Transcript The Graduation Coach as a Counselor Resource Calcasieu Graduation Coaches Reducing Dropouts

The Graduation Coach as a
Counselor Resource
Calcasieu Graduation Coaches
Reducing Dropouts
Increasing Graduation Rates
Keeping Students on Track
Necessity is the
Mother of All Invention
Part 1
Why did Calcasieu Parish initiate a graduation
coach program?
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Closing of Lake Charles Boston High School.
Transfer of LCB students to local high schools.
School Board mandate to provide “guardian
angels” to assist both LCB students and receiving
schools.
Research led to Georgia’s Graduation Coach
Program.
Graduation Coach
• Develop relationships with students.
• Insure successful transitions.
• Promote home to school
connections.
• Keep students focused on
academic achievement.
• Monitor and motivate students to set
and reach career goals.
Roles of a Graduation Coach
politicians
community
parents
administration
grades
society
pressures
attendance
counselors
peers
teachers
social
issues
activities
choices
teachers
peers
volunteers
family
decisions
businesses
responsibilities
organizations
conflictresolution
credit recovery
behavior
technical
schools
alternative programs
colleges/universities
school
board
Necessity is the
Mother of All Invention
Part 2
Why did Calcasieu Parish decide to sustain and
expand the graduation coach program once the
LCB mandate was completed?
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The same needs existed in the non-LCB student
population.
Growing focus on the reduction of dropouts and
growth of graduation rates.
Measureable success.
Compatibility with district-wide intervention
strategies.
“Failure is NOT an Option”
CPSB High School RTI
• The graduation coach is not a “silver bullet”
solution.
• In CPSB High Schools there are multiple “Failure is
Not an Option” components to address RTI.
1. Freshman Academy
2. Grade Recovery
3. Credit Recovery
4. Adopt a Senior
5. ZAP (Zero’s aren’t permitted)
6. PBS (Positive Behavior Support)
7. Reading Programs
8. Distance Learning
9. Acceleration of new credit opportunities
Calcasieu Parish High Schools
Two Consecutive Years of Significant Growth
2007-2008 and 2008-2009
Calcasieu Parish High School Testing – Two Consecutive Years
• Increased the Composite GEE Score (State Accountability - 10th /11th grades)
• Increased the Composite iLeap Score (State Accountability - 9th grade)
• Increased both ELA and Math Proficiency (NCLB -10th grade)
Calcasieu Parish Graduation Index Indicators (All grades)
• Increased the percentage of graduates
• Increased the percentage of GED graduates
• Increased the number of Industrial Based Certifications
• Increased the number of Academic/CTE Endorsements
• Increased number of AP courses and credits earned
• Increased number of Dual Enrollment courses and credits earned
• Decreased dropout percentage
• Decreased percentage of seniors not completing during the senior year
• Decreased percentage of high school course failures at all grade levels*
Raise Course Pass Rate
Raise Test Scores
Increase Diploma Track Graduation Rate
2006-07
Course Pass Rate (9-12)
2007-08
2008-09
87.2%
90.3%
GEE Index (10th/11th)
87.1
88.1
92.5
iLeap Index (9th)
83.0
86.8
90.8
Senior Graduation Rate
(October 1 Seniors)
93.3%
94.9%
95.4%
Target Audience
for
Graduation Coaches
• Administration and counselors provide all students with
many service.
• Graduation coaches focus specialized services on a
target audience.
• The target audience may vary based on school needs
but generally focuses on potential dropouts and student
not likely to graduate on-time (4 year graduation rate).
Graduation Coach
• “Graduation Coach” is a full-time and/or part-time job opportunity for
secondary certified CPSB high school employees with 5 or more
years of successful teaching experience.
• Initial training was provided by the Georgia State Department of
Education. Current training provided locally.
• There are five Graduation Coaches in Calcasieu Parish. (Barbe,
Sulphur, Iowa, LaGrange, Washington-Marion Magnet.)
• Locally funded initiative.
Transition Monitoring
• Monitor social and system transitions.
• Meet with targeted students to verify system services such as bus
transportation, class scheduling, student involvement, student access to
school activities and student availability to material resources.
• Inform school administration and counselors of systemic issues.
• Meet with targeted students to explore social issues and solutions.
• Contact a parent/guardian as relates to transitional issues.
Attendance Monitoring
• Monitor attendance of targeted students.
• Report erratic or excessive absences to administration and
counselors.
• Meet with students to explore and resolve attendance issues.
• Contact parent/guardians as relates to attendance problems.
Achievement Monitoring
• Monitor classroom performance of students.
• Facilitate academic support system of tutoring, reading programs
and credit recovery.
• Facilitate meetings with all stakeholders.
• Maintain contact with parent/guardian as relates to classroom
achievement issues.
Plan for the Future
• Verify the five year plan for each targeted student.
• Conduct periodic reviews of career goals with targeted students.
• Utilize resources such as E-Portal and course offerings to expand
the range of possibilities for student and their plans.
• Insure the student/parent has an understanding of the student’s goal
and the necessary steps to achieve those goals.
Common Sense
Student don’t drop out when:
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They see value in what they do at school.
They consistently experience academic success.
They feel school is safe and interesting.
They are inspired and supported by adults and
peers.
• They get to do things they enjoy.
• They believe they can make it.
Grow Success
Rather Than Reduce Failure
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Change from the neck up.
Make objectives and goals positive.
Be pro-active rather than reactive.
Use the Graduation Index for Goal Setting.
Focus on Improving
Positive Steps
Give students what they need.
• Core academic foundation before high school
• Structured/supportive transition into high school.
• Many curriculum pathways to success.
• Intervention opportunities at difficult times.
• Preparation for success beyond high school.
Be Pro-active
Make Intervention a Positive Experience
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On-going career exploration and planning
Make learning (not tests) the focus
Increase course passage rate
Tiered Intervention/Recovery
Early Warning Systems
Freshman Academy Processes
Alternative methods of instruction and assessment
Electives that address student interest.
Provide for challenging curriculum (AP and Dual Enrollment)
Provide for acceleration (LCB Academy)
Featured
Calcasieu Schools
• LaGrange High School
Judy Harrison, Counselor and Anya Miller, Graduation Coach
• Sulphur High School
Jill Lockhart, Counselor and Nick Limberis, Graduation Coach
• Iowa High School
Janis Genius, Counselor and Janet Manuel, Graduation Coach
LaGrange High School
Gators
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Enrollment
Regular Education
Special Education
Free/Reduced Lunch
Graduation Index
1059
860
199
672
103.1
(81%)
(19%)
(63%)
Sulphur High School
Golden Tornado
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Enrollment
Regular Education
Special Education
Free/Reduced Lunch
Graduation Index
1867
1625
242
571
126.0
(87%)
(13%)
(31%)
Iowa High School
Yellow Jackets
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Enrollment
Regular Education
Special Education
Free/Reduced Lunch
Graduation Index
568
483
85
294
113.3
(85%)
(15%)
(52%)
Please feel free to contact Calcasieu Parish
for more information on the graduation coach program.
Patrick Deaville, District Director of High School Curriculum and Instruction
[email protected]
James Powers, District Supervisor of Counselors
[email protected]
Otto Strasburg, District Task Force Coordinator
[email protected]
Anya Miller, LaGrange High Graduation Coach
[email protected]
Judy Harrison, LaGrange High Counselor
[email protected]
Nick Limberis, Sulphur High Graduation Coach
[email protected]
Jill Lockhart, Sulphur High Counselor
[email protected]
Janet Manuel, Iowa High Graduation Coach
[email protected]
Janis Genius, Iowa High Counselor
[email protected]