(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) A Missouri House committee has approved legislation sponsored by state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, that would require each school district in the state to ensure every child develops a personal plan of study. The legislation, HB 738, was approved unanimously by the House Urban Issues Committee. Nasheed said the goal of the bill is to put students on a path toward post-secondary education and future career success.
“We know right now that only two out of every 10 ninth graders will go on to obtain an associate’s degree or higher. We also know that 48 of the 50 fastest growing occupations require some type of post-secondary education,” said Nasheed. “If we want our students to obtain a college education and be prepared for success in the workforce, we have to help them develop a plan to achieve those goals. My bill gives our school districts a powerful tool to do that.”
HB 738 would require each school district to ensure that every student develops a personal plan of study prior to the end of the student’s eighth grade year. The plan would include graduation requirements, career or educational goals with course work to support them, career-related experiences, assessments necessary to revise the plan of study, and opportunities for a postsecondary experience. The bill also would require school districts to include active participation of counselors, teachers, administrators, and parents in the development, review, and revision of the plans.
“The personal plan of study approach has been a huge success in the districts where it is already used,” said Nasheed. “It’s a great way to keep students interested in school as they discover the relevance of what they are learning in connection to the job they hope to one day have. Not only does it help lower the high school dropout rate, it also helps increase the percentage of students who seek a college degree. This is a great way to help prepare our students for long-term success.”
Mark Van Zandt spoke in favor of the bill on behalf of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He noted that long-term employment projections call for the need for students to set their sights on postsecondary education or training beyond high school graduation.
“Helping students explore career and education interests and setting goals can help them succeed in their academic careers and beyond.”
Personal plans of study are not new to school counseling, Van Zandt said. “Individual planning through middle school and high school is an important component of the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program, although implementation may vary across the state. Putting this requirement in statute, as some states have, sets a standard for our students and our schools for achieving excellence.”
Nasheed’s bill was approved as a consent bill by the House Urban Issues Committee. A bill labeled as consent is non-controversial in nature and often is fast-tracked through the legislative process.