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District unveils K–12 guidance plan and phases in Xello career platform
Summary
Mechanicsburg’s curriculum leaders presented a three‑year K–12 guidance plan required by PDE that emphasizes career development, social‑emotional skills and a phased rollout of the Xello career portfolio platform from high school down to K–2 (gamified Career Town).
The Mechanicsburg Area School District presented its K–12 guidance plan during the March 24 working session, highlighting a three‑year cycle that aligns counseling goals to academic, career and social‑emotional domains. The plan replaces the older Chapter 339-style submission and places stronger emphasis on career technical education and early exposure to career concepts.
District counselors (the counseling department is 14 staff strong) described an advisory council that includes students, parents, staff and community partners, and explained a phased adoption of the Xello career‑development platform. Xello’s rollout began at the high school (portfolio and graduation‑project artifacts), moved into middle school and is now launching K–5 with a gamified K–2 experience called Career Town that introduces young students to job concepts and career vocabulary. Secondary work includes career inventories, CEW artifacts and a senior portfolio culminating in a graduation project.
Counseling staff also addressed mental‑health supports, noting county SAP reductions have removed a county mental health liaison and left a drug & alcohol liaison in place; the district said it will convene a local mental health committee and relies on its counselors and four social workers for day‑to‑day needs. The guidance plan includes a continuous program‑review process so counseling goals and artifacts are updated regularly rather than only at the PDE submission cycle.
Speakers quoted: A counselor said the goal is to "unlock the potential for students, to help them overcome those obstacles, and then to help shape their futures." On Xello, presenters said elementary students "go on an adventure" in Career Town that exposes them to a range of jobs, with age‑appropriate checks for understanding.
