18 th annual model schools conference monday, june 14 - thursday, june 17 orlando
TRANSCRIPT
18th Annual Model Schools Conference
Monday, June 14 - Thursday, June 17Orlando
www.ModelSchoolsConference.com
College and Career Readiness What it Looks Like and How to Create an Effective Program
Host & Moderator: Tom Schultz, Superintendent (Ret) Auburn Career Center
Polk County Schools: John Small, Senior Director of Workforce Education
Cobb County Schools:Carolyn E. Waters, Supervisor of High School Language ArtsDepartment of Curriculum & Instruction
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Our Experience in Education
Since 1890Since 1981
Full Suite of College and Career Educational Solutions
ESEA: Changing the Landscape
Preparing to reauthorize the ESEA, the Obama administration has
published A Blueprint for Reform, outlining five key priorities:
(1) college- and career-ready students;
(2) great teachers and leaders in every school;
(3) equity and opportunity for all students;
(4) raise the bar and reward excellence;
(5) promote innovation and continuous improvement.
“The ESEA will set a goal that by 2020 all students will graduate
ready to succeed in college and the workplace.”--Secretary Duncan, 3.17.10
College and Career Readiness Defined
• Cognitive strategies: Intellectual openness; inquisitiveness; analysis; interpretation; precision and accuracy; problem solving; and reasoning, argumentation, and proof.
• Content knowledge: Understanding the structures and large organizing concepts of the academic disciplines, resting upon strong research and writing abilities.
• Academic behaviors: Self-management, time management, strategic study skills, accurate perceptions of one’s true performance, persistence, ability to utilize study groups, self-awareness, self-control, and intentionality.
• Contextual skills and knowledge: Facility with application and financial-aid processes and the ability to acculturate to college.
What is “Career Ready”?
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College Ready and Career Ready are often used interchangeably.
Most discussion however focus only on the academics necessary for postsecondary success not necessarily the application.
This definition is supported by National Governors Association and the Chief State School Officers.
What is “Career Ready”?
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ACADEMIC SKILLS
ACT and Achieve have documented that Career Ready and College Ready core academics are essentially the same.
Career Ready success is the application of academic knowledge in authentic contextual situations.
What is “Career Ready”?
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EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Employers site employability skills critical to workforce success and career ready.
21st Century Skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, creativity, and technology literacy are examples of the employability skills required for career ready success.
What is “Career Ready”?
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TECHNICAL SKILLS
Technical or industry-based skills at some level are required to be considered as career ready.
Licensure, stakeable certificates, and/or credentials my be required by many career clusters to be determined as career ready such as health care, information technology, etc.
Close the Opportunity Gap
Implement college and career readiness
programs for ALL students
• Increase the number of students who graduate from high school; increase the number of students prepared for postsecondary success
• Increase readiness scores on college admissions tests• Help students earn college credit while still in high school• Help student explore career options • Support your school community with transformative professional
development (counselors and teachers)
Student success…
• The bottom line is that all students need to succeed no matter where they go next!
Stories from Our Students
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Cobb County Schools, Georgia:
District Info• 106,000+ students• 114 school sites/centers: 17 high schools• 2nd largest district in GA
District Mission & Vision• The mission of the Cobb County School
District is to provide an academically rigorous, caring and safe educational environment in partnership with families, students and the community.
• Our vision is that all children will receive the respect, encouragement and opportunities they need to build the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be successful, contributing members of a global society.
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Cobb County Schools: Identified Needs
• Increase college opportunities
• Expand SAT preparation for students
• Enhance student performance on college entrance exams
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Cobb County Schools: Solution – PROJECT 2400
• Initiated in School Year 2006-07
• School District partnered with Cobb County Chamber of Commerce & The Princeton Review
• Provide SAT Preparation Course for high school Juniors; during Spring Semester of each school year
• Year 1: Program seats offered to students eligible for Free & Reduced Lunch/Economically Disadvantaged
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Cobb County Schools: Solution – PROJECT 2400
Implementation Details
• Schools select site contact person
– (typically Guidance Counselor or Assistant Principal)• Schools select SAT Class schedule:
– after school or weekends (8-11 weeks; 3 hrs per week)
– 8 classes + 3 diagnostic/practice exams
– Princeton Review develops site-specific schedules • The classes are taught by Princeton Review teachers
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Cobb County Schools: Solution – PROJECT 2400
273
615
751
408
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Spring 2007 Spring 2008 Spring 2009 Spring 2010*
# o
f S
tud
ents
Project 2400 Enrollment
*Due to budget constraints FY09-10, enrollment was capped at 408
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Cobb County Schools: Solution – PROJECT 2400
• Student Incentives (provided by Chamber of Commerce)
• Parent Information Events• Application Processes & Student Commitment Contracts• High Demand for Spots – Lottery for Participation (Yrs 2-4)
Program Highlights
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Cobb County Schools: Solution – PROJECT 2400
Ave
rage
S
AT
Sco
re
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
Spring 2007 Spring 2008 Spring 2009
Cohort SAT Scores
*Scores for Project 2400 Cohort Participants only
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Cobb County Schools: Solution – PROJECT 2400
Cobb County Schools provide courses (24 students per school)
Seeking additional funding from Cobb Education Foundation to increase enrollment
Open up courses to additional students according to space and program demand
Future Steps: 2010-2011
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Polk County Schools, Florida:
District Info
• 90,000+ students
• 160 school sites/centers: 18 high schools
• 8th largest district in FL
District Goals • The mission of Polk County School Board is to
ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences that result in high achievement.
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Polk County Schools: Solution
Partner with Penn Foster Virtual High School
GAUSE Academy: An alternative high school focused on students unable to pass FCAT (state high school graduation requirement)
Traditional High Schools: Initiated in Spring 2010
Site License Partnership – 50 credits available for each high school (850 total credits for District until June 2011)
Enrolled Pilot Group of Students Current Seniors Enrolled in Full Schedule Lacking necessary credits to graduate with cohort in June 2010
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Polk County Schools: Measuring Our Progress
GAUSE Academy- Year One 9 students
- All 9 complete & receive diploma - Year Two 17 students
- 16 complete & receive diploma - 1 dropped
- Year Three 26 students- 23 complete & receive diploma- 2 still working- 1 dropped
"Mr. Brown,
I thank you SO much from the bottom of my heart for you taking the time out of your
personal days off and helping me with the completion of my course. You have no idea how thankful I am for you Sir. All that you're doing
truly means a lot to me...Thank you for everything Mr. Brown...Thank you so much."
"Mr. Brown,
I thank you SO much from the bottom of my heart for you taking the time out of your
personal days off and helping me with the completion of my course. You have no idea how thankful I am for you Sir. All that you're doing
truly means a lot to me...Thank you for everything Mr. Brown...Thank you so much."
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Polk County Schools: Measuring Our Progress
Traditional High Schools- 15 students will complete course work and receive diplomas as 2010
Graduates
- Remaining students continue to work and submit assignments at individual pace.
"Mr. Brown,
I thank you SO much from the bottom of my heart for you taking the time out of your
personal days off and helping me with the completion of my course. You have no idea how thankful I am for you Sir. All that you're doing
truly means a lot to me...Thank you for everything Mr. Brown...Thank you so much."
"Mr. Brown,
I thank you SO much from the bottom of my heart for you taking the time out of your
personal days off and helping me with the completion of my course. You have no idea how thankful I am for you Sir. All that you're doing
truly means a lot to me...Thank you for everything Mr. Brown...Thank you so much."
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Polk County Schools: Next Steps
Summer 2010 (Current)• Students assigned virtual courses with Penn Foster to recover credits
and begin senior year on track to graduate Spring 2011• Attend computer-lab classroom onsite with facilitator
Fall 2010• High Schools identify student needs
o Increased AP offeringso Schedule Conflictso Students Off-track to graduate June 2011o Students interested in Career Electives
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Career & College Readiness Solutions
Participant Q & A
www.pennfostervirtualhighschool.com
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Career & College Readiness Solutions
Contact Information:
Joe Guerra, VP Educational Partnerships (Western US)
Don Kidd, VP Educational Partnerships (Eastern US)
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THANK YOU