What courses should I take?

Individual Career and Academic Planning (ICAP) is a requirement for all students grades 8-12. Beginning in eighth-grade students will start to make their individual career and academic plan (ICAP), which is a personalized plan that is developed by students and their parents or guardians, in collaboration with school counselors and educators to ensure readiness for postsecondary and workforce success. The ICAP will help students:

identify strengths and interests | establish personalized academic and career goals | relate that information to college and career planning

explore postsecondary career and educational opportunities | align course work and curriculum | apply to post-secondary institutions

and ultimately enter the workforce or higher education

The ICAP Curriculum

The ICAP curriculum will expose students to the 16 career clusters listed below. Students should take classes tailored to their cluster, which helps them navigate their way to greater success - no matter what they choose to do after high school graduation. Each cluster includes multiple career pathways. The aim of the program is to show students the relevance of what they are learning in the classroom, whether they want to attend a two-year college, a four-year college or go straight into the world of work. Students will begin to learn about potential careers in elementary and middle school so that they are ready to choose a pathway to pursue.

• Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

• Architecture & Construction

• Arts, A/V Technology & Communications

• Business Management & Administration

• Education & Training

• Finance

• Government & Public Administration

• Health Science

• Hospitality & Tourism

• Human Services

• Information Technology

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

• Manufacturing

• Marketing

• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

• Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Important Definitions

Career Clusters

Career clusters are broad occupational groupings based on a set of common knowledge and skills required for a specific career. Career clusters provide opportunities for all students regardless of their career goals and interests.

Career Pathways

Career Pathways are a sub-grouping of occupations and career specialties used as an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction. Career pathways are grouped based on their requirements for a set of common knowledge and skills for career success.

Program of Study

A Program of Study is a sequence of instruction (based on recommended standards, and knowledge and skills) This sequence of instruction provides preparation for a career.

Individualized Career and Academic Plan (ICAP)

An Individual graduation plan includes a program of study and learning that represents a mapped academic plan that reflects a student’s unique set of interests, needs, learning goals, and graduation requirements. It goes beyond the “four-year plan” by recording the student’s connections to the larger community including examples of community service and volunteerism; membership in community organizations, participation in leadership activities outside of school; involvement in job shadowing, mentorships, and/or apprenticeships; and the pursuit of skill development through hobbies, athletics, and fine arts.

Career Pathways Benefits

• Provide a framework for seamless education. They are the core of the workforce and economic development in our state.

• Promote the connection between education and workforce/economic development
  Provide a seamless transition from high school to college or work

• Focus on high skill, high demand, and high wage careers

• Increase emphasis on attainment of technical skill proficiency, degree/credentials