Academic & Career Planning
What is Academic and Career Planning (ACP)?
Academic and Career Planning (ACP) is a student-driven, adult-supported process that helps students create their own vision for success after high school.
Through ACP, students explore their interests, strengths, and possible career paths. This happens through self-exploration, career exploration, and developing career-planning skills that help students make informed decisions about their future.
All students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 in public school districts participate in ACP.
ACP is for Every Student
ACP is designed for all students—every single one. This includes students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Post-Secondary Transition Plans, as well as students with Section 504 Accommodation Plans, English Learners, Gifted and Talented students, and students who are homeless or considered neglected or delinquent.
Our goal is to help students earn a diploma by design, not by default. We do this by helping students build strong relationships with supportive adults, develop the ability to adapt to opportunities and challenges, and begin their personalized journeys toward successful lives.
What Role Do Families Play in ACP?
Families are an important part of the ACP process. Families are encouraged to review their child’s plan and talk with them about their interests, strengths, and opportunities. These conversations help students make thoughtful decisions that align with their goals for the future.
Do Students Have to Choose a Career in 6th Grade?
No. Students are not expected to declare a career choice in 6th grade.
ACP is meant to be a time for students to learn more about themselves and explore how their interests and strengths may connect to future opportunities and careers. School staff, families, community members, and students all work together to support this exploration.
As students move through middle and high school, their plans are reviewed and updated regularly so they can make thoughtful decisions about their future.
What If a Student Changes Their Mind?
That is completely expected. ACP is designed to help students discover, explore, and learn as their interests and skills develop over time. Students are encouraged to review and revise their plans regularly as they grow and gain new experiences.
Changing goals is a natural part of the process and helps students make more informed decisions about their future.
Our Students are College, Career, and Life Ready
ACP Curriculum, Support and Services
To help us reach the above goal for our 6-12 grade students, we have different learning experiences that are supported by AASD staff:
Career Based Learning Benchmarks
- Early Childhood - Grade 5: Students will be exposed to various career opportunities to connect to personal interests, talents, and employability skills.
- Grades 6 - 8: Students will self-reflect and leverage personal and career networks to plan for high school course selections, co-curricular participation, and employment opportunities to carry out their ACP.
- Grades 9 - 10: Students identify an adult mentor/advisor from their ACP personal network to articulate their personalized mid-point ACP progress.
- Grades 11 - 12: Students will graduate with a post-secondary plan to implement with a backup plan, an actual real-world exposure in their career-focused area, and participate in a reflective evaluation-exit interview before graduation.
- College, Career, and Community Ready: All AASD graduates will be academically prepared & socially & emotionally competent by demonstrating content knowledge, career readiness, and life skills through their Academic and Career Plan (ACP) process.
Current Progress, Future Goals, and Professional Development
We monitor and align ACP goals through our District Coherent Governance Policies R.3, District Scorecard, and individual school scorecards. We continue to have a goal of increasing connections between students and opportunities within our community, being responsive to their interests/needs, and adapting to the workforce needs.
Academic and Career planning professional development is embedded in our site's continuous school improvement plans and district offerings. Staff have had the opportunity to learn through local industry tours, use of Xello training, and partnership with Fox Valley Technical College.
Post Secondary Education and Workforce Preparation
The ACP program within the AASD ensures every student is prepared for their post-secondary life after high school. This includes:
- High School Course and Career Planning
- Career and technical education is provided in the school district in grades 6-12.
- Courses that provide advanced placement and/or advanced standing.
- Early College Credit Program and Start College Now
- Postsecondary education preparation
- Work-Based Learning - Youth apprenticeship, CTE Internship, and Project Search
- Simulated Work Experiences - PAES Lab, School Stores, House Construction
- Industry Recognized Credentials offered: Microsoft MOS, Adobe, Photoshop, Illustrator, Employability Skills, Leadership Skills, and OSHA Certifications
- Career and Technical Education Student Organizations: DECA, HOSA, Educators Rising, and SkillsUSA
- Awareness of current workforce needs through local workforce development resources.
All students in the AASD will experience a dynamic Academic Career Plan. This plan evolves from PK-12 learning experiences, both in and out of school, that support employability skills, career awareness, exploration, planning and training.