Graduation Requirements

Academic & Career Plan

News & Announcements

Update to Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia Delay in Implementation

In 2009, the Board of Education adopted revisions to its Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia. Some revisions are currently in effect. Other revisions will become effective in the 2011-2012 school year and the remaining ones in the 2012-2013 school year and beyond, because of legislation passed by the 2011 General Assembly (HB 1554 and SB 810). See Superintendent’s Memorandum #112-11, dated April 15, 2011 – http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2011/112-11.shtml
Career Pathways - Beginning in middle school, all students must have an Academic and Career Plan. (Reference: College and Career Preparation Programs and Opportunities for Postsecondary Credit – 8 VAC 20-131-140).

There is nothing that prohibits a school division from implementing the Academic and Career Plan prior to the 2012-2013 school year.

The Board of Education included in its 2009 revisions to the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, (8 VAC-20-131-5 et seq) provisions for each middle and high school student to have a personal learning plan that aligns academic and career goals with the student’s course of study.

8 VAC 20-131-140: College and career preparation programs and opportunities for postsecondary credit.

Beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year, all schools shall begin development of a personal Academic and Career Plan for each seventh-grade student with completion by the fall of the student’s eighth-grade year. Students who transfer from other than a Virginia public school into the eighth-grade shall have the Plan developed as soon as practicable following enrollment. Beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year, students who transfer into a Virginia public school after their eighth-grade year shall have an Academic and Career Plan developed upon enrollment. The components of the Plan shall include, but not be limited to, the student's program of study for high school graduation and a postsecondary career pathway based on the student's academic and career interests. The Academic and Career Plan shall be developed in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Education and signed by the student, student's parent or guardian, and school official(s) designated by the principal. The Plan shall be included in the student's record and shall be reviewed and updated, if necessary, before the student enters the ninth and eleventh grades. The school shall have met its obligation for parental involvement if it makes a good faith effort to notify the parent or guardian of the responsibility for the development and approval of the Plan. Any personal academic and career plans prescribed by local school boards for students in grades 7 through12 and in effect as of June 30, 2009, are approved to continue without further action by the Board.

Academic & Career Planning

Resources

Virginia Education Wizard – Online College and Career Planning tools which assist school personnel in effectively and efficiently developing and using the Academic and Career Plans.
Play Webinar Best Practices in Creating and Maintaining Academic and Career Plans
Play Webinar Using the High School Program of Studies to Support Academic & Career Planning
Academic & Career Plan Templates:
- Academic & Career Plan Template (Word) – This template can be used by school divisions and modified to fit the needs of local education agencies. The completed samples below are available for planning purposes:
  - Sample Academic & Career Plan 1 (Word)
  - Sample Academic & Career Plan 2 (Word)
Guidelines for Academic & Career Plans (PDF)
Technical Assistance Document for Academic & Career Plans (PDF) – Can be used by divisions to assist in creating, implementing and maintaining academic and career plans. Includes information, resources, and current state regulations related to academic and career planning.
Academic & Career Plan Workshop Presentations
- Overview of the Academic & Career Plan (PPT)
- Career Cluster & Pathways Plans of Study (PPT) – from February/March 2010 training sessions
- Strategies that will provide support to Student Academic and Career Planning (PPT)

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