ICAP and Attendance Information

Individualized Career and Academic Plan

As a member of the Class of 2030, students entering middle school will begin working on their Individualized Career and Academic Plan or ICAP.

The ICAP will serve as a student’s roadmap to graduation and postsecondary readiness. Elements of the ICAP include career and college interests, written postsecondary goals, service learning and work experience, college application(s) and/or resumes, academic progress, and assessment scores. Completion of the ICAP is part of St. Vrain Valley Schools’ rigorous graduation requirements and students will work on completing their ICAP throughout their middle and high school years.

By the time students complete their ICAP in high school, they will demonstrate:

• Self-Awareness: Understand how one’s unique interests, talents, and aspirations play a role in decision-making and interpersonal relationships and how individual thoughts and feelings get students excited about life and learning.

• Career Awareness: Know the difference between jobs, occupations, and careers. Articulate a wide range of local, regional, national, and global career pathways and opportunities. Consider economic and cultural influences and the impact of stereotypes on career choice.

• Postsecondary Aspirations: Participate in career exploration activities centered on students’ passions, interests, dreams, and visions of their future self and perceived options.

• Postsecondary Options: Be aware of and participate in a variety of postsecondary and career opportunities. Use tools such as career clusters, personality assessments, and learning style inventories to highlight individual strengths and capabilities.

• Environmental Expectations: Consider how school, family, community, culture, and worldview might influence students’ career development and postsecondary plans.

• Academic Planning: Apply the skills and knowledge necessary to map out and pass the academic courses required to achieve postsecondary goals.

• Employability Skills: Define, develop, and hone skills that increase the likelihood of becoming and remaining successfully employed and civically responsible citizens.

• Financial Literacy: Recognize personal financial literacy, financial aid topics, and vocabulary, as well as know what options are available to pay for postsecondary opportunities. Understand and articulate personal financial literacy concepts and the cost of postsecondary options, and apply this awareness to the postsecondary career and academic planning process.

Strive for 5: Impact of School Attendance

Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in determining if a student will do well in school, graduate, and be prepared for success in future grades, their careers, and postsecondary education. For schools in St. Vrain, the goal is simple: have your child attend everyday – or as you manage your family’s needs, strive to miss fewer than five days of school per year.

Building high attendance habits is a life skill that will impact a student’s success as a future employee, leader, and citizen. Core GPA and high attendance in eighth grade best predicts whether a student in high school earns As or Bs.

What can families do?

• Good attendance habits begin at home with messages from parents and caregivers about the importance of getting to school on time and attending regularly.

• Build regular bedtime, morning, and homework routines, including a designated study location free from distractions.

• Keep a chart recording your child’s attendance at home and talk with your child about what you see. Strive to miss five days or less per year.

• Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Seek support from family, neighbors, school staff, or community groups to help with transportation, academics, health problems, or no safe path to school. Contact the Student Attendance and Engagement Office at 303-702-7887 for assistance.

• If your child is sick or needs to miss school, please contact your school to report their absence.