High School Student Planning
During the high school years, personal plans of study developed in the middle school are reviewed and updated regularly in accordance with students’ post-secondary personal, educational, and occupational goals. The individual student planning component provides time for regular individual work with students as well as group sessions focusing on individual student planning. School counseling curriculum activities continue to support student planning by giving emphasis to the development and use of skills in decision making, goal setting, and planning. The importance and relevance of strong social/emotional, academic, and career development skills are stressed. The goal is for students’ personal plans of study to become pathways or guides through which they can use the past and present to anticipate and prepare for the future.
- Appraisal: School counselors coordinate efforts with teachers and administrators in order to interpret test results for parents/guardians and students, especially when assisting them with post-secondary planning. During high school, Individual Student Planning involves building on previous information contained in the resource file. This process helps student make wise choices when developing and revising their Personal Plans of Study.
- Education and Career Planning: Career Paths explored during middle school diverge into Career Clusters in late middle school and high school. Through individual career planning, high school students apply what they have learned about themselves and career paths to understanding occupations within a primary Career Cluster. This focus helps students continue their explorations in a deliberate manner. Students are encouraged to gain work experience within their Career Clusters of interest. As they progress through high school, they review and modify their Personal Plans of Study based on new knowledge about themselves and the world of work. K-12 Individual Student Planning skills will enable students to adapt to life changes. High school career development lessons address the Comprehensive School Counseling Grade Level Expectations.
- Transitions: To help students and their parents/guardians make the transition from middle school to high school, school counselors coordinate transition activities with teachers and administrators. Orientation for middle school students entering high school is offered at the end of the eighth grade. High school is a time of transition, concluding with entry into post-secondary education or the workforce. As students adjust to the changing expectations of each grade level, school counselors and school staff address these transitions. The Personal Plan of Study is reviewed and updated at least annually to ensure that it continues to provide direction toward the student’s academic and career goals.