Guiding students in answering the types of questions that flesh out the education plan can help students and their advocates plan better for the future, and, just as important, can help give the student ownership over his or her goals. The plan is a personal blueprint for success from which transcripts, portfolios and other college documentation can be crafted.
Components of an Education Plan
An education plan can taken almost any form, but should generally include three parts:
- Narrative introduction featuring a short bio that includes a brief overview of interests, hobbies & goals, both personal and academic
- General overview of academic or learning plan, that you’ll break down in the next section
- Detailed learning plan
Narrative Introduction
The narrative sets the stage for the information to come. It’s basically a short biography, describing
- Where the student has attended school
- Special interests and abilities
- Student hopes for the future – personally – “I want to be happy and productive” and academically – “I’d like to earn a bachelor’s degree in …”
General Overview of Learning Plan
This section can include
- A general overview of types of courses already taken
- A list of courses the student plans or would like to take
- General work-study plans, including apprentice or mentoring plans
The Detailed Learning Plan
This part is best developed by helping the student answer some questions about his or her educational goals:
- What do you and the student think he or she needs to study or do in order to become what the students wants to become?
- What required and elective courses should the student be taking now help reach that goal?
- How might college credit be being earned through dual enrollment or other efforts?
- What experiences in school or in the community are helping the student reach his or her goals and provide opportunities to apply learning?
- How do current community and extra-curricular experiences relate to interests and goals? (opportunities for public speaking, research and presentations, etc.)
The detailed learning plan should include
- Either a bulleted or tabled chart showing classes already taken,
- Goals by semester or year for specific classes or credits,
- Real life experiences documenting service learning, workplace experiences, mentorships and internships, student leadership organization or clubs, athletics, or community service,
- Identification of “next steps” following high school completion and steps for successful transition. (2-year or 4-year college, 2-year or 4-year college, university, career school, apprenticeship, workforce, or military),
- Documentation of personal progress,
- Record of awards and accomplishments.
Reflections
Ideally, an education plan is the result of a lot of self-reflection, and self-questioning. The Consortium for Parent Information and Education provides a worksheet to help families develop education plans for their children.
It includes guiding questions about student characteristics, school preferences and educational values. The questions are geared towards parents, but can be adapted for guidance personnel use, or turned into first person inquiries to stimulate student thought. Questions for self reflection include things like:
- What are the student’s needs, strengths, weaknesses, and interests?
- What special qualities does the student possess?
- What academic, athletic, or other abilities stand out in the student?
- In what academic area(s) does the student need improvement or assistance?
- In what areas is the student expected to excel?
The education plan should be revisited a few times a year, and students should take the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned from their experiences and accomplishments.. The education plan should be a fluid and dynamic thing, adjusted to reflect student progress and evolving interests.
Answering questions about themselves and their future to help create an education plan helps makes the high school experience and what comes afterward intentional and meaningful for students, instead of haphazard and unplanned.
Helping students start moving into their futures with goals and focus sets the stage for a future that's successful and fulfilling.
Theresa Willingham - My goal, as a writer and photographer, is to create thought provoking and informative content that inspires community engagement, and ...
