What is EDP? (Educational Development Plan)

EDP stands for Educational Development Plan, and it’s a required, personalized plan for all Michigan public school students starting in Grade 7. EDPs guide students as they explore career paths, identify their goals, and make informed academic and career decisions. This is a living document that students update every year through high school.

Why EDPs Matter

Required by Michigan law for all public school students (including those with IEPs)
Helps students connect their interests to future opportunities
Encourages students to plan for postsecondary education, training, or work
Gives parents, teachers, and counselors tools to support students along the way

What’s Included in an EDP?

Section	What It Covers
Personal Info	Student’s name, grade, and school
Career Goals	Interests and preferred career fields
Postsecondary Plans	College, trades, military, or direct-to-work
Assessment Results	Career assessments, skills checklists, academic data
Career Awareness	Volunteering, job shadowing, guest speakers
Action Plan	High school courses and milestone goals
Parent/Guardian Review	Parent signature or acknowledgment (varies by district)

Who Needs an EDP?

Grade Level	EDP Requirement
Grade 7	Begin EDP
Grade 8	Review and update
Grades 9–12	Update annually

How Edge Factor Supports the EDP

Edge Factor provides EDP-aligned content and planning tools to help support educators working with Grades 8–10. These include:

Career assessment quizzes based on RIASEC (Stop 1 of the Student Journey)
Career exploration videos tailored to student interests
Financial literacy, resume building, and interview prep
Academic goal-setting and planning tools
Student activities and extracurricular reflection

Need Help?

Looking to use Edge Factor alongside your EDP tool?
Contact our support team at support@edgefactor.com to learn more about how we support Michigan educators and students.