Academic & Career Planning
Academic & Career Planning
Each student has his or her own constellation of talents, interests and strengths. Academic and Career Planning, or ACP, is an adult-supported process that provides students in grades 6-12 with the opportunity to uncover their unique interests and strengths and investigate careers that dovetail with their passions and abilities. The process continues through the identification of middle and high school instructional activities aligned to a student's particular field of interest, and the development of a plan for understanding next steps in planning for the future.
Our ACP program authentically engages students in developing their future identity by providing meaningful experiences and making learning connections to build confidence, gain focus, and develop the passion that informs their career pathway. Our objective is that students will develop their sense of internal motivation and a vision for their future so that each student graduates with a sense of purpose, capable of taking advantage of vast opportunities to reach his or her career aspirations.
4 Stages to Academic and Career Planning
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Who am I?
- Self-awareness activities
- Individual reflection and goal-setting
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What do I want to do?
- Career awareness assessment
- Career research
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How do I get there?
- Connecting middle and high school instructional activities with opportunities to explore or learn more about a particular field of interest.
- Work-based learning opportunities
- Extra-curricular and community-based learning experiences
- Postsecondary training options
- Financial plan to cover cost of postsecondary training
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Do it!
- Update regularly
- Adapt/Modify Intentional Sequence of Courses
- Adapt/Modify Personal Goals
- Adapt/Modify Postsecondary/Career Goals
- ACP Conferencing with families
ACP Career & Mentor Series
Career Conversations
Homestead High School’s “Career Conversations" series provides students with opportunities to interact with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. This series also helps students understand and draw connections between what they are currently learning in school and their future career identity.
These sessions take place in a casual roundtable format, including approximately 10 students plus the mentor. Students may sign up in advance for specific mentors based on their occupation.
During their 30-minute presentation, the mentor discusses their background, what they currently do for an occupation, and the path (education/work experiences) that led them to their current occupation. The goal is to share about themself so that students feel connected to them and their experiences. Students then have 15 minutes to ask questions.
Topics covered by the career mentor usually include a brief biography, career description, the path to their current position, what they enjoy the most or least about their occupation, and opportunities for growth.
Career Path Series
The Career Path Series is offered to our middle and high school students as part of their ACP involvement. The purpose of this series is to provide students with opportunities to interact with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. This series also helps students understand and draw connections between what they are currently learning in school and their future career identity.
The guest speaker’s 30-minute presentation consists of their background, what they currently do for an occupation, and the path (education/work experiences) that led them to their current occupation. The goal is to share about themself so that students feel connected to them and their experiences. 15 minutes are available for student questions after the presentation.
Topics covered by the career mentor usually include a brief biography, career description, the path to their current position, what they enjoy the most or least about their occupation, and opportunities for growth.
Hello, Xello!
MTSD uses Xello to help students explore their future academic and career options. Xello is an engaging, online program that helps our students in grades 6-12 define their future goals and transform their aspirations into actionable plans for success. The program puts students at the center of their college and career planning experience. It helps them build self-knowledge, explore their options, create a plan, and develop the 21st-century skills needed to thrive in the world of work.
This career readiness system is an investment in the future of our students and children. We are excited about increasing access to powerful online tools that will help students explore, plan, and prepare for their future success.
ACP Community Partners
We invite community groups, organizations, and individuals to join us in igniting our student potential. Our community partners provide programs, services, or resources that help support student achievement. If you or your organization would like to be involved, please let us know!
Examples of Community Partnerships:
- Presenter/Facilitator: Share your personal and professional experiences and skills with students from your community.
- Mentor: Provide guidance to an individual, small group, or class in your field of expertise on an ongoing basis.
- Apprenticeship: Provide opportunities for students to grow their skills and experiences through an apprenticeship.
- Worksite Experience: Provide worksite experience for 18 to 21-year-old special education students.
- Sponsorship: Pay for all or some of the costs associated with a project or program in exchange for naming rights recognition.
Workforce Readiness Skills
At Mequon-Thiensville School District, preparing students for the future means equipping them with more than just academic knowledge—it means helping them build the real-world habits that lead to lifelong success. First introduced during the 2019–2020 school year, the Notable 9 are nine core workforce readiness skills. Rooted in research, these competencies connect directly to our social-emotional learning and high-quality classroom instruction.
- Organization & Time Management
- Collaboration
- Interpersonal Skills/Communication
- Work Ethic
- Adaptability
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
- Leadership
- Creativity
- Professionalism
By prioritizing the Notable 9, we ensure our students graduate ready to navigate an ever-changing world with confidence.
Building these skills helps our students:
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Succeed Beyond the Classroom: Develop habits that future employers, universities, and communities value most.
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Grow Socially & Emotionally: Learn how to collaborate, manage challenges, and communicate effectively.
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Take Ownership: Recognize their own strengths and actively build habits for future success.
We are committed to making these skills an active part of daily learning across every school in our district. You’ll find Notable 9 visual guides in classrooms across the district, giving students and teachers a shared language for reflection and growth. Teachers intentionally weave these habits into daily lessons, group projects, and classroom conversations, and we invite families and community members to reinforce these same skills at home and in everyday life.
Education for Employment
Academic and career planning requirements established by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, or DPI, connect school districts’ education for employment plans (E4E) and programs to academic and career planning requirements.
