High School and Beyond Plan

Your Student's Future Starts Here: Washington's High School and Beyond Plan in SchooLinks

Empowering students, families, and staff with innovative online tools to shape personalized pathways to graduation and beyond.

Welcome to Washington State’s High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) webpage. The HSBP is a graduation requirement designed to help students annually reflect on three guiding questions: Who am I?, What can I Become? and How do I Become That?. With the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 5243 in 2023, OSPI began preparing to transition all public schools serving students in grades 7-12 to a universal, statewide platform for HSBP. In May 2024, SchooLinks was introduced as the new universal platform for Washington State. On this page, you’ll find a short video explaining the “why” behind this exciting transition, along with key information about student pathways, the implementation timeline, and training and support for educators, families, and school staff. 

In the 2025-26 school year, approximately 200 school districts across Washington will be using SchooLinks to provide the HSBP. In this video, educators describe some of the platform's capabilities and show how students are engaging with this innovative platform to explore their interests, make informed choices, and prepare for life beyond high school.  

The links below will help you navigate this page and access its key sections and resources.

Quick Navigation

What is the High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP)? A Brighter Future for All Students

The HSBP is a state graduation requirement designed to help students explore careers or college pathways starting in 7th grade. Throughout the year, students update their HSBP goals to reflect their changing interests and goals, connecting what they learn and the skills they develop to future career pathways.

A Universal HSBP Platform for Every Student

Prior to the passage of (SB) 5243, districts varied in what tools they used for HSBP, meaning not all students had access to the same resources. Switching to the universal platform from SchooLinks ensures every student in Washington will have equal access to high-quality career and college readiness tools.  

Postsecondary Pathways for After High School

Annually completing HSBP activities helps guide students in exploring various postsecondary pathways that align with their interests, skills, and life goals. SchooLinks allows students to adapt and customize their pathway that feels like the best match for them. Examples of these pathways can include: 

  • 2-year college: associate degrees and workforce credentials
  • 4-year college: bachelor's degree programs and further university preparation
  • Apprenticeship programs: hands-on training in skilled trades and technical careers
  • Direct workforce entry: immediate employment opportunities, and career training
  • Military service: armed forces career preparation

Meet SchooLinks, Washington’s new universal HSBP Platform

In May 2024, OSPI announced the selection of SchooLinks as the universal platform that all students in Washington will use to complete their HSBP. SchooLinks gives students a powerful, easy-to-use space to explore careers, plan for career and college pathways, and map out a path to reach their postsecondary goals. Through the platform, students can:

  • Discover career pathways that match their interests and strengths
  • Explore career and college opportunities
  • Track their goals and progress from 7th through 12th grade
  • Choose school courses to build on skills needed for their career(s)of interest

With SchooLinks, every student has access to the same high-quality tools to plan a future that fits them.

Transitioning to Washington's Universal HSBP Platform

The Transition Timeline

Per RCW 28A.230.212 and RCW 28A.230.215 requirements, all Washington school districts serving grades 7-12 will transition to using the new universal HSBP platform, SchooLinks, by the 2026-27 school year. OSPI is partnering with SchooLinks to provide training and support to help districts make a smooth and successful transition. The chart below reflects our 5-year timeline for making this important statewide transition to a personalized and state supported career and college readiness experience for students, families and staff across Washington.

Timeline with text and visuals
A timeline showing the implementation phases of SSB 5243 and SchoolLinks as the High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) platform from 2023-24 to 2028-29. Year "0" (2023-24): SSB 5243 becomes law, OSPI selects SchoolLinks as HSBP platform. Year 1 (2024-25): OSPI prepares platform for Washington, districts begin preparation and training for fall launch. Year 2 (2025-26): Fall 2025 cohort begins, Fall 2026 cohort receives preparation and training. Year 3 (2026-27): Fall 2026 cohort begins. Year 4 (2027-28): All districts onboard; new staff professional development; continuous improvement. Year 5 (2028-29): Continued implementation.

Professional Development & Training

This section contains all the training materials designed to prepare districts for a successful transition to the SchooLinks platform. The training calendar includes upcoming live trainings tailored to your HSBP team, along with registration links for specific trainings. You will also find materials, resources, and opportunities to join office hour session with SchooLinks and OSPI staff. Be sure to check the calendar regularly, as new sessions and resources are added throughout the year to support your implementation journey! 

Training Registration

Locate the training you need in the 2025 OSPI + SchooLinks Cohort Registration Links and register directly! Look for the type of training you want and note the months they are offered. Once you click on the corresponding Zoom link you will be directed to a page where you can select the training day and time within the designated months and officially register for the training course.

Training Access & Materials 

Districts transitioning to SchooLinks receive comprehensive support through implementation guides, training sessions, recorded materials, and more to ensure a smooth platform transition.

  • Media & Communication Kit: use this kit to communicate with parents, guardians, staff, and your wider school audience about the transition to SchooLinks, the universal HSBP platform.  
  • Pre-Implementation Guide: a planning guide to support districts in preparing to implement SchooLinks as the universal tool for HSBP. 
  • SchooLinks Training Library: access to prior SchooLinks training sessions and demonstration webinars.
Platform Support & Technical Assistance

If you need platform support and technical assistance, please contact us below.

Role Specific Support

Each member of the school community plays a key role in helping students navigate their HSBP and plan for their future. Below, you will find tailored resources for district leaders, school staff, IT/Data staff, and families. 

District & School Leadership

Key resources and guidance for District & School Leadership.

IT & Student Information Support (SIS) Staff 

High School and Beyond Plan SchooLinks guidance for IT and SIS staff.

Students & Families

Find information about the HSBP and instructions for accessing the platform, SchooLinks.

Legislative & Policy Framework

The HSBP is a graduation requirement in Washington and a tool to support each student’s future planning. State law outlines both what must be included in the plan and how it should be supported across districts.

  • RCW 28A.230.212 establishes the core requirements for every student’s HSBP. Plans must include career and college goals, a personalized four-year course plan, activities that support exploration and planning, and, when applicable, alignment with a student’s IEP transition plan.
  • RCW 28A.230.215 requires OSPI to provide a universal online platform that supports the development and management of HSBPs. The platform ensures equitable access, consistency across districts, and portability of plans as students move. OSPI has selected SchooLinks as the statewide platform, with phased implementation beginning in 2025.