Individual planning activities assist all students to plan, monitor, and manage their own learning, as well as their personal and career development. Within this component, students evaluate their educational, occupational, and personal goals and develop individual education/career plans no later than eighth grade in collaboration with parents/guardians. The activities in this component are counselor planned and directed. These activities are generally delivered on an individual basis or by working with individuals in small groups. The focus is on having students individualize and personalize their planning. Individual planning is implemented through the following strategies.
- Educational Career Planning‐ School counselors facilitate the process in which students develop planning skills and apply the skills to their individual academic plans. Students begin acquiring needed skills to develop a personal plan of study in elementary school where the emphasis is on career awareness. The process continues into middle school as the focus shifts to career exploration for their personal interests and strengths. The process culminates with career planning and the development of a relevant personal plan of study for high school and postsecondary education/training.
- Transition Activities‐ School counselors understand the importance that social/emotional competencies, academic skills and career and labor market information play as students develop and manage their personal plans of study. The school counselors’ responsibility is to facilitate this effort when working with students they serve. Through the individual student planning component of a district’s comprehensive school counseling program, school counselors assist students with the transitions from grade to grade, school to school, and/or school to work. It takes the involvement of the parents/guardian and other school staff along with the school counselor and student, to develop ICAPsthat meet the individual needs of students.
- Appraisal for Decision‐Making‐ School counselors coordinate work with students to analyze and evaluate their abilities, interests, skills, and achievements. Assessment data including results from formal testing, as well as informal evaluation information form a basis for developing short‐term and long‐term plans with students and parents/guardians.