A NEW VISION: The WI Comprehensive School Counseling and Individual Learning Plans

1. A NEW VISION:The WI Comprehensive School Counselingand Individual Learning Plans Presented by Gary L. Spear , School Counseling Consultant, WI Department of Public Instruction , 2008 Power point was revised by Pamela Hilleshiem Setz, CESA 5, 2010

2. The New Model is aimed at Reducing Student Failures! • Highest failure rates in K-12 education: Grade 9 • Failure rates are 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]

3. Redesign for Success • Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Student and Parent Educational/ Career Planning Conferences • Individual Learning Plans (ILP)

4. Comprehensive School Counseling • A Comprehensive School Counseling program is driven by student data; is based on standards in academic, career and personal/social development; and promotes/enhances the learning process for all students! • The Comprehensive School Counseling program: • ensures equity and access to a rigorous education for all students • identifies the knowledge and skillsall students will acquire • is delivered to all students in a systematic fashion • is based on data-driven decision making • is provided by a state-credentialed school counselor

5. Comprehensive School Counseling • 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.

6. Parent and Student Educational/Career Conferences • 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.

7. P/S Conference Benefits • 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

8. Purpose of the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) • Provide students with structured opportunities in grades 8-12 to: • Investigate the inter-relationship of their educational achievements, • Define their life goals, • Engage in career planning, training and placement, • Evaluate the present job market and analyze future trends • Propose career options based on their Individual Learning Plan.

9. The Difference between a Learning Record and Individual Learning Plan • Learning Record versus Learning Plan • Traditional Four Year Plan • A format that serves as a learning record and looks at the past . Asks “What classes have you taken?” • Individual Learning Plan • A format that identifies what is to be achieved and looks toward the future. Asks “What classes are needed to make you successful in achieving your future goals?”

10. Four Year Plan – A Record of Courses

11. Individual Learning Plan

12. Individual Learning Plan • 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

13. Sample ILP Benchmarks • 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

14. ILP Components • Curricular Domains [required] • Academic • Career • Personal/Social • Program of Study [required] • Portfolio / E-Portfolio [highly suggested]

15. Curricular Domains • 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.

16. Domain Goals

17. PROGRAM of STUDY

18. Suggested Portfolio Components • Statement of Purpose / Career Goal • Transcript • Assessment and Inventory data • Cover Letters / Letters of Recommendation • Strengths and Skills • Leadership Activities • Plan for Achieving a Career Goal

19. Portfolio Components • Work Experience • Supervised Work-based Learning • Service Learning/Community-Volunteer Service • Extra/Co-Curricular Activities • Awards and Honors • Communication Skills (Verbal and Written) • 21st Century Skills

20. Ways to Evaluation and Determine Impact of the ILP • Participation data in conferences and ILP related activities • Student feedback on ILP related activities • Parent/guardian feedback • School improvement data goals that relate to the ILP • Standards and benchmarks accomplished • Postsecondary data in acceptation, attendance and completion.

21. Summary • The Individualized Learning Plan should begin by 8th grade and continue being developed in a systematic fashion through 12th grade. • Students will become more successful in following their hopes and dreams when they have a well thought out plan to follow!

22. For More Information • Please contact your school counselor: • Name: • Phone / E-mail: • Please contact your local School to Work Coordinator: • Name: • Phone/E-mail: