Academic and Career Planning is a process that is designed to help all students make informed choices about postsecondary education, training, and/or careers for life after high school. Three components make up the holistic ACP approach: academic readiness; college and career readiness; and social emotional readiness.

Career-based learning and work-based learning are important components of the Academic and Career Planning process by helping prepare students in the area of college and career readiness. All work-based opportunities are career-based learning, but not all career-based learning opportunities are work-based learning.