December, 2012

Abstract

Welcome to Colorado's Individual Career & Academic Plan (ICAP) 2015 Implementation Toolkit. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) invites you to explore the comprehensive online version, where you will find rich tools, artifacts, crosswalks and guides, available at: www.cde.state.co.us/postsecondary/icap. Since the release of ICAP legislation in winter 2009, students have been building ICAPs with the support and guidance of educators, industry partners and pre-collegiate groups. Beginning in ninth-grade (and earlier in many schools), students have been learning how to discover their interests, plan intentionally and build pathways to success for life after high school. In the last few years, the Colorado Department of Education partnered with the Colorado Community College System, career and technical education and the Colorado Department of Higher Education to conduct environmental scans, formal and informal interviews, statewide technical assistance and professional training. CDE received universal feedback: provide ICAP implementation support tools and resources; clarify and simplify the required elements for ICAP process; provide ICAP process and program recommendations; facilitate sharing ideas for innovation and promising practices; and support relevant professional development opportunities for implementing meaningful ICAPs.