippo, California educators, and more share their insights on how to provide K-12 students with meaningful learning opportunities that build future-ready skills and expand career pathways.

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Webinar: Deeper Learning Through PBL

In this webinar, you'll hear from education leaders from across the country, including Superintendent John Malloy from San Ramon Valley Unified School District in California, as they share their insights on how to best engage students in meaningful learning and boost student success.

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Webinar: Growing Student Engagement & Accelerating Learning

Leaders in education, including the Superintendent of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District in California, help you rethink how to engage students in meaningful learning that creates the conditions needed to combat learning loss and build future-ready skills.

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White Paper: Accelerate Learning Through Meaningful PBL

The Superintendent of Talladega County Schools in Alabama and the Superintendent of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District in California share approaches for engaging students in meaningful learning that builds critical future-ready skills.

READ THE WHITE PAPER

Interested in learning more about how Defined can support California's goals and initiatives?

Ready to see how Defined can transform education in your school or district? Request a demo with California's designated partnerships representative today and witness how our platform bridges classroom learning with future success.

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