District staff presented the District Career Academic Plan (DCAP) and walked the board through seven plan components that guide career exploration and workplace learning for students in grades 7–12. Chad Riley and Andrew (DCAP team) led the presentation and described quarterly meetings with CTE teachers and community partners, field trips, internships and an individual career-academic planning process for each student.
Chad Riley said the district had scored itself higher than the previous year, moving “from a 13 to a 26” on the DCAP rubric (the presenters said the maximum possible score is 36). The score reflects work on curriculum alignment, workplace learning, career navigation and regional partnerships, they said.
Administrators described several current programs: a workplace learning team (led in part by April Keating), a new career-navigation system (referred to as “Zillow” in the presentation), a sophomore career expo, a monthly career-exploration speaker series and expanded offerings at the Regional Innovation Center. Patricia Madden (career and college transition coach) and Lori Perez (SCC liaison) were named as staff helping students access college and transition opportunities.
The presentation also addressed FAFSA outreach. Staff said a federal/state report shows about 56% of families have completed FAFSA paperwork districtwide; the staff member working FAFSA outreach reported that the district’s earlier year FAFSA completion was about 62% and the target for the coming cycle is roughly 65% (figures were stated in the presentation). Administrative staff said they host evening FAFSA nights for families, track completion and use the FAFSA rate as a key indicator of postsecondary enrollment likelihood.
Board members discussed goals such as increasing students’ concurrent-credit and credential attainment and expanding academy seats to avoid long wait lists. Administrators said the district is coordinating with regional partners (EICC, SCC, AEA) to place students in academies and concurrent courses and to expand offerings such as EMT and diesel where feasible.
Board members asked follow-up questions about measurement and participation; presenters said the DCAP team will continue quarterly meetings and will receive an official external score from the regional AEA at the end of the month. The board did not take a formal vote on the DCAP presentation; staff were asked to return with additional metrics and next steps.