Educational Development Plan (EDP) Fact Sheet

“Educational Development Plans (EDPs) are plans created by all students about career goals and action plans for reaching their goals. EDPs help students think about long-term education and career plans before entering high school. By going through this process, students learn more about themselves, consider different options for their future, and develop a more specific path for preparing for their career choice.

 

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and EDPs

Although both the IEP and EDP promote positive outcomes after high school, they are two different documents with different purposes. EDPs do not replace IEPs. IEPs are created for students meeting special education eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Per IDEA, during transition planning, educators gather information about a student’s interests and strengths through age-appropriate assessments and work with the student to develop measurable postsecondary (after high school) goals related to education, training, employment, and, when appropriate, independent living skills. EDPs help students identify career paths and the education needed to reach career goals. Sometimes in developing the IEP, information from the EDP may be used to assist in transition planning.”