East Troy Community School District

The East Troy Community School District implements a comprehensive, developmentally aligned ACP framework at the elementary level that integrates Social Emotional/Character Education and aligns with the ASCA National Model. Beginning in 4K and continuing through grade 5, students engage in structured learning experiences that build self-awareness, academic success skills, interpersonal competencies, and early career exploration. 

At the primary level (4K-2), counseling lessons delivered once per month intentionally connect character education and ACP competencies. Students develop foundational skills in the identification of emotions, problem-solving, self-management, friendship, and responsible decision-making. Career awareness, goal setting, and growth mindset are introduced in kindergarten and expanded in grades 1 and 2 to include connections between personal interests, strengths, and career clusters. Instruction is supported through evidence-based curricula, reflective journaling, and interactive learning experiences that promote both academic and social growth.

In grades 3-5, students engage in increasingly structured career exploration, including interest inventories, career cluster exploration, and research projects that connect personal strengths to potential future pathways. Career awareness is reinforced through classroom lessons, schoolwide activities, and events that highlight a range of occupations and community connections. Concurrently, character instruction emphasizes collaboration, empathy, conflict resolution, digital citizenship, and responsible decision-making.

Throughout the elementary experience, Positive Behavioral Interventions  and Supports (PBIS) reinforce prosocial behaviors and academic readiness. Collectively, these efforts establish a strong foundation for lifelong learning, career development, and responsible citizenship.

At the secondary level, East Troy Community School District’s ACP framework is aligned to the Wisconsin KEPG Framework (Know, Explore, Plan, Go). This structure focuses on developing student knowledge of themselves, their interests and abilities, and possible career paths. Students follow this with exploration of career clusters, pathways, labor market information, and job market demand. Then, students plan their own personalized career path, focusing on setting goals and identifying next steps. Finally, students are prepared to Go, by implementing their plan and transitioning to college, vocational training, military service, or the workforce. The KEPG Framework is not linear, and students will often engage in various aspects during each school year of their secondary schooling.

Currently, students in grades 6-8 focus primarily on learning about themselves and their interests. This takes place in their academic classes through career-connected learning opportunities and also through engagement in Xello lessons. They also begin to explore various career and educational paths through advanced learner opportunities, CTE coursework, and college or career learning experiences. Additionally, students in 6th-8th grade engage in character education through curriculum designed to develop their skills related to interpersonal and community relationships. Topics of study include:

6th Grade:

• Taking a career matchmaker quiz
• Creating an interests list
• Connecting school subjects to job opportunities
• Learning about decision-making, time management, and study skills/habits

7th Grade:

• Adding interests to their list
• Developing an understanding of learning styles
• Discovering learning pathways
• Learning about biases and career choices, jobs and employers, and personality styles

8th Grade:

• Adding interests to their list
• Learning about skills related to careers
• Exploring career matches
• Learning about the transition to high school, self advocacy, and career factors

At the secondary level, East Troy Community School District’s ACP framework is aligned to the Wisconsin KEPG Framework (Know, Explore, Plan, Go). This structure focuses on developing student knowledge of themselves, their interests and abilities, and possible career paths. Students follow this with exploration of career clusters, pathways, labor market information, and job market demand. Then, students plan their own personalized career path, focusing on setting goals and identifying next steps. Finally, students are prepared to Go, by implementing their plan and transitioning to college, vocational training, military service, or the workforce. The KEPG Framework is not linear, and students will often engage in various aspects during each school year of their secondary schooling.

Students in grades 9-12 follow a structured sequence of lessons aligned to the four areas of the KEPG Framework. Each year, students complete various Xello and school-developed lessons, preparing them for their future. These include:

9th Grade:

• Know: Quizzes and assessments through Xello, understanding your digital footprint
• Explore: Evaluating career clusters, learning more about opportunities at ETHS
• Plan: Developing a resume, selecting appropriate courses for future years

10th Grade:

• Know: Revising previous personality and career assessments, recording interests/skills
• Explore: Selecting several careers and career clusters of interest, learning about labor market trends and career-readiness skills, developing awareness through Real Life 101
• Plan: Revising and adding to resume, selecting appropriate classes (including Start College Now, Early College Credit, and/or Youth Apprenticeships) for future years

11th Grade:

• Explore: Learning about post-secondary options, engaging in opportunities like SCN, ECCP, YA, etc.
• Plan: Setting goals and saving possible educational or professional milestones necessary to meet these goals, developing a final draft of a resume, selecting appropriate classes for next year and post-high school if applicable
• Go: Engaging in and recording work experiences, creating a Common App account, and filling out job applications

12th Grade:

• Explore: Understanding labor market trends, continuing healthy habits after high school
• Plan: Exploring financial aid and scholarship opportunities, completing final updates to post-high school goals and resumes, creating professional email account
• Go: Applying for opportunities, including scholarships, financial aid, college, apprenticeships, military, jobs, etc.