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Individual Plans of Study (IPS) - Student


In January 2014 the Kansas State Department of Education went to the State Board of Education strongly recommending that all districts implement individual plans of study for students in grades 8 through 12 for the following reasons:

  1. Individual plans of study should be considered a “best practice” for districts, can help all Kansas students obtain a suitable vision of their path toward college and career readiness, and will address the gap between the percentage of students enrolling and the percentage of students earning credit during their first year of enrollment in 2- and 4-year postsecondary institutions.
     
  2. Individual plans of study are addressed as part of the “Career Awareness and Guidance” criteria in the current draft version of Kansas’ new accreditation model.
     
  3. The Kansas State Department of Education can provide support to educators, as well as to vendors of student information systems to ensure that individual plans of study are implemented in ways that will be cost-effective and not unreasonably taxing to students or educators.
     

As students navigate through high school and into career and college, it is imperative that students set educational goals and create a roadmap for success in high school and beyond. This roadmap, or individual plan of study, includes development of a flexible career focus and an education plan that is clearly-defined, rigorous, and relevant to assure a successful and efficient transition to postsecondary education and/or the workforce.

The foundational elements of the individual plan of study are the career interests identified by the student through an authentic career interest survey or assessment. A roadmap based on the student’s interests and talents can then be developed. Other parts of the IPS include graduation requirements, approved coursework for the student's educational and career goals, and developmentally-appropriate, work-based learning experiences.

An IPS is developed cooperatively with the student and the student's counselor, teachers, and family members. The plan is reviewed at least twice annually and is revised as needed.

Final KSDE Recommendation to State Board of Education

IPS Implementation Toolkit

 TitleDescriptionCategory
Career CruisingInterest InventoryLink
Career Information ServicesA one-stop shop to assist schools in implementing individual plans of study for every student.Link
Electronic Portfolio Reference GuideIncludes recommended components of a work-based learning experience portfolio, resources for educators and students to utilize in the creation of a portable electronic portfolio and an employability skills self-assessment and rubric.PDF
Employability Skills: Measuring and Reflecting Student LearningIncludes work sample reflection samples.PDF
Family IPS Resource A guide to engage families around a student's IPS from the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC)PDF
Guide for Individual Plan of StudyDescription document with resource linksPDF
IPS Fact SheetJuly 2020. A quick reference concerning the product and process of IPS in KansasPDF
IPS One Page RubricThe one page rubric is a brief overview of the IPS Implementation Process.PDF
IPS Rubric (Detailed Version)The IPS Rubric provides a deep review of the implementation process. This tool is useful for reflection on practices to determine where improvement could take place.PDF
Kansas Career Advising ModelThis document provides schools with guidance relative to implementing a career advising model. Kansas Qualified Admissions have changed since the publication of this document. For the current Kansas Qualified Admissions, please see Kansas Board of Regent.PDF
Kansas DegreeStats - Kansas Board of RegentsThis is a resource schools can use when planning post-secondary options.Link
MyACTCreate a MyACT account and explore college majors and career paths.Link
NavianceInterest InventoryLink
Online Career Interest Inventory ProvidersInterest InventoryLink
Tiered Technical CoursesListing of Community & Technical Colleges that have tiered technical courses.  
Xello Support: Resources for Kansas EducatorsXello resources for Kansas EducatorsLink

ACT, WorkKeys and PreACT 8/9

 TitleDescriptionCategory
Fact Sheet Benefits and ACT WorkKeys and NCRCFact Sheet showing the Benefits of the ACT WorkKeysPDF
Kansas ACT WebpageInformation about the state paid ACT, WorkKeys and PreACT 8/9.Link

IPS District Samples

KSDE/KBOR Collaborative Projects

 TitleDescription
College Admission Webinar (April 27, 2020)Webinar for HS Counselors dealing with College Admissions
College Admissions Webinar Q and A Document (April 27, 2020)Document that goes along with the College Admissions Webinar
Student Financial Aid Webinar (April 28, 2020)Webinar for HS Counselors about Financial Aid
Student Financial Aid Webinar Q and A Document (April 28, 2020)Document that goes along with the Student Financial Aid Webinar
Kansas Post-Secondary Exploration Guide (July 13, 2020)Resource to help Kansas high school students make post-secondary decisions
Kansas Post-Secondary Exploration Guide KSDE Hot Topics Webinar (September 2020)A walk through the Kansas Post-Secondary Guide
Qualified Admissions Webinar (October 20, 2020)Webinar for HS Counselors about Qualified Admissions
Qualified AdmissionsKansas Board of Regents
Kansas Degree Stats Lesson Created by KBOR (November 17, 2020)A lesson that will walk students through the Kansas Degree Stats Website
FAFSA WebinarWebinar to help counselors, parents and students complete the FAFSA application.
FAFSA Completion WebinarFind out how you can hold your own FAFSA completion event with help from your local higher education institutions.
FAFSA EventsKansas Board of Regents
Focus on the Class of 2021: Kansas Board of RegentsPanel discussion about helping the class of 2021 prepare for attending college next year.
College Admissions After COVID: A Guide for HS Classes of 2022 and 2023Hear representatives from post-secondary institutions from across Kansas share tips about making the transition to further your education after high school. (May 5, 2021 KSDE Lunchtime Hot Topics)

IPS Coordinator
Helen Swanson
(785) 296-4912
hswanson@ksde.org

IPS Lead
Natalie Clark
(785) 296-4351
ndclark@ksde.org

Deputy Commissioner
Division of Learning Services

Dr. Ben Proctor
(785) 296-2303
bproctor@ksde.org

Director
Career, Standards and Assessment

Beth Fultz
(785) 296-3142
bfultz@ksde.org

Assistant Director
Career and Technical Education

Natalie D. Clark
(785) 296-4351
​ndclark@ksde.org

Assistant Director
Curricular Standards

Dr. David Fernkopf
(785) 296-8447
dfernkopf@ksde.org

Assistant Director
Assessment

Julie Ewing
(785) 296-2325
jewing@ksde.org

Assistant Director
Kansas Volunteer Commission

Dr. Jessica Dorsey
(785) 296-3163
jdorsey@ksde.org

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