In Wisconsin, the Academic and Career Plan (ACP) is a comprehensive, student-driven process intended to equip students in grades 6-12 with knowledge, skills, and tools to make informed decisions about their academic and career paths. This approach is rooted in the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards, which emphasize preparing students for both post-secondary education and the workforce. Below is an outline of the Mineral Point Middle and High School ACP for grades 6-12, aligned to the Wisconsin standards.

Core Elements of the ACP Process

1. Self-Awareness: Students identify their strengths, interests, and values.

2. Career Exploration: Students explore various career options and their corresponding educational requirements.

3. Academic Planning: Students plan their course selections based on personal goals and career aspirations.

4. Career Preparation: Students engage in activities such as job shadowing, internships, and skill-building that align with their career interests.

Grade-Specific Academic and Career Plan Outline

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

The goal in middle school is to build self-awareness, explore careers, and develop a foundation for high school planning.

Grade 6: Introduction to Self-Discovery and Exploration

1. • Focus: Personal reflection, self-awareness, and initial career exploration.

   • Activities:

     • Take personality and interest assessments.

     • Begin to identify strengths, hobbies, and interests.

     • Introduce students to the concept of careers and the workplace.

     • Start using career exploration tools such as Xello.

     • Set short-term academic and personal goals.

   • Skills: Communication, collaboration, problem-solving, study habits.

Grade 7: Career Research and Academic Planning

1. • Focus: Broaden career exploration and understand the relationship between academics and careers.

   • Activities:

     • Continue exploring different career clusters (e.g., health sciences, STEM, arts).

     • Learn about the education and training required for different careers.

     • Introduce academic planning, including elective courses that align with student interests.

     • Set academic goals for high school.

   • Skills: Research, decision-making, goal-setting.

Grade 8: Preparing for High School and Career Pathways

1. • Focus: Finalize a preliminary academic and career plan for high school.

   • Activities:

     • Refine career interests through in-depth research on specific jobs and industries.

     • Develop a 4-year high school plan (course selection).

     • Explore different post-secondary pathways (college, vocational training, military, etc.).

     • Participate in career fairs or job-shadowing experiences if available.

   • Skills: Planning, critical thinking, time management.

High School (Grades 9-12)

High school students focus on refining career interests, setting academic goals, and engaging in career-preparatory activities.

Grade 9: Academic Planning and Career Alignment

4. • Focus: Establish a strong academic foundation that aligns with career goals.

   • Activities:

     • Review and update the 4-year academic plan based on career interests.

     • Begin taking classes that match career interests (e.g., STEM, arts, business).

     • Explore extracurricular activities that support career goals (clubs, sports, student organizations).

     • Start developing essential workplace skills like time management, teamwork, and leadership.

   • Skills: Academic planning, self-assessment, initiative.

Grade 10: Career Exploration and Skill Development

4. • Focus: Deepen career exploration through experiential learning.

   • Activities:

     • Participate in career-related activities like job shadowing, internships, or volunteer work.

     • Explore advanced coursework or dual-enrollment opportunities.

     • Research post-secondary options, such as technical schools, universities, or apprenticeships.

     • Update the academic and career plan to reflect changes in goals or interests.

   • Skills: Job research, resume building, real-world experience.

Grade 11: Postsecondary Planning

4. • Focus: Focus on preparing for post-secondary education and/or career training.

   • Activities:

     • Refine the career plan based on job shadowing or internships completed.

     • Begin preparing for college entrance exams (ACT/SAT) or industry certifications.

     • Research colleges, technical schools, apprenticeships, or military options.

     • Attend career fairs, college fairs, or other informational events.

     • Seek out mentorship or guidance from school counselors, teachers, or industry professionals.

   • Skills: Advanced research, networking, academic prioritization.

Grade 12: Career Readiness and Transition

4. • Focus: Finalize post-secondary plans and develop career readiness.

   • Activities:

     • Finalize college or job applications.

     • Secure internships, apprenticeships, or job opportunities aligned with career goals.

     • Learn job search strategies, interview skills, and resume writing.

     • Apply for scholarships or financial aid for college or vocational training.

     • Participate in mock interviews and career-readiness workshops.

   • Skills: Job search techniques, financial literacy, professionalism.

Supporting Activities Across Grades

• Advisory Sessions: Regular meetings with school counselors or advisors to review academic and career goals.

• Parent/Guardian Involvement: Encouraging active participation from parents/guardians in discussing career and academic plans.

• Workplace Learning: Opportunities for job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and cooperative work programs.

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Enroll in CTE courses aligned with career interests.

Key Outcomes

By the end of grade 12, students should:

• Have a clear understanding of their strengths, interests, and career goals.

• Be able to connect academic experiences with career pathways.

• Possess the skills necessary for a smooth transition into post-secondary education or the workforce.

This ACP aligns with Wisconsin’s vision of preparing students for college and career success through personalized academic planning and a focus on self-exploration and skill development.

The ACP curriculum in Wisconsin is aligned with standards such as ELA (English Language Arts), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Career & Technical Education (CTE), all of which focus on the development of 21st-century skills (communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking). The Wisconsin Model Academic Standards (WMAS) further ensure students are career-ready through college and career readiness indicators.

Grade-Specific ACP Curriculum Outline

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

The ACP curriculum for middle school focuses on building awareness of personal strengths, academic skills, and career options. Students begin to connect what they are learning in school to potential future careers.

Grade 6: Self-Awareness and Exploration

• Self-Awareness:

  • Complete personal interest inventories, learning style assessments.

  • Reflect on hobbies, activities, and strengths.

• Career Exploration:

  • Begin to explore different career clusters through online tools like Xello or Career Cruising.

  • Connect core academic subjects (Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies) to real-world applications.

• Academic Focus:

  • Build foundational skills in math, reading, writing, and science aligned with state standards.

  • Understand how academic subjects relate to different careers (e.g., math in engineering, science in healthcare).

Grade 7: Expanding Career Knowledge

• Self-Awareness:

  • Deepen self-awareness through personality assessments and skills reflection.

• Career Exploration:

  • Explore career clusters in greater depth, focusing on education requirements for different careers.

  • Use project-based learning in courses like science and social studies to research various industries (e.g., sustainability, technology).

• Academic Focus:

  • Emphasize core competencies like critical reading, problem-solving in math, scientific inquiry, and civic engagement in social studies.

  • Start planning for high school by reviewing academic options and elective courses.

Grade 8: Preparing for High School

• Self-Awareness:

  • Review and adjust career interests based on deeper exploration.

• Career Exploration:

  • Conduct more specific research into job responsibilities, salaries, and education pathways.

  • Attend career fairs or participate in virtual career explorations.

• Academic Focus:

  • Develop a personalized 4-year academic plan that includes elective courses aligned with potential career interests (e.g., coding, business, health sciences).

  • Engage in project-based learning and interdisciplinary projects to integrate skills across subjects (e.g., history projects involving critical writing, math statistics applied to real-world problems).

High School (Grades 9-12)

In high school, the ACP curriculum intensifies academic rigor and career exploration, with students actively planning for post-secondary education and work experiences. Career preparation and technical skills become increasingly relevant.

Grade 9: Academic Planning and Career Alignment

• Self-Awareness:

  • Set short-term academic and long-term career goals.

• Career Exploration:

  • Enroll in career exploration courses or workshops that cover various career fields (agriculture, business, health sciences, etc.).

  • Explore potential pathways, such as attending a university, technical school, or entering a trade.

• Academic Focus:

  • Take introductory CTE courses (e.g., business, technology, and engineering) based on career interests.

  • Engage in ELA coursework that focuses on critical thinking, communication, and information literacy.

  • Ensure core courses in math and science align with state standards and are relevant to future career paths (e.g., STEM fields).

Grade 10: Career Exploration and Skill Development

• Career Exploration:

  • Participate in job shadowing, mentorship programs, or volunteering to gain real-world experience.

  • Explore Youth Apprenticeships or other technical programs to get hands-on learning.

• Academic Focus:

  • Take advanced math and science courses, like algebra, geometry, biology, or chemistry, to prepare for college-level coursework.

  • Involve students in ELA projects that include research, technical writing, and presentations that simulate workplace communication.

  • Encourage elective choices that align with career aspirations (e.g., art for graphic design, computer science for IT careers).

Grade 11: Postsecondary and Career Planning

• Self-Awareness:

  • Review and refine career and academic goals based on exploration and experiences from the previous years.

• Career Exploration:

  • Conduct in-depth research on post-secondary education or career training programs.

  • Take the ACT/SAT or other relevant exams for college admissions.

  • Attend college and career fairs.

• Academic Focus:

  • Continue building advanced skills in math, ELA, science, and social studies that are critical for post-secondary success.

  • Develop workplace and technical skills through CTE coursework, internships, or dual-enrollment programs with local colleges.

Grade 12: Career Readiness and Transition

• Career Preparation:

  • Finalize plans for post-secondary education, technical training, or direct entry into the workforce.

  • Complete necessary applications for colleges, jobs, or apprenticeships.

  • Develop essential job-readiness skills such as resume writing, interviewing, and financial literacy.

• Academic Focus:

  • Take capstone courses or participate in internships that offer hands-on experience in chosen career fields.

  • In ELA, focus on professional communication, technical writing, and public speaking to prepare for workplace demands.

  • Continue with advanced courses in STEM, social studies, or arts that align with career goals (e.g., physics for engineering, economics for business).

  • Engage in college-prep courses or industry certification programs to ensure readiness for post-secondary success.

Integrated Curriculum Strategies

• Project-Based Learning: Integrate cross-disciplinary projects in all grades, helping students make real-world connections between subjects.

• Advisory and ACP Time: Dedicated advisory periods where students reflect on academic progress, career exploration, and skill-building.

• Workplace Learning: Opportunities for job shadowing, internships, youth apprenticeships, and community service.

• Parental Involvement: Engage families in the ACP process through regular meetings, parent nights, and career planning workshops.

Key Outcomes

By graduation, students will:

• Have a clear understanding of how their academic choices relate to future careers.

• Possess the skills and knowledge required for their chosen post-secondary path.

• Be able to make informed decisions about their career and life choices.

This curriculum structure ensures that students are ready for success in college, the workplace, or any other post-secondary pursuits by equipping them with the academic knowledge, career exploration experiences, and skills needed for life after high school.

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