Educational and career planning is an integral part of the Grand Forks Public School Comprehensive Developmental Counseling program. Each student is provided an opportunity to participate in a Student Education Career Planning (SECP) Conference strategically scheduled at the following grade levels: seventh, ninth, tenth, and twelfth. SECP is a process that involves activities planned by the school counselors that assist students to individually explore, develop, evaluate, and manage their own learning as well as their personal and career goals. Participation and collaboration among the student, the student's parent(s)/guardian(s), and the school counselor is an essential component in student achievement and success. The conferences are a part of the Career Curriculum.

Content

Each conference will have a similar focus, but will be tailored to the unique needs of each student at each grade level. The conference may address the following:

• Student four-year high school plan
• Student post-secondary goals and plans
• Interpret assessments such as EXPLORE, PLAN, ASVAB, ACT, or PSAT
• Review of student's career portfolio
• School progress
• Academic programs and services
• School and community opportunities
• Individual concerns or needs
• Transition plan

At the Grade 10 and Grade 12 conference, students and parents are given a tour of the Career Center and informed of the resources available for student and parent use that are most appropriate for that year of school. The student's school counselor may indicate to the career counselor a student's particular interest in one of the internship or apprenticeship opportunities available with one of the Grand Forks Public Schools' Business Partners. The career counselor then takes the opportunity to explain the partner's options and application process to both the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s).

Scheduling

The majority of conferences take place during the regular school day. The 30 to 45 minute conferences are pre-scheduled through mailed appointment letters. If parents cannot make the appointed time, they call in and change it to a mutually agreeable time slot. The majority of conferences take place during the regular school day.

Attendance

Parental attendance at the SECP conferences has continued to be strong. Attendance at the seventh grade conferences averages 81.8% over the past four years. Parental attendance at the grade 10 conferences averages 94%, and in grade 12 the average attendance at one of the reporting high schools is 91.3%. Phenomenal attendance rates by any measure!

The majority of counselors do speak with the student alone if the parent is unable to come to the conference, therefore the student attendance rates are over 95%.