cypress-fairbanks isd secondary counselors and youth services specialists october 13, 2008 dr. marie...
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Cypress-Fairbanks ISDSecondary Counselors andYouth Services Specialists
October 13, 2008
Dr. Marie KeithDirector, College and Career Readiness
The Power of Engagement!
College Night 2008
Entrance 2 5318Entrance 3 870Entrance 3C 154Entrance 4D 125Total 6,467
Parent/Student Evaluations 480
Preparing to Dream Purpose, Grant Outcomes, Preparing the Grant / Assessment, and Conclusions / Statement of Identified Need CFISD Vision College-going Culture Cy-Fair ISD Grant Objectives / Outcomes Methods College and Career Specialist Scope and Sequence Grant Implementation / Key Tasks Evaluation Advisory Committee Sustainability
Purpose
The National College Access Network (NCAN) and Houston A+ Challenge, supported by the Houston Endowment, proposed an ambitious initiative to engage several Greater Houston area school districts (5) in examining programs and data in order to transform their efforts and operations to an emphasis on creating a comprehensive college preparation environment in their districts.
Getting There – And Beyond
“Two major hurdles to enhancing college culture – a lack of systematic support for college going and isolated college services – are prevalent in many under-performing schools and can create a college culture based on mediocrity instead of one oriented toward higher standards.”
Citation: Zoe Corwin and William Tierney, USC Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis, January 2007.
Focus of Preparing to Dream
with Houston Area School Districts
Engage in the process of helping students develop and realize their postsecondary aspirations
Use coordinated strategies that are more successful and sustainable rather than those implemented in isolation.
Coordinate efforts of higher education, non-profit institutions, businesses, and foundations to align resources
Help students and families transition smoothly from high school to college
Target first-in-family and/or low income students
Purpose of Initiative
High School
Graduation
Postsecondary education
and/or career training
Completion of college preparatory curricula Readiness to take and completion of accelerated
learning courses (AP and /or dual credit) Improved college entrance exam and or placement
scores More financial aid forms completed by deadline dates Improvement in the number of students enrolling in
postsecondary education, particularly community colleges
Preparing to Dream Project Outcomes
Raise your hand if you believe as many first generation and/or low–income students are as involved in postsecondary preparation as middle class
white students?
Develop an effective school district model that promotes student access and success in higher education, especially for low-income and/or first generation students
Preparing to Dream – the BIG Idea
College Preparation Programming and Services Inventory (March 2008)
Review of Best Practices (April 2008)
Preparing to Dream Student/Parent Survey at Cypress Lakes HS Event (April 2008)
Preparing to Write the Grant
Assessment by Advisory Committee
Conclusions (based on Work of Advisory Committee)
1. CFISD has numerous college and career readiness initiatives in place; however, these initiatives are implemented inconsistently across campuses and lack systematic structure;
2. Data elements necessary for evaluation are not currently collected to measure the effectiveness of initiatives; and
3. Various resources are under-utilized.
Statement of Identified Needs
Although the District provides many college readiness activities each year, no infra-structure exists to help students transition successfully from high school to postsecondary education.
CFISD Vision
Help all sudents plan for life beyond graduation by developing a college-going culture, especially for first-in-family and low-income students (based on CFISD District Action Plan).
CFISD Overarching Goal
Through grant implementation (years one through three) develop an infrastructure (model) that will lead to district-wide implementation in year four (2011-2012)
2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
College-Going Culture Aspiration Planning (awareness and achievement) Financial Aid/Affordability Persistence (actualization)
Research
“Capturing the Potential of Student for for Under-Served Populations: An Analysis of Efforts to Overcome Social and Financial Barriers” (Communication Works, November 2002)
“A6 Framework” (Schmit, Swedlow, and Landis – February 2008)
CFISD Grant Objectives
1. Create an infra-structure utilizing a scope and sequence (grades 6-12)
2. Establish a College and Career Center at Cy-Lakes HS
3. Create data collection methods and measures to evaluate participation
4. Evaluate District policies and procedures
5. Establish a collaborative partnership with Lone Star College – Cy-Fair
CFISD Project Outcomes
Direct Incomes
Interact with staff (teachers, counselors, and specialist)
Participate in college and career readiness activities, and
Enroll in a college or career/technical training program
Indirect Outcomes
Readiness to take and increased enrollment in advanced courses Improved performance on the Texas Assessment of knowledge and Skills and college entrance exams Better grades Greater family involvement Stronger relationships with postsecondary institutions, including Lone Star College – Cy-Fair
To increase the proportion of first generation and/or low-income students at Cypress Lakes HS that
Methods
The Director for College and Career Readiness is charge with implementing all parts of the grant, working closely with other departments.
The College and Career Specialist will be located at Cypress Lakes HS C&C Center and also serve Watkins and Thornton MS.
Important Note
The college and career specialist will work with – not replace – counselors – nor assume counselor’s responsibilities – while providing college and career readiness support.
Primary Responsibilities
include coordinating the Center’s activities and implementing the scope and sequence.
Scope and Sequence The S&S will realign the District’s current activities, address existing gaps, and cultivate a college-going culture.
The purpose of the S&S is to assist students in developing the awareness and skills they need to transition successfully from high school to a postsecondary institution.
Embedded in the scope and sequence is College and Career Center Evaluation measures Review of policies and procedures Involvement of higher education
Grant Implementation
While the scope and sequence is being development during year one, the Director and Specialist will work with identified schools on “key tasks” that promote “college talk” with low- income and/or first generation students and their parents (McDonough, 2008).
Implement grant in years two and three, which will allow for refinement and evaluation.
Successful outcomes will lead to district-wide implementation in year four (2011-2012)
Evaluation
Evaluation methods will
provide for continuous improvement and measure effectiveness of the District’s College and Career Readiness initiative,
Use qualitative and quantitative measures, and
Analyze data, including demographic factors, student achievement results, and AEIS components, and survey results.
DATA FOCUS – Dr. Rayyan Amine
Results – Cy-Lakes Freshman Orientation Survey
District Student Survey – grades 6-11(draft)
Data Collection – in process Information collected from College Night tickets and parent/student evaluations College and Career Center use College and Career Center activities (such as workshops)
Advisory Committee / Support Staff
School Administration Guidance and Counseling Secondary Curriculum Campus Improvement and Research Technology and Information Services Campus Administrators (Cy-Lakes, Thornton, Watkins) Parents and Students
Community Partners Business Partners Lone Star College Houston A+ Challenge / NCAN
Task: to review the draft of the scope and sequence at the end of the year one and monitor grant implementation quarterly each year.