Educational Development Plans

An Educational Development Plan (EDP) is a very useful tool to assist students with their career preparation process. It provides a place to show a student’s current interests, abilities, and career pathways; to record results of assessments, career research, reflections on exploration activities, etc.; and to correlate this growing body of information with a plan of action to achieve educational and career goals. An EDP is more comprehensive than a schedule of classes because it includes information a student can use to make wise choices about post-secondary options. An EDP is a “living” document that is updated as student interests and abilities become more obvious and focused.
 

The State of Michigan requires that all students must be given the opportunity to create an EDP beginning in the 7th grade and revise it appropriately throughout high school. All students are required to develop an EDP with guidance from school advisors. When applicable, parents and community contacts should also be included. The EDP does not take the place of either an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Personal Curriculum (PC).

Students need answers to important questions: Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there? An EDP is an individualized approach to learning that documents a student’s ongoing process of identifying both career goals and a plan of action to achieve them. An EDP helps students understand and appreciate their strengths and interests. By being involved in career preparation and in creating their EDPs, students can become engaged in a process that assists them in exploring and examining their interests, skills, and abilities and in beginning to make decisions about selecting a career path for the future.

State law requires local schools to provide an opportunity for students to begin developing an EDP in Grade 7 and review their educational development plan during Grade 8; however, it is recommended that districts begin the EDP process even earlier by issuing interest surveys to young learners. Revisions to the student’s EDP should be completed before they begin high school. Counselors meet with all classes to instruct students on updating their EDP annually.  The essential elements for updating an EDP are exploring careers, projected job openings, educational/training goals, career interest surveys, activities, experiences, and plans of action.

• Educational Development Plans (or EDPs) are outlined in the Michigan Career Development Model (MCDM), which is designed to provide all students in Michigan with the necessary knowledge and skills for success in a career of their choice and lifelong learning.
• A complete set of EDP guidelines from the state Department of Education can be found in EDP Fundamentals,  Essential EDP Elements include:
• Personal Data / typically includes name, address, birth date, and grade level
• Career Goal(s) / Young students choose interest areas by listing career pathways in order of preference. Older students who have had opportunities to refine their choices over time should be asked to become more specific about occupations, stating both desired career pathway(s) and related job titles. 
• Education/Training Goals / long-range goals regarding the formal education or preparation needed, (i.e. apprenticeship, certificate program, 2 or 4-year degree program, military, etc.) 
• Career Assessment Highlights / Learners need opportunities to use the results of formal assessments and informal observations to assist in choosing career goals. Watching for consistency of career assessment results over time, the learner will be aided in confirming career decisions. 
• Career Awareness, Exploration, & Work-Based Experiences /listing of activities that he/she has and intends to participate in order to gain a better understanding of career options and characteristics, (i.e. researching career information, volunteer/community service, job shadowing, internship, CTE program, internship, part-time employment, etc.)
• Course Selection / (required and elective) a sequential plan of courses that provide academic and career-related preparation relevant to goals and continuing education
• Parent Consultation/Endorsement / Parents of middle and high school students should have the opportunity to review and endorse their child's EDP.
• Student Portfolio / a place to document acquired skills and showcase selected meaningful material. 
• Districts can use Xello to fulfill the MCDM and meet the state’s requirements for EDPs for all students.