State superintendent launches universal online high school planning platform

In Washington state, high school students are required to complete a High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) to graduate. This plan, initiated in the 7th grade, aims to align students' career interests with their academic courses and further education or training. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal requested the 2023 Legislature to transition to a universal online HSBP platform, which is now being launched by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Currently, over a dozen different HSBP platforms are used across school districts in Washington, each offering varying tools and resources. These differences can cause issues when students transfer schools, as their plans may not be compatible with new systems.

Reykdal said, "The High School and Beyond Plan is a powerful platform that guides students to resources, course options, and other tools in support of their career and college exploration." He emphasized the need for every student to have a postsecondary plan for personal success and the state's prosperity.

The goal is to provide all Washington students with access to a comprehensive suite of tools and resources that offer real-time data for students, parents, guardians, and counselors. In May 2024, OSPI selected SchooLinks as the vendor for this universal tool. Students from grades 7–12 will annually access SchooLinks to aid their progress toward graduation and future goals such as higher education or vocational training.

The platform offers customizable tools for setting and tracking postsecondary goals, including activities related to goal setting, course planning, career exploration, financial aid information, and résumé building. It also ensures high standards of security and privacy.

For this initial launch phase in the 2025–26 school year, OSPI will partner with SchooLinks to support 156 school districts along with technical colleges and charter schools committed to implementing the platform. These join 45 districts that adopted SchooLinks during the previous school year. The remaining districts will transition in the following year.

Reykdal expressed gratitude for pilot districts' participation in this initiative: "I’m grateful for our pilot school districts’ participation in the initial launch... I’m looking forward to building a consistent statewide approach to postsecondary planning."

Information from this article can be found here.