Individualized Learning Plans: Scope and Sequence

Second Step: Grades K-5

Success Bound: Grades 6-8

Learn.Plan.Succeed.

Learn.Plan.Succeed. is a high school graduation requirement intended to help guide students in reaching postsecondary success. To meet the Learn.Plan.Succeed. requirement, seniors must provide to their school counselor evidence of their postsecondary plans.

Graduating high school is a landmark achievement for students, and we’re making sure it’s not the last! The Learn.Plan.Succeed. (LPS) initiative is a multi-year approach designed to ensure that students and families receive proper planning and support to prepare them for success in college, career and civic life. The initiative consists of a series of supports and includes a high school graduation requirement -- all students must demonstrate evidence of a postsecondary plan prior to graduating high school. 

LPS does four things:

1. LPS confirms the commitment of Chicago Public Schools to provide a high-quality education to every child by ensuring every student has equitable access to resources and supports to successfully complete, realize and fulfill a concrete postsecondary plan.

2. LPS is a high school graduation requirement. It requires students to demonstrate evidence of a postsecondary plan prior to graduating high school.

3. LPS expands the definition of postsecondary to include six pathways: college, military, employment, job training, apprenticeship, and gap year programs. 

4. LPS ensures that every student is supported and prepared in completing an Individual Learning Plan (ILP)—starting in grade 6 and through grade 12—to look beyond high school graduation toward fruitful careers and fulfilling lives.

Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)

A student’s Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) is at the core of Learn.Plan.Succeed. The ILP guides students through the process of exploring their personal, academic, and career interests and developing a plan for what they are going to do after high school graduation. 

With support and guidance from their school counselor, teachers and parents, students from grades six through 12 work towards achieving goals and specific milestones. The ILP informs students' decisions about courses and activities throughout high school. Students are required to complete their ILP in order to meet the Learn.Plan.Succeed. graduation requirement.

Students access their ILP on SchooLinks, a college and career readiness software platform tool. Parents can ask their school counselor for access to SchooLinks.

Postsecondary Pathways

CPS recognizes six postsecondary options that fulfill the Learn.Plan.Succeed. graduation requirement. With help from school counselors, college and career coaches, teachers, trusted peers and family, students can start to define career goals and develop postsecondary plans. Learn more about Learn.Plan.Succeed. Postsecondary Pathways.

Students must upload to SchooLinks evidence of their “first choice/preferred” postsecondary commitment prior to their scheduled graduation. School counselors will verify and confirm the evidence in SchooLinks.

If students anticipate that an extreme or extenuating circumstances will prevent them from securing evidence of their postsecondary plan by May 31 of their senior year, they should consult with their school counselor to inquire about alternate options to meet this graduation requirement.

Accepted Types of Evidence

CPS accepts the following types of documents as evidence of a postsecondary plan:

• College Pathway: Acceptance Letter or Financial Aid Notice

• Military Pathway: Enlistment contract

• Employment Pathway: Employment offer letter or confirmation of continuation of employment

• Job Training Programs Pathway: Acceptance letter

• Apprenticeship Pathway: Acceptance letter

• Gap Year Pathway: Acceptance letter

Other evidence is acceptable for each postsecondary pathway. Students should consult with their school counselor to inquire about alternate evidence to meet this graduation requirement.