How to Provide Equal College and Career Readiness

Transcription

1 Strategies to Provide Equal College and Career Readiness to All Students Jeff Cranmore, PhD McKinney HS, McKinney, TX Steven Colón Vice President, Access to Opportunity The College Board

2 Overview This session will provide school leaders a look at eight strategies counselors need to provide to ensure College and Career Readiness and ways to embed them into the school culture. It also serves as a guide to ensure all students have equal access to every opportunity. Free resources to aid counselors and teachers in helping students meet their fullest potential.

3 According to the Southern Regional Education Board College Ready : A high school graduate has the reading, writing and math knowledge and skills to qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit bearing, college-degree courses without the need for remedial classes. Career Ready : A high school graduate can read, comprehend, interpret and analyze complex technical materials, use mathematics to solve problems in the workplace, and pass a state-approved industry certificate or licensure exam in their field. Source: The Next Generation of School Accountability: A Blueprint for Raising High School Achievement and Graduation Rates in SREB States, 2009.

4 College Readiness and Career Readiness Require Higher level thinking skills Specialized skills A rigorous high school education Does NOT begin in the senior year of high school. We must start the college and career conversations with our students and their families the day they step foot into kindergarten.

5 The Strategies Increase College Aspirations Academic Planning Extracurricular Activities Exploring Colleges and Careers Testing/Entrance Requirements Admissions Paying for College Moving from High School to Adulthood

6 Increase College Aspirations Begin Early Job Fairs in Elementary School College Fairs in Middle and High School Student Self Awareness Career Interest Assessments Student Personality Interest Inventories Benefits of Post Secondary Education $$$$ Reality Check

7 Sponsored by Texas Workforce Commission Allows students to Look at Cost of Living Expenses, and Match Careers Example: $60, / k/ Reality Check

8 Reality Check Allows students to explore careers by financial potential Provides real-life scenarios Detailed information on methods of entry into particular career (College, Trade Program, Certifications) Individual State Programs: Texas, California, Colorado

9 Building a College Going Culture from Day One College and Career Advising K-12 th Grade Elementary School To create early awareness, knowledge and skills that lay the foundation for academic rigor and social development necessary for college and career readiness. Middle School To create opportunities to explore and deepen college and career knowledge and skills necessary for academic planning and goal setting; to begin to identify students who have demonstrated potential and earned opportunities to succeed (PSAT 8). High School To create access to college and career pathways that promote personal goals and ensure the widest range of future life options; to further identify and monitor students with potential (PSAT 9, PSAT/NMSQT) and help propel them into opportunity (AP). Source: NOSCA School Counselor s Guide: Website: nosca.collegeboard.org/eight-components

10 Elementary School Begin College Going Culture Bombard Families With Subliminal College Information College Material in Hallways Rename halls: A Hall = Harvard Boulevard Teacher s Classes: Mrs. Smith s 1 st grade = Texas Tech 1 St Grade Late Elementary College and Career Fair Parent Meetings on Paying for College College Vocabulary

11 Middle School Begin Searching College and Careers BigFuture Personality/Interest Inventories Dedicated Class Time to College Preparation Projects in Classes AVID Counseling Prepare 4 Year Plans that put students on College Path Rigorous Courses Parent Meetings PSAT 8/9

12 High School Early HS Career Inventories College Fair Research and Compare Schools PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT Late HS Schools that Match Major Fit Finances SAT

13 Academic Planning Rigorous Courses: AP, IB, Dual Credit Prepares Students for Rigors of College Offers Potential Savings Time Money Tuition Cost/Housing (Students Skipped Freshman Year of College)

14 Academic Planning (cont ) Balance Courses Most rigorous course load students can handle Focus on one area Play to your strengths Combo of AP, IB, Dual Credits Ex. Student A wants to be an engineer. Has a great interest in math and science. Is also very involved in school athletics. I might suggest they take Dual Credit Senior English and Government, while Taking AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C AP Credit Policy search

15 The Importance of AP in expected on-time college graduation rate compared to academically matched peers who don t take AP. Access to challenging course work in high school is a key piece of ensuring successful transitions to college and career. This is especially important because the majority of U.S. students who enter four-year colleges do not graduate within four years. This can cost students and their families a significant amount of time and money. AP students with an average AP Exam score of:

16 AP Benefits (cont ) The typical student who receives a score of 3 or higher on two AP Exams has the potential to save, on average, nearly $1,779 at a public four-year college and over $6,000 at a private institution. Research studies have demonstrated that students performing well on AP Exams succeed in subsequent coursework, persist and complete degrees at a higher rate and in less time. Data also indicate the powerful role AP plays in helping students identify their chosen discipline.

17 AP Benefits (cont ) When compared to their matched peers, research consistently shows that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically: Earn higher GPAs in college; Perform as well or better in subsequent college courses in the discipline than non-ap students who took the introductory class in college; Take more not fewer college classes in the discipline; Are more likely to earn their college degree on in four years; and Have higher graduation rates. time

18 Extracurricular Activities Involvement In school Consistent (4 years of choir better than 1 year of 4 different things) Leadership roles In the Community Churches Volunteer Hours Focus on one area

19 Extracurricular (cont ) When Colleges look at extracurricular activities, they want to see depth and leadership, as well as commitment. Volunteering President s Volunteer Service Award Awards for volunteers hours during one year or over a lifetime Bronze, Silver and Gold Levels.

20 Exploring Colleges and Careers Big Future Find a Fit Interest Inventories Match Schools and Majors Mentors/Internships/Job Shadowing Individual College Websites Scholarships Deadlines

21 Exploring Colleges (cont ) The Right Fit Size Location Student Body Does it have what the student needs? Office of Student Services Accommodations 504 Plans

22 Testing/Entrance Requirements SAT/ACT Encourage parents and students to take these tests by the end of 11 th grade. This allows time to retest if needed. Fee waivers are available. GPA Requirements Colleges often make decisions based on the first 6 semesters Weighted Classes (AP, IB, Dual Credit) Rank May determine Testing requirements KEY POINT- Grades and GPA begin Day one of HS. Make the best choices from the beginning.

23 Admissions Deadlines Make sure you know them and follow them. Scholarship deadline? Is it the same? Is the application the same? Early Action v. Regular Test Scores Are they required? Will they super score? When is the latest you can send? GPA/Rank Weighted v. Unweighted All Classes or just core NCAA Requirements Rank may determine test score requirements

24 Admissions (cont ) Essays Set your self apart No stories that begin with the time we went to Europe or the time we won state champs in (insert here) Colleges want to hear about you: What makes you special? What makes you dream? What will you do one day? Recommendations Are they required at that particular school? Give ample time for people to write Provide all needed info, addresses, name of schools, and current resumes Make sure they know if you will be using them for more than one school Follow up with thank you card/note

25 Admissions (cont ) Resume Your chance to shine Include extracurricular, work, and volunteer experiences, plus any awards. Holistic Approach Many colleges look at all of these factors and more KEY POINT- Colleges will be looking at many factors. Don t assume you have no chance.

26 AVID ADMISSIONS WALL OF HONOR We post every acceptance letter as a poster size copy

27 Paying for College FAFSA Apply Every year if legally eligible NOTE- If not legally eligible, this may slow down immigration status. State Aid Varies from state to state Scholarships Private Competitive Individual Colleges Same application as admissions or separate?

28 Paying for College (cont ) Other Scholarship Sources Parents Work Community (Elks, Rotary, etc ) Churches Foundations (McKinney Education Foundation) Students Apply Interviews Scholarship Search Websites Essays (Zombie Apocalypse Scholarships) Unique Attributes (Tall Texan, Vegetarian Awareness) Greek Life Scholarships/Honor Societies

29 Moving from High School to Adulthood Students must take on more responsibility for their own education. Ordering their own transcripts Completing their own applications (college and scholarships) Taking on more responsibility in their lives Cooking Laundry Alarm clocks/getting up in the morning

30 Helping Parents Transition Parents need reassurance. Help parents prepare for students leaving, early on. (No one wants to see a student get accepted then told they cannot go at the last minute) Parents should visit the college campus if possible.

31 Free Resources TexasRealitycheck.com Bigfuture ScholarshipExperts.com Fastweb.com NACAC- GPA Game The College Board ACT ASCA

32 Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Steven Colón Vice President, Access to Opportunity The College Board December 2014

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34 Need to address inequalities of college access and success There are large gaps in enrollment, persistence, and completion by income and race. 34

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37 Research finds a number of barriers to college access The major barriers include: Affordability Academic Preparation Complicated Information/Complex Processes Certain Higher Education Policies and Practices

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39 Aim

40 Goal

41 Three-pronged Approach to Access to Opportunity Ready Improve access to rigorous coursework and reduce the information gap Go Connect to colleges where they can succeed Finish Improve postsecondary degree completion rates

42 Our Approach Evidence-based & Scalable Membership & Partnership Individual & Systematic

43 Membership/Partnership Organization

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45 Fee Waivers Go: Connect to Colleges Where They Can Succeed

46 Exciting New Partnerships

47 Ready: Improve Access to Rigorous Coursework & Reduce the Information Gap The Dell partnership enabled over 70 schools across the nation to start 140 new AP courses this fall, reaching primarily low-income students. The AP STEM Access Program, with partners Google and DonorsChoose.org, enabled 10,000 students who did not previously have access to AP courses take AP Exams this past May.

48 Road Trip Nation Jenny is a 19-year-old freshman from Mississippi State University. Jasmine is a 20-year-old sophomore from the University of South Carolina. Felipe is a 24-year-old college graduate from the University of California Irvine. Jonathan is a 20-year-old sophomore from the University of Central Florida.

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50 Go: Connect to Colleges Where They Can Succeed