Individualized Learning Plans for College and Career Readiness: State Policies and School-Based Practices
This report, developed by NACAC & Hobsons, highlights promising state- and school-level practices using individual learning plans (ILPs) to prepare students for success beyond high school. It builds on previous research conducted by Hobsons with a national survey of high school counseling offices to better understand how schools are currently implementing ILPs. The study also explores whether schools, districts, or states have invested in a process of evaluating the effect of ILPs on students’ postsecondary plans and post-high school outcomes.
Download the report to learn more.
Key Findings
- Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia mandated ILP policies or other college and career readiness initiatives.
- Almost all survey respondents reported that ILPs were initiated by 9th grade. Nearly 40 perent of schools initiated an ILP by 8th grade.
- Counselor training related to ILP use was lacking. One-third of survey respondents reported receiving training on ILP implementation and 24 percent for ILP design/development.
- Feedback from survey participants pointed to the need for more one-on-one time between counselors, students, and their families.
Related Resources
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Research to Practice Brief
This brief highlights key findings as well as implications for policy and practice.
Learn More -
PowerPoint Slides
This master slide deck is made publicly available to support dissemination of the ILP study to interested stakeholders. Some or all of these slides may be incorporated into your own presentations.
Download the Slides
NACAC Research
College Counseling for Latino and Underrepresented Students
In order to understand the role of the school counselor in preparing Latino and other underrepresented students for the transition to college, Excelencia in Education and NACAC conducted a national survey and observed counseling practices at six US high schools that were successfully supporting underrepresented populations during the college application process.
The State of College Admission Report
Examining the transition from high school to postsecondary education through survey data collected from colleges and universities across the country.
A National Look at the High School Counseling Office: What is it Doing and What Role Can it Play in Facilitating Students' Paths to College?
This report draws on data from the second wave of the US Department of Education’s High School Longitudinal Study to explore how high schools and counseling offices across the country support students as they transition from high school to college.