Schools Utilizing the Profile Planning Guide Discover Similar Trends in College and Career Needs

February 2014 | Houston, Texas
BY: Amy Williams

The Texas College and Career Readiness Profile Planning Guide (PPG), developed by a 19-member task force and originally present in only a few Education Service Center (ESC) Regions, has experienced considerable growth — gaining 69 trainers from 12 and expanding to all 20 ESC regions. PPG is in its second year and is generously funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). 

PPG is a flexible tool designed to help school leadership assess their level of college and career readiness (CCR) culture in a deliberate, research-based way. PPG allows the school leadership team to make their own decisions when determining how to change the culture in their school. The guide also provides tools, resources and networking opportunities to attain desired CCR culture. To date, more than 40 school districts have been represented at trainings and the number continues to grow. 

“When a district goes through the Profile Planning Guide, it starts that process of talking about whether this is more comprehensive in how we can change the culture of our schools, while at the same time addressing legislative mandates in what they need to do to improve academic skill attainment,” explained Steve Frank, College & Career Readiness Coordinator at ESC 13. 

While working with his schools, Frank said the PPG has managed to bring trending school and teacher needs to light:

1. Programs of study that identify endorsements
2. More awareness and usage of the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS)
3. Building a strong comprehensive guidance program

“The way I like to summarize [a comprehensive guidance program] is to ensure that in elementary we're doing what’s appropriate in terms of college and career awareness. In middle school, we are focusing on college and career investigation. In high school, we are looking at college and career concentration and then in postsecondary, college and career specialization,” said Frank. 

The PPG team expects to hold a summer conference, which will give its participants opportunities to share insight, critically discovered opportunities and past success in their use of the PPG.

PPG also has become a tool that schools can utilize to better tackle the new House Bill 5 requirements. The tool allows the schools to better identify what constitutes as CCR — through use of the CCRS — and encourages participation in CCR initiatives and partnerships across the regions. 

Currently, there are about 114 resources available for PPG users. This number is expected to increase in mid-March, as Frank and his team are anticipating adding more than 200 additional resources that are tied to each one of the 49 indicators. 

Ultimately, the success that using the PPG brings can be seen by the many schools that continue to climb on board. 

“You could bring in consultants every day, and they could tell you what you should do,” concluded Frank. “But the only time you really change a culture in a school is when they themselves have the capacity to see their current situation, where they want to move in the future and then have resources and tools and mentors, such as ESCs, to help them in that process.” 

The PPG team is now conducting trainings across the 20 Texas ESC regions. If you are interested in seeing the PPG in your school, please contact your local ESC or visit the PPG online! Stay tuned for more information regarding the PPG Summer Workshop, which will give participants opportunities to share insight and past success in their PPG usage.