Academic & Career Plan and Portfolio Process

Section One: Career Development Intervention Chart: Tier One Interventions

Section Two: Academic and Career Plan Process

1. Demographics	Process Description
What grade will the Plan and Portfolio Start?	The Academic and Career Plan will begin in 6th grade and the Career Portfolio will begin in 3rd grade.
Will the plan/portfolio be electronic, hard copy or both?	The Academic and Career Plan will be Electronic via Smart Futures.
Who will be responsible for maintaining the portfolio?	The student and school counselor will be responsible for maintaining the portfolio with the support of the classroom teacher
What demographic information will be included on the student portfolio?	Name, School, School district ID, PA secure ID, address, DOB, Class of, Counselor Name

2. Interventions, Assessments & Decisions	Process Description by Grade based on when the plan starts. What the students can know and do at each grade level and in each strand of the Career Education and Work Standards.
Grade 6	Students will complete two Smart Future Lessons: 1) Career Clusters and Pathways and 5) My Interest Survey. SEW Strands: 13.1.8 Students will be able to make decisions regarding which clubs and extracurricular activities to participate in.
Grade 7	Students will complete three Smart Futures Lessons: 4) Learning from Entrepreneurs, 6) My Work Values Survey and 7) Knowledge, Skill, Ability Survey SEW Strands: 13.1.8, 13.4.8 Students will be considered for a placement in Honors 1 Algebra in Grade 8 based on overall score in Grade 7 Math, standardized testing data (i.e., IXL, MAP, CDT, PSSAs), and teacher recommendation. Students will be provided the opportunity to sign-up for Spanish I elective to be taken in Grade 8. Final decision to enter the course will be made in collaboration between family, school counselor, and administrators.
Grade 8	Students will complete two Smart Futures Lessons: 2) My Resume Activity and 4) Conflict Resolution. SEW Strands: 13.2.8, 13.3.8 In January, students will visit Interboro High School to learn about extracurricular activities that are available. SEW Strands: 13.1.8 In February, high school principals provide information regarding course selection, graduation pathways, extracurricular activities, and student expectations. School counselors then have classroom presentations further discussing high school core courses, electives, and experiences. SEW Strands: 13.1.8, 13.2.8
Grade 9 .	Students will complete Smart Futures Lessons 1 - 3: New Thinking about Career Success, My Personality Type and Job Application. School Counselors hold classroom presentations to discuss available high school courses and graduation requirements. Objectives for the first three Smart Future Lessons: Students will explore the post-secondary paths to career choices, identify personal characteristics that compliment career paths, and learn how to complete a job application and educate students on appropriate components of a job application. Act 158 Pathway to Graduation requirements are introduced to 9th grade students.
Grade 10	Students will complete Smart Futures Lessons 4 - 6: Preparation for Career, Abilities and Aptitudes, and Personal Interests. Objectives for Smart Futures Lessons include: Students will evaluate the different education paths to career choices, identify careers that complement students’ skills and interests, and discover how their personality type helps define career choices. Students will begin to work towards completion of their Graduation Pathway. Students will receive a classroom presentation from School Counselors to discuss available high school courses and graduation requirements.
Grade 11	Students will complete Smart Futures Lessons 7 - 8: Career Clusters and Pathways, and Experiencing Careers While Still in School. Objectives for Smart Futures Lessons include: Identifying a career cluster and pathway that match students’ interests, abilities, and aptitudes, and identifying workplace opportunities that students can take advantage of while still in school. Students will receive a classroom presentation from School Counselors to discuss available high school courses and graduation requirements. Students will begin to work towards completion of their Graduation Pathway.
Grade 12	Objectives for 12th-grade students include: successfully earning all required credits towards graduation, completing Act 158 Pathway graduation requirement, and attaining post-secondary goals (i.e.college admissions, employment acquisition, military enlistment). Students will implement the steps toward their post-secondary plan with support from the School Counselor. Students will complete their Act 158 Pathway to Graduation by the end of their senior year.

2. Interventions, Assessments & Decisions

Process Description by Grade based on when the plan starts.

What the students can know and do at each grade level and in each strand of the Career Education and Work Standards.

Grade 6

Students will complete two Smart Future Lessons: 1) Career Clusters and Pathways and 5) My Interest Survey.

SEW Strands: 13.1.8

Students will be able to make decisions regarding which clubs and extracurricular activities to participate in.

Grade 7

Students will complete three Smart Futures Lessons: 4) Learning from Entrepreneurs, 6) My Work Values Survey and 7) Knowledge, Skill, Ability Survey

SEW Strands: 13.1.8, 13.4.8

Students will be considered for a placement in Honors 1 Algebra in Grade 8 based on overall score in Grade 7 Math, standardized testing data (i.e., IXL, MAP, CDT, PSSAs), and teacher recommendation.

Students will be provided the opportunity to sign-up for Spanish I elective to be taken in Grade 8. Final decision to enter the course will be made in collaboration between family, school counselor, and administrators.

Grade 8

Students will complete two Smart Futures Lessons: 2) My Resume Activity and 4) Conflict Resolution.

SEW Strands: 13.2.8, 13.3.8

In January, students will visit Interboro High School to learn about extracurricular activities that are available.

SEW Strands: 13.1.8

In February, high school principals provide information regarding course selection, graduation pathways, extracurricular activities, and student expectations. School counselors then have classroom presentations further discussing high school core courses, electives, and experiences.

SEW Strands: 13.1.8, 13.2.8

Grade 9

Students will complete Smart Futures Lessons 1 - 3: New Thinking about Career Success, My Personality Type and Job Application.

School Counselors hold classroom presentations to discuss available high school courses and graduation requirements.

Objectives for the first three Smart Future Lessons: Students will explore the post-secondary paths to career choices, identify personal characteristics that compliment career paths, and learn how to complete a job application and educate students on appropriate components of a job application.

Act 158 Pathway to Graduation requirements are introduced to 9th grade students.

Grade 10

Students will complete Smart Futures Lessons 4 - 6: Preparation for Career, Abilities and Aptitudes, and Personal Interests.

Objectives for Smart Futures Lessons include: Students will evaluate the different education paths to career choices, identify careers that complement students’ skills and interests, and discover how their personality type helps define career choices.

Students will begin to work towards completion of their Graduation Pathway.

Students will receive a classroom presentation from School Counselors to discuss available high school courses and graduation requirements.

Grade 11

Students will complete Smart Futures Lessons 7 - 8: Career Clusters and Pathways, and Experiencing Careers While Still in School.

Objectives for Smart Futures Lessons include: Identifying a career cluster and pathway that match students’ interests, abilities, and aptitudes, and identifying workplace opportunities that students can take advantage of while still in school.

Students will receive a classroom presentation from School Counselors to discuss available high school courses and graduation requirements. Students will begin to work towards completion of their Graduation Pathway.

Grade 12

Objectives for 12th-grade students include: successfully earning all required credits towards graduation, completing Act 158 Pathway graduation requirement, and attaining post-secondary goals (i.e.college admissions, employment acquisition, military enlistment).

Students will implement the steps toward their post-secondary plan with support from the School Counselor. Students will complete their Act 158 Pathway to Graduation by the end of their senior year.

Student Development of their Plan: Interventions and decisions by students and families during each grade

Grade 6: Students will be able to utilize their plan to make decisions regarding the activities and extracurriculars they are participating in.

Grade 7: Students will be able to utilize their plan to make decisions regarding the activities and extracurriculars they are participating in. Students will be able to determine if they would like to participate in Spanish I in Grade 8.

Grade 8: Students will utilize their plan to make decisions during High School Course Selection and the High School Activities Fair.

Grade 9: Students will participate in counselor lead sessions and/or events to develop a post-secondary plans which includes 9th Grade Orientation, course selection, , DCTS Information Session, College & Career Fair, and College Representative Visits to IHS.

Grade 10: Students will participate in counselor lead sessions and/or events to develop a post-secondary plans which includes course selection, DCTS Information Session, College & Career Fair, DCCC Pathway and open Dual Enrollment Information Session, College Representative Visits to IHS, and College Campus Tours.

Grade 11: Students will participate in counselor lead sessions and/or events to develop a post-secondary plans which includes course selection, Junior College Planning Night, Junior Financial Aid Planning Night, Open DCCC Dual Enrollment Information Session, College & Career Fair, Financial Reality Fair, DCTS Medical Careers Presentation, College Representative Visits to IHS, and College Campus Tours

Grade 12: Students will participate in counselor lead sessions and/or events to develop a post-secondary plan which includes College & Career Fair, FAFSA Completion Night, Senior College & Career Walk-In Hours, and College Representative Visits to IHS.

Parental & Guardian Engagement: What strategies will be used to inform parents/guardians to engage them in the Academic/Career Plan and Portfolio process for their children?

Level of Parent & Guardians	Awareness and Engagement Strategies
Community School Parents & Guardians	Blackboard communication asking parents to check Career Plan on Smart Futures and course requests in HAC.
High School Parents & Guardians	Blackboard communication asking parents to check Smart Futures and course requests in HAC. SmartFutures will be implemented during Advisory Periods. Students will be informed of their SmartFutures status quarterly with a hard copy and electronic communication. Manage Schoology “Scholarship” and “Job Board” Groups Bucs Bulletin updates on the happenings within the Counseling Department. Counseling Department Social Media posts (Instagram and X). Coffee with the Counselors available for viewing on YouTube.

Level of Parent & Guardians

Awareness and Engagement Strategies

Community School Parents & Guardians

Blackboard communication asking parents to check Career Plan on Smart Futures and course requests in HAC.

High School Parents & Guardians

Blackboard communication asking parents to check Smart Futures and course requests in HAC.

SmartFutures will be implemented during Advisory Periods.

Students will be informed of their SmartFutures status quarterly with a hard copy and electronic communication.

Manage Schoology “Scholarship” and “Job Board” Groups

Bucs Bulletin updates on the happenings within the Counseling Department.

Counseling Department Social Media posts (Instagram and X).

Coffee with the Counselors available for viewing on YouTube.

Faculty/Administrator Engagement: What strategy will be used to inform teachers/administrators in the process of development, maintenance and presentation of the plan and portfolio in elementary, middle and high school?

Level of Educators & Administrators	Awareness and Engagement Strategies
Community School	Share information at faculty meetings.
High School	Monthly status updates of completion during Guidance Meetings. Quarterly communication to teachers of students who have not completed their SmartFutures lessons. Teachers implement Smart Futures activities Teachers participate in college tours and student recommendations for trips. Ability to join Schoology Scholarship and Job Board Groups

Level of Educators & Administrators

Awareness and Engagement Strategies

Community School

Share information at faculty meetings.

High School

Monthly status updates of completion during Guidance Meetings.

Quarterly communication to teachers of students who have not completed their SmartFutures lessons.

Teachers implement Smart Futures activities

Teachers participate in college tours and student recommendations for trips.

Ability to join Schoology Scholarship and Job Board Groups

Plan/Portfolio Sustainability and Review	What strategies will be developed to assist students with updating and sustaining the plan/process?
How will the plan and portfolio be revisited each year while in middle school and high school?	Smart Future lessons will be presented and monitored in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Specific Smart Future lessons will generate an individual career plan for each student to be utilized at the high school level. Throughout high school, student portfolios will be utilized during the course selection process at individual student meetings in order to guide conversations and discuss available opportunities, which will assist with post-secondary planning.
What process will be used for the student to present the information on their plan at various times (i.e. Exit Interview or other events)?	School Counselors will monitor Smart Futures lessons for completion and meet with students as needed. Provide students with an opportunity to discuss their plan throughout individual meetings with their school counselors during the Spring semester at each grade level. During individual and team student meetings, student career clusters and post-secondary options can be utilized when selecting elective course offerings, DCCC Dual enrollment, and DCTS program placement.

Plan/Portfolio Sustainability and Review

What strategies will be developed to assist students with updating and sustaining the plan/process?

How will the plan and portfolio be revisited each year while in middle school and high school?

Smart Future lessons will be presented and monitored in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Specific Smart Future lessons will generate an individual career plan for each student to be utilized at the high school level.

Throughout high school, student portfolios will be utilized during the course selection process at individual student meetings in order to guide conversations and discuss available opportunities, which will assist with post-secondary planning.

What process will be used for the student to present the information on their plan at various times (i.e. Exit Interview or other events)?

School Counselors will monitor Smart Futures lessons for completion and meet with students as needed. Provide students with an opportunity to discuss their plan throughout individual meetings with their school counselors during the Spring semester at each grade level. During individual and team student meetings, student career clusters and post-secondary options can be utilized when selecting elective course offerings, DCCC Dual enrollment, and DCTS program placement.

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