The Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) has been leading the way in the development and implementation of Academic and Career Planning, commonly referred to as ACP. ACP is a student-driven, adult-supported process in which students create and cultivate their own unique and information-based visions for post-secondary success, obtained through self-exploration, career exploration, and the development of career management and planning skills.

SASD was the first district in the CESA 7 area to have four Regional Pathway Maps approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in October 2021. 

• Advanced Manufacturing Pathway
  
• Architecture and Construction Pathway
• Digital Technology Pathway
• Health Science Patient Care Pathway

Regional career pathways align education and training with the needs of the local job market, provide a range of postsecondary options, result in a high school diploma with at least one industry-recognized credential, and help students enter or advance within an occupation.

These maps represent many years of collaboration with community partners and early emphasis on the building blocks of academic and career planning.

For students interested in pursuing careers in these areas, the pathway maps guide students through the recommended coursework, credentials, and experiences to best prepare them to succeed in their field.

The pathway maps outline five key areas for students to consider when planning for the future:

• a sequence of aligned courses,
• enrolling in dual credit college courses,
• earning an industry-recognized credential,
• participating in career-based and work-based learning experiences, and
• accessing related Career and Technical Education (CTE) student organizations

Using the Health Science Patient Care pathway as an example, SASD students can enroll in four high school courses directly related to this field - including Introduction to Medical Occupations and Medical Terminology, which also earns college credit. SASD students also have the ability to earn industry-recognized credentials in Basic Life Support, CPR and First Aid, and Certified Nursing Assistant. In addition to academic classes, students can join their school’s HOSA-Future Health Professionals organization and take part in state, regional, or local career exploration programs listed in the pathway map.

All SASD students and staff in grades 6-12 have access to and regularly use an ACP software tool called Xello. Using their Xello account, students can save their coursework and goals to help keep them on track throughout their high school careers. High school counselors are also a great resource to help guide students to the many varied opportunities available that relate to future goals.

PARENT TIP:  Parents can also view their child’s Xello portfolio to better support their development from home. Ask your child to share their portfolio with you.

In 2017, the Sheboygan Area School District developed a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Report Card to more appropriately assess students’ college, career, and life readiness. The metrics in the report card are research-based and outlined by Redefining Ready, a national initiative launched by the School Superintendents Association. Since its inception, the CCR Report Card has enabled SASD schools to track the progress of cohorts of students, both large and small, as well as individual student’s progress.

PARENT TIP:  Parents of high school students can view their child’s Career and College Readiness Report Card in Skyward under the Portfolio tab.

The Sheboygan Area School District is making a strategic effort to promote careers within the field of education, with the ultimate goal of supporting students to return to the SASD as teachers. The SASD has created its own education career pathway, which includes all of the key areas - a sequence of courses, college-credit courses, a work-place learning opportunity with our Youth-Tutoring-Youth program, the opportunity to earn an industry-recognized credential, and access to our local Educators Rising organization.

The Sheboygan Area School District’s goal is to prepare all students to successfully take the next step in their self-defined career pathway. Academic and career planning is the guide to help students reach their individual goals. With a high school course guide outlining nearly 300 course options, including more than 100 offering college credit, the Sheboygan Area School District is uniquely positioned to prepare students for the future.