K-12 college and career readiness platform Xello is a finalist in two categories of the 2026 CODiE Awards: Best CTE Solution and Best College Readiness Solution. The nomination comes as school districts increasingly adopt digital tools to map out student careers before high school graduation. As schools work to prepare students for the job market, platforms that organize both college applications and vocational pathways are becoming common classroom tools.
What Happened
The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) administers the CODiE Awards, which are judged by educators, school administrators, and industry experts. While awards like the EdTech Digest Awards focus on classroom effectiveness, the CODiE awards evaluate product design and usability. As noted in our previous coverage of industry accolades for classroom management software, design is often what drives districts to adopt software. Xello's nominations for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and college readiness point to two separate pathways: preparing students for four-year degrees and helping them move straight into the workforce.
The Bigger Picture
Software alone does not guarantee student success. Real-world examples show that the most effective school districts combine digital tools with face-to-face guidance. In Oregon, the Hillsboro School District adopted Xello to replace a clunky system that confused students and wasted counseling hours. Because the new software was easier to use, teachers spent less time explaining how to log in and more time discussing career paths with students.
The School District of Lee County in Florida simplified career planning for its 100,000 students. Instead of using multiple platforms, Lee County put lessons, portfolios, and scholarships in one portal. Still, the district relies on dedicated employees, like its College and Career Specialists, to run the program and coordinate with local businesses.
This human element remains important. While Xello’s Work-Based Learning module tracks hours and internship locations, a digital database cannot build relationships with local businesses the way an internship coordinator does.
Academic research supports the use of interactive tools. A study on business simulation games found that real-time simulations help students understand how financial decisions impact an entire company. Other research on role-based virtual reality career exploration indicates that virtual reality career tools increase interest in different jobs and help students picture themselves in those fields.
What This Means for Families
For parents, these platforms gather academic and career goals in one place. Instead of logging into separate sites to request transcripts, build resumes, or search for internships, families can see progress on a single dashboard. This transparency makes planning for life after graduation easier to understand. For teachers and counselors, automating administrative tasks like sending letters of recommendation or tracking deadlines frees up time to work directly with students.
What You Can Do
To get started, ask your child to log into Xello or whatever career platform their school uses. You can look at their career matches and academic plans together to start a conversation about what interests them.
Next, contact the school’s guidance department to ask how they track internships or job shadowing. Finding out which local companies partner with the school can help your child find hands-on experience before they graduate.
Finally, treat the software as a tool rather than a replacement for personal guidance. Remind your child to meet regularly with their school counselor or career specialist to connect their digital plans with real-world jobs.