This document discusses the importance of comprehensive school counseling programs, student and parent educational/career planning conferences, and individual learning plans in reducing failure rates among 9th grade students and helping them transition successfully. It notes that 9th grade has the highest failure rates which are correlated with dropping out. Comprehensive counseling programs, conferences, and ILPs can help connect students to post-secondary goals, exploratory courses, supportive adults, and ease the transition to high school. ILPs in particular provide a process for students to take responsibility for their future, educational achievement, and career goals.

1. School Counseling,
Plans of Study, and
Individual Learning
Plans
[C121 ]
Gary L. Spear
School Counseling Consultant
WI Department of Public Instruction

2.  Highest failure rates in K-12 education:
Grade 9
 Highly correlated to dropping out of high
school
 Some factors:
◦ Failure to connect to goals after high school
◦ Failure to enroll in exploratory or CTE courses
◦ Failure to connect with an adult in school
◦ Failure to transition to new environment
[SREB & ECS]
Reduce Failure

3.  Comprehensive School Counseling program
 Student and Parent Educational/Career
Planning Conferences
 Individual Learning Plans
Redesign for Success

4.  A comprehensive school counseling program is an
integral component of the school’s academic
mission. Comprehensive school counseling
programs, driven by student data and based on
standards in academic, career and personal/social
development, promote and enhance the learning
process for all students.
• ensures equity and access to a rigorous
education for all students
• identifies the knowledge and skills all students
will acquire as a result of the preK-12
comprehensive school counseling program
• is delivered to all students in a systematic
fashion
• is based on data-driven decision making
• is provided by a state-credentialed school
counselor
Comprehensive School
Counseling

5.  As students understand themselves,
explore the world around them and
establish goals for their futures, they
begin to see why an education is
important. They no longer attend school
simply to receive a diploma or avoid
truancy. Instead, students understand the
connection between success in school
today and success in their lives and
careers tomorrow.
Comprehensive School
Counseling

6.  Conferencing is a process that involves
activities planned and directed by school
counselors that assists students in planning,
monitoring, and managing their own
learning, as well as, their personal and career
development. Through these activities,
students are encouraged and given
opportunities to set and evaluate their
educational and career goals and develop
their Individual Learning Plan that will help
them achieve their educational, career and
life goals.
Educational/Career Conferences

7. • Students take responsibility for their future
• Students and parents gain insight into
student’s growth and development
• Parents feel more informed and involved
• Students and parents are motivated to be
involved earlier in post-secondary planning
• Student apprehension about school and
future goals is reduced
• A connection is developed between school,
parents, and students to ensure academic
success
[see session C143 - Conferences]
Conference Benefits

8.  Students will investigate the inter-
relationship of educational achievement,
life goals, career planning, training and
placement; evaluate the present job
market and analyze predictions of future
trends at local, regional, state, national
and global levels; and propose career
options based on their Individual Learning
Plan.
Individual Learning Plan

9.  Learning Record versus Learning Plan
◦ Traditional Four Year Plan
 A format that serves as a learning record and
looks toward the past
◦ Individual Learning Plan
 A format that identifies what is to be achieved and
looks toward the future
Individual Learning Plan

10. Four Year Plan
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE PLAN
1. Use pencil. Write in the courses you plan to take throughout high school.
a. Consider your school’s sample four-year course plans for the career major(s) which interests you.
b. Consider the following: Graduation Requirements / Postsecondary Admissions Requirements / NCAA Eligibility Requirements / Scholarship Requirements
2. Review your 4-Year High School Course Plan each semester.
a. Make revisions as needed.
c. Add your grades and credits for the previous semester.
9TH GRADE 10TH GRADE
1ST SEMSTER Grade 2ND SEMESTER Grade 1ST SEMESTER Grade 2ND SEMESTER Grade
TOTAL CREDITS CUMULATIVE CREDITS CUMULATIVE CREDITS CUMULATIVE CREDITS
CLASS RANK CLASS RANK CLASS RANK CLASS RANK
11TH GRADE 12TH GRADE
1ST SEMSTER Grade 2ND SEMESTER Grade 1ST SEMESTER Grade 2ND SEMESTER Grade
CUMULATIVE CREDITS CUMULATIVE CREDITS CUMULATIVE CREDITS CUMULATIVE CREDITS
CLASS RANK CLASS RANK CLASS RANK CLASS RANK

11. Individual Learning Plan
Learner Name ______________________________________ Date _____________________________________
Learner Signature ___________________________________ Advisor Signature _________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature (if required)__________________
This plan of study should serve as a guide, along with other career planning materials, as you continue your career path. Courses listed within this plan
are only recommended coursework and should be individualized to meet each learner’s educational and career goals. All plans should meet high school
graduation requirements as well as college entrance requirements.
9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
Technical College Two Year College College/University
 Child Care  Pre-Education  Early Childhood Education
 Family Services and Child Development  Elementary Education
 Secondary Education  Secondary Education
 Health, Physical Education & Recreation  Health and Physical Education
 English/Language Arts  Mathematics Education
 Mathematics  Music/Vocal and Instrumental Ed
 Science  Science Education
 History  Career & Technology Education
For more information visit : For more information visit:: For more information visit::
http://www.witechcolleges.com/ http://www.uwc.edu/ http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/index.asp
Work-based Learning Options Short-Term Training Options
Job-Shadowing:
 Teacher Aide
Internship/Mentorship:  Child Care as a Profession
 Physical and Intellectual Development
On-The-Job Training:
 Planning a Safe, Healthy Learning Environment
 Conversational Spanish

12.  ILP’s meet benchmarks within the Model
Academic Standards for school counseling
 ILP’s take into account what happens to
students outside the walls of the school
building
 ILP’s can provide a process and product for
students to use that opens them up to unique
educational and career opportunities
Individual Learning Plan

13.  B.1 Apply the skills necessary to improve
learning and make successful academic
transitions
◦ B.8.1.2 Apply critical thinking skills for making
successful academic transitions
 E.1 Apply self-knowledge in the decision-making
or goal-setting process
◦ E.8.1.1 Develop an action plan to achieve short- and
long-term goals
 H.1 Attain educational achievement and
performance levels needed to reach personal and
career goals
◦ H.8.1.5 Develop an individual learning plan to enhance
educational achievement and attain career goals
Sample ILP Benchmarks

14.  Curricular Domains [required]
◦ Academic
◦ Career
◦ Personal/Social
 Plan of Study [required]
 Portfolio / ePortfolio [optional
elements]
ILP Components

15.  Establish learning and/or developmental
goals in the three domains including
action plans and review
◦ Academic
 Plan of Study; achievement; attendance; etc.
◦ Career
 Cluster; pathway; plan of study; experiential;
education; etc.
◦ Personal/Social
 Peer; family & friends; organizations; community; etc.
Curricular Domains

16. Domain Goals
Individual Learning Plan
2008-2009
Academic Career Personal/Social
Student _____________________ Grade ______________
Goals Action Plan Review
Academic
Education
Plan of Study[college]
Career
Experiential
Plan of Study[career]
Personal/Social
Family & friends
Civic/community
Student signature _______________________________ Date ____________
Parent signature _______________________________ Date ____________
Counselor/advisor _______________________________ Date ____________

17. Plan of Study
Learner Name ______________________________________ Date _____________________________________
Learner Signature ___________________________________ Advisor Signature _________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature (if required)__________________
This plan of study should serve as a guide, along with other career planning materials, as you continue your career path. Courses listed within this plan
are only recommended coursework and should be individualized to meet each learner’s educational and career goals. All plans should meet high school
graduation requirements as well as college entrance requirements.
9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
English 9 English 10 English 11 English 12
Algebra I or Geometry Geometry or Algebra II Algebra II, Trigonometry or Statistics Trigonometry or Statistics or Calculus
Physical Science Biology I Chemistry Physics or Environmental Science
Geography/State History World History American History Economics/Government
Required Courses/Electives Required Courses/Electives Additional High School Electives Technical College Electives
PE, Health, Art, Foreign PE, Health, Art, Foreign Parenting & Child Development Child Care
Language, or Computer Language, or Computer Marriage & Family Life
Technology Technology Psychology
Career Electives Career Electives Sociology
Healthy Life Choices Career Orientation
Technical College Two Year College College/University
 Child Care  Pre-Education  Early Childhood Education
 Family Services and Child Development  Elementary Education
 Secondary Education  Secondary Education
 Health, Physical Education & Recreation  Health and Physical Education
 English/Language Arts  Mathematics Education
 Mathematics  Music/Vocal and Instrumental Ed
 Science  Science Education
 History  Career & Technology Education
For more information visit : For more information visit:: For more information visit::
http://www.witechcolleges.com/ http://www.uwc.edu/ http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/index.asp
Work-based Learning Options Short-Term Training Options
Job-Shadowing:
 Teacher Aide
Internship/Mentorship:  Child Care as a Profession
 Physical and Intellectual Development
On-The-Job Training:
 Planning a Safe, Healthy Learning Environment
 Conversational Spanish

18.  Statement of Purpose
 Transcript
 Assessment and inventory data
 Cover letters
 Letters of recommendation
 Strengths and skills
 Leadership Activities
Portfolio Components

19.  Work experience
 Work-based learning
 Service learning/community-volunteer
service
 Extra/co-curricular activities
 Awards and honors
 Language skills
 21st Century Skills
Portfolio Components

20.  Participation data
 Student feedback
 Parent/guardian feedback
 School improvement data goals
 Standards and benchmarks
 Scheduling data
 Postsecondary data
Evaluation and Impact