Compliance vs. Best Practice

By Julie Jonuzi, Operations Program Associate, Career and Technical Education DPI

During the 2013-15 budget cycle, Wisconsin passed a budget bill that included funding and legal authority for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop an academic and career planning (ACP) process in accordance with Wisconsin Statute sec. 115.28 (59). Administrative Rule PI 26 was revised and updated in 2015 to outline components of a quality ACP program, while maintaining flexibility for design and delivery of the program by local school districts.  

So what does this mean for Wisconsin schools?

The revised administrative rule requires all school boards in the state of Wisconsin to provide academic and career planning services to pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 12 beginning in the 2017-18 school year. The term ACP refers to both a process that helps students engage in academic and career development activities as well as a product that is created and maintained for students’ academic, career, and personal achievement.  ACP requires district and school wide support as well as community and parental engagement.  It can provide clear benefits to both students and schools if districts support ACP efforts in a strategic and coordinated manner.

The biggest pushback administrators can face with ACP is time and staff buy-in.  It is vital that all stakeholders including district, school, and community members are aware of the benefits of ACP.  Once they have the fundamental information and see the value ACP could bring to their individual districts and communities, they will be more dedicated and willing to commit to a course of action. 

For successful ACP implementation, it’s important to adapt the ACP process to each school’s and student’s individual needs.  Marcia Waldron-Kuhn, Academic Advisor and teacher at School District of Mishicot, says “the ACP process allows for students to assess individual strengths and interests, and create their own goals for what they would like postsecondary success to look like”. This may include choosing the university route or entering the workforce directly, or any other option that would support their individual goals.  ACP allows schools to craft services which help students take ownership of current course-taking and planning for post-secondary goals.  Schools don’t have to have all the components in place from the start, but it is important to have an ACP Planning Team that has assessed initial needs and a web published plan to create a manageable process. In order to make this successful, buy in is needed not only at the school level, but also from the community at large.

The 2017 ACP Conference, on August 21-22, 2017, is an ideal way for teams to build on current work, as well as learn from others.  District Administrators are encouraged to attend with their teams.  For more information, please visit https://dpi.wi.gov/acp/2017-acp-conference. 

For helpful resources to help you begin having these critical conversations, please visit https://dpi.wi.gov/acp.   Stay current with ACP happenings by following us on Twitter, Google +, or ACP Blog. 

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Elementary Edition - Secondary Edition - District Level Edition