DCAP Series
The District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP) Series is designed to help school districts develop and implement a comprehensive career and academic plan that aligns with the needs of their students. This series will guide school counselors and district leadership through the process of creating a robust and actionable DCAP that enhances career and college readiness, facilitates student success, and provides a foundation for Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs).
Topics Covered:
- Introduction to DCAP: Understanding the role of the DCAP in shaping school district strategy for student career and college readiness.
- DCAP Evaluation: Reviewing your district’s current plan, identifying gaps, and areas for improvement.
- Key Components of DCAP: Understanding the essential components of a DCAP, including career exploration, postsecondary planning, work-based learning, and academic preparedness.
- Four-Year Plan Development: Creating individualized four-year plans for students and integrating them with the broader district career readiness strategy.
- Work-Based Learning: Building partnerships with local businesses, employers, and community organizations to provide students with meaningful work-based learning opportunities.
- Data Utilization: Using data effectively to inform decisions and track progress in your DCAP initiatives.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Engaging key district and community partners, such as employers, higher education institutions, and workforce systems, in the development and implementation of the plan.
- Implementation Strategies: Steps for integrating your district's DCAP with existing school and district policies and practices, including teacher buy-in, curriculum alignment, and resource allocation.
- Ongoing Evaluation and Improvement: Setting up processes for ongoing reflection, goal setting, and revisions to ensure continued success and relevance of the DCAP.
This series offers practical tools, templates, and expert guidance to help your district create a comprehensive, actionable DCAP that supports student achievement and career readiness at every stage of their academic journey.
Upcoming Sessions & Registration
Strengthening Your DCAP: A Hands-On Workshop for District Teams (in-person)
DCAP Foundations - Building a Vision for Career and Academic Success
Presenting DCAP to the School Board and Stakeholders
DCAP Essentials - A Deep Dive into Core Components, Planning and Practice
From Plan to Practice: Implementing, Evaluating, and Improving Your DCAP
Real-World Readiness - Work-Based Learning
Postsecondary Perspectives - Higher Education Panel
Exploring Military Pathways - Military Panel Discussion
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Strengthening Your DCAP: A Hands-On Workshop for District Teams
This full-day, in-person workshop is designed to guide school district teams through the development or refinement of their District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP). Whether you’re building your plan from the ground up or looking to update and strengthen existing strategies, this collaborative session will walk you through each component of the DCAP with clarity and purpose.Throughout the day, participants will:
- Explore each element of the DCAP framework
- Engage in guided planning and facilitated team discussions
- Examine best practices and implementation strategies
- Receive curated tools and templates for effective DCAP development
- Get real-time professional feedback on draft plans and ideas
This interactive session is ideal for cross-functional district teams—including administrators, counselors, career advisors, and instructional leaders—who want to build a cohesive, actionable plan that supports career and academic development for all students.
By the end of the day, teams will leave with:
✅ A clearer understanding of DCAP components
✅ A working draft or updated plan
✅ Resources to support continued development and implementation
✅ Insight from peer districts and expert facilitators
Let’s build a stronger DCAP—together.
August 13, 2025 | Kirkwood Linn Regional Center - Hiawatha
Register
August 14, 2025 | DMACC Building 5 - Ankeny
Register
Sessions run 9am - 2pm | Lunch Provided
Payment and Pricing
- 1-4 district team members - $100 per person
- 5+ district team members - $450
- 10+ district team members - $800
Virtual Sessions
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DCAP Foundations - Building a Vision for Career and Academic Success
Students are often influenced by outdated or inaccurate beliefs about what it means to build a successful career. In this engaging and myth-busting session, we’ll explore the most common misconceptions about career planning and provide strategies counselors can use to guide students toward a more realistic and empowered approach. From the idea that a college degree guarantees success to the belief that students must choose a lifelong career path in high school, we’ll reframe the conversation with tools, language, and resources you can bring back to your school immediately.
Registration Opening Summer 2025 -
Presenting DCAP to the School Board and Stakeholders
Learn how to frame your DCAP in terms of student outcomes and district priorities. This session will guide you in preparing effective board presentations and reports that communicate the value and impact of your plan. You will leave this session with a template to utilize in your board presentation and a template for a board handout highlighting key elements of your DCAP.
Registration Opening Summer 2025 -
DCAP Essentials - A Deep Dive into Core Components, Planning and Practice
This session offers an in-depth exploration of the five essential components of the District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP): self-understanding, career information, career exploration, postsecondary exploration, and career and postsecondary decision-making. Participants will learn practical strategies to implement each component with fidelity across grade levels, including how to engage students in ongoing reflection and decision-making. The session will also cover how to integrate individualized four-year plans into the broader DCAP structure and how to build a scope and sequence that ensures developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Attendees will leave with implementation tools, reflection activity ideas, and planning templates that support a cohesive, student-centered approach to career and academic readiness.
Registration Opening Summer 2025 -
From Plan to Practice: Implementing, Evaluating, and Improving Your DCAP
Developing a strong DCAP is only the beginning—sustainable impact comes through effective implementation, ongoing evaluation, and data-driven improvement. In this session, district leaders and counselors will learn how to move from planning to action with intentional strategies for embedding DCAP into existing systems, gaining staff buy-in, and aligning with curriculum and policy. Participants will also explore practical tools for collecting and analyzing data to assess progress and outcomes. Finally, the session will walk through building a culture of continuous improvement, including setting benchmarks, reviewing feedback, and making timely adjustments to keep your DCAP relevant, effective, and equitable.
Registration Opening Summer 2025 -
Real-World Readiness - Work-Based Learning
Gain insights from employers, coordinators, and work-based learning experts on building sustainable partnerships and creating equitable access to internships, job shadows, and career experiences.
Registration Opening Summer 2025 -
Postsecondary Perspectives - Higher Education Panel
Hear directly from college admissions professionals and advisors about the readiness skills they see (and don’t see) in incoming students. Use this input to strengthen the postsecondary planning aspect of your DCAP.
Registration Opening Summer 2025 -
Exploring Military Pathways - Military Panel Discussion
Military representatives will clarify enlistment processes, career opportunities, and ROTC programs while dispelling myths. Learn how to help students make informed decisions about military service as a postsecondary path.
Registration Opening Summer 2025
