Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), in alignment with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), is committed to helping students make informed decisions about their academic, college, career, and postsecondary goals.
Beginning in Grade 6, students will develop a Six-Year Plan that connects their interests, strengths, academic choices, and career aspirations. Students will revisit and update their plans as they progress through middle and high school.
The Six-Year Plan is a living plan. Students are not expected to choose a career in middle school. Instead, the process provides opportunities to explore, plan, reflect, and adjust as their interests and goals develop.
The Six-Year Plan helps families engage in meaningful conversations with students about their future. Parents and guardians are encouraged to:
Family engagement is an important part of helping students make informed decisions about their educational and postsecondary pathways.
Through the Six-Year Plan process, students will participate in age-appropriate college and career readiness activities that help them:
Students begin developing self-awareness by exploring their interests, strengths, skills, and emerging career interests. The emphasis is on discovery and helping students understand the connection between school and their future.
Students expand their career awareness and exploration by learning about career clusters, occupations, educational pathways, and the skills associated with different careers.
Students begin making stronger connections between their interests, career goals, and high school academic planning. Students explore high school programs and courses that may support their developing goals.
Students review their Six-Year Plan as they transition into high school and begin connecting graduation requirements, coursework, career interests, and postsecondary aspirations.
Students continue to explore postsecondary options and refine their academic and career goals. Plans may be adjusted as students gain new experiences, identify new interests, and consider college, career, apprenticeship, military, workforce, and other pathways.
Students use the knowledge and planning developed throughout the Six-Year Plan process to support their transition beyond high school. The focus shifts from exploration to implementation of the student's postsecondary plan.
Professional School Counselors provide academic, college, and career counseling throughout the Six-Year Plan process. They help students understand graduation requirements, establish goals, explore pathways, make informed academic decisions, and connect their interests and strengths to future opportunities.
Career Coaches complement the work of Professional School Counselors by expanding students' exposure to careers, industries, workforce opportunities, and career-connected learning experiences. They help students understand the education, training, skills, and credentials associated with different career pathways.
Together, Professional School Counselors and Career Coaches help students connect academic planning with meaningful college and career exploration.
Parents and guardians are essential partners. Families are encouraged to review plans, discuss goals and opportunities, and help students reflect on how their academic decisions connect to their future aspirations.
Students are at the center of the process. They are expected to actively participate in exploration, goal setting, academic planning, reflection, and the annual review of their Six-Year Plan.
PGCPS uses SchooLinks, the district's K–12 college and career readiness platform, to support the Six-Year Plan.
Through SchooLinks, students can explore their interests and strengths, investigate careers and postsecondary pathways, establish goals, complete college and career readiness activities, and develop and maintain their academic plans.
Students access SchooLinks through Clever, and parents and guardians can establish guardian accounts to participate in their student's planning process.
Does my child have to choose a career in Grade 6?
No. The Six-Year Plan is designed to encourage exploration. Students' interests and goals are expected to change as they learn, grow, and gain new experiences.
Can the Six-Year Plan be changed?
Yes. The plan is intended to evolve. Students will review and refine their plans as their academic interests, career interests, and postsecondary goals develop.
Does the Six-Year Plan begin in Grade 6?
Yes. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, PGCPS students begin the Six-Year Plan process in Grade 6 and continue developing and reviewing their plans throughout middle and high school.
What is the role of SchooLinks?
SchooLinks provides the digital platform students use to complete college and career readiness activities, explore options, establish goals, and maintain components of their Six-Year Plan.
How can families participate?
Families can discuss goals and career interests with their student, review academic plans, explore postsecondary options together, and use their SchooLinks Guardian Account to engage in the planning process.
Who should families contact with questions?
Families may begin by contacting their student's Professional School Counselor. District-level questions regarding Six-Year Plan implementation may also be directed to the Office of School Counseling or the Office of College and Career Readiness.
For additional information regarding the MSDE Six-Year Plan and its implementation in Prince George’s County Public Schools:
Doreen Hogans
Supervisor, Office of School Counseling
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Dr. Olivia Pearson
Supervisor, Office of College and Career Readiness
Prince George’s County Public Schools
