EDPs: Educational Development Plans
State law (380.1278b(11)) requires local schools to provide an opportunity for students to begin developing an EDP in Grade 7 and requires that every student has an EDP before entering high school. By preparing the initial EDP in middle school, students can better plan their high school curriculum to meet their post-school goals. The EDP is a secondary/postsecondary planning tool to direct the student’s educational plan and career planning activities.
A student’s EDP should be reviewed and updated on at least an annual basis. An EDP process could also include yearly work samples that document the student’s progress toward anticipated goals and accomplishments. The school must establish times to annually review EDPs and update them as students choose and change high school courses or career pathways.
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EDP Fundamentals: Guidelines for the Use of Educational Development Plans (MDE Document)
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IEP/EDP Alignment: Transition
The passage of the Michigan Merit Curriculum in April of 2006 established a requirement for schools to assist students with the development of an EDP in Grades 7 and 8. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students eligible for special education programs and services have an IEP. Additionally, transition services must be in place for students with disabilities who are over the age of 16. The EDP and the IEP are distinct documents; however, as students move into high school, the documents share a common goal of improved post-secondary outcomes for students. The guidelines for developing the EDP outlined in the above document align with and complement many of the IEP requirements stated by the IDEA.
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EDP Tools
