Road Map to College

1. Road Map to College Parent Workshop GPISD College Readiness Department

2. Compass Points • What is College Readiness & Why is it Important? • Building a College Readiness Culture • Students, Parents & District Partnership • The Road Map to College • - Rigorous Courses • College Readiness Assessment Programs • Q&A

3. What is College Readiness? College Readiness Content Knowledge + 21st Century Skills

4. Definition: What does it mean to be “college ready”? Students are “college ready” when they have the knowledge, skills, and behaviors to successfully complete a college course, without the need for remediation.

5. An Alarming Statistic College Board PSAT Report 2013

6. First Generation While 86% of students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree or higher enroll immediately after high school, only 51% of students whose parents have high school diplomas or less enroll in college immediately after high school

7. IN FACT: Out of every 100 students who enter a 2-Year College, only 30 will go on to graduate within 3 years. 58 out of 100 students who enter a 4-year University will graduate within 6 years.

8. Why the Focus on College Readiness? According to Time Magazine Oct 2012: • Student loan debt has topped $900 billion • Only 3% of the students at the top 146 colleges come from families in the bottom fourth of household income $900 BILLION DEBT

9. Why College Readiness? Only one out of four high school graduates on the 2011 ACT . . . managed to meet or exceed the basic skills needed to succeed in all 4 tested areas: reading, math, writing, and science X X X From CBS Moneywatch(August 2011):

10. Today’s College Students, in Brief Students from Low Income Families • Percentage of Undergrads who need Remedial Classes 1973-74 176,000 2010-2011 8.9 MILLION Time, Oct 2012

11. Today’s College Students, in Brief Time, Oct 2012

12. Conley’s Key Elements to College Success Skills / Knowledge HOTS Higher Order Thinking Skills Critical & Creative Thinking • Texas TEKS / AP Syllabus • What we want kids to know • College and Career Readiness Standards embedded • Problem solving and problem generating • Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation • Hypothesizing / Scientific Method • Logic and Deductive Reasoning • Interpretation • Precision and Accuracy Scholarly Habits of Mind “College Knowledge” • Study skills • Time Management • Goal Setting • Self Awareness • Persistence • Collaborative Learning • Student Ownership of Learning • SAT / ACT Admissions Tests • PSAT Test • FAFSA / TAFS Financial Aid • Application Process • The Essay • GPA Dr. David Conley University of Oregon Policy Improvement Center 2007

13. Conley’s Four Keys to College Readiness What do you KNOW • Key Cognitive Strategies • Problem formulation, research, interpretation, communication, precision and accuracy How do you • Key Content Knowledge • Key terms & terminology, factual information, linking ideas, organizing concepts, academic and technical skills THINK • Key Learning Skills & Techniques • Time management, study skills, goal setting, self-awareness, persistence, collaborative learning, student ownership of learning, technological proficiency, memory How do you GO How do you • Key Transition Knowledge & Skills • Postsecondary program selection, admissions requirements, financial aid, career pathways, postsecondary culture, role & identity issues ACT

14. What are 21st Century Skills? PERSISTENCE • How to take notes • How to organize and manage time • How to study • How to work as a team • How to problem-solve and think critically CREATIVITY DIGITAL LITERACY SELF AWARENESS

15. In fact . . . what is the ONE THING that researchers have found will ensure success in school and life more than anything else? If a student has this key ingredient, they can almost guarantee their SUCCESS!

16. GRIT GRIT is having passion and perseverance to meet long term goals. It is stamina. It is working really hard for a long time for success. It is getting back up when you get knocked down. It is like running a marathon; not a sprint.

17. Why is College Readiness important? Choice College Readiness provides students with more choices in life

18. Why is College Readiness Important? The College Advantage: Weathering the Economic Storm Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, August 2012

19. The cost of college is rising AVERAGE ANNUAL COST Public 2-year $ 10,550 Public 4-year $ 17,860 Private 4-year $ 39,518 *Includes tuition, fees, room & board rates College Board Report Trends in College Pricing 2012

20. The More You Learn, the More You Earn!

21. Future Job Openings Percent of job openings that will require some postsecondary education by 2018 * According to a 2010 study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce 63% Current percent of Americans who earn an associates degree or higher by age 25 42%

22. Top Five Factors Influencing College Admission Decisions The rigor of the coursework in a student’s high school career COUNTS

23. The rigor of the coursework in a student’s school career COUNTS!

24. The path to College Readiness begins early!

25. Third Grade: A Pivotal Year • 3rd grade is a pivotal year in a child’s life where students are either on track or derailed from graduating on time • Third grade marks the beginning of student participation in STAAR testing • 16% of third graders who are not reading on level do not graduate on time

26. How to Build a College Readiness Culture A partnership between the district and parents

27. Parents It is important that parents and families be part of the process to build a college-going culture, and that connections are made between schools and students’ families and their community.

28. Are you helping your child develop college dreams? Is your child: • attending school regularly • arriving on time • behaving appropriately • becoming a self motivated learner • performing well academically

29. Is your child making good personal choices? Encourage your child to: • Surround him/herself with friends who inspire them to achieve their best and avoid the influence of those who are willing to settle for too little • Discover their passions and their purpose

30. Is your child building a strong academic foundation? • Encourage your child to: • Love learning and embrace challenge • Work hard to build reading, math, and • writing skills • Learn to print and to write cursive • Check their work for accuracy • Ask their teacher for help • Complete their work on time

31. Building a strong academic foundation . . • Come to class prepared EVERY day – this is critical for success • Explore areas of interest through reading and research • Build resiliency and persistence • Foster their imaginative and creative side • Sign up for the most rigorous courses he/she can handle as they leave elementary and enter middle school

32. The Power of Grades • Grades are one important way people determine what they know and how prepared they are • Students use grades to prove themselves to others, but they shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that there is more than grades: there is learning and passion.

33. Read . . . Read . . . Read! Increases a child’s attention span Develops a positive attitude toward reading Expands a child’s vocabulary Creates a life-long learner

34. Actively build their vocabulary! • Make and use flashcards • Tackle about 10 new vocabulary words a week • READ: look for vocabulary in context • WRITE: use vocabulary as they journal and express themselves • SPEAK: use vocabulary to communicate and get comfortable pronouncing each term

35. Help your child learn to persevere. • Encourage your child not to give up just because something is tough • Once children learn to keep trying until they succeed, to work through the discomfort of trying something unfamiliar, and to push themselves, they won’t settle for less just because less in easier.

36. Thomas Edison said of his electric light bulb “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”

37. The Way to PlayIs your child participating in enrichment and extracurricular activities? • Access free and low-cost academic, enrichment and extracurricular programs • Go on field trips to museums, visits to colleges, competitions, plays and concerts

38. Finding Passion and PurposeAre you helping your child explore college and career choices? • Create consistent routines (homework, meal and bed times, etc.) • Cultivate your child’s interests . Help them to discover their passions and their purpose • Talk with your child about how his/her interests are related to college and career choices

39. Don’t confuse being good at something with being passionate about it. • Encourage your child to do what they are passionate about and work toward leadership roles.

40. Time to ShineSTAAR and College Readiness Assessments • Be aware that students begin participation in STAAR tests at 3rd Grade • Recognize that STAAR testing can give you important information about your child’s strengths and weaknesses • Help your child plan for assessments while reducing test anxiety • Highlight your child’s strengths

41. Setting High Academic Expectations at Middle School • Accelerated and Advanced courses are structured to be more rigorous and to move at a faster pace • High school courses taken at the middle school level are graded using high school grading policies, and are used to determine a student’s GPA and class rank.

42. A challenging learning environment is MORE important than making the “A”. • Students in accelerated and advanced courses are expected to be self-starters.

43. Time management is critical, especially in an advanced course. • Coming to class prepared EVERY day is critical for success.

44. Students should not be afraid to ask for help. • Middle School students in advanced courses should expect extensive reading and independent research to be a part of the class.

45. Students should set academic goals early about AP course choices and options, and plan for the most rigorous high school experience they can manage.

46. Educate Yourself EARLY about the Timeline for College Readiness

47. Take the most challenging courses you can handle Develop Strong Study Skills Work on your vocabulary Get involved in Extracurricular Activities Take Algebra I Participate in DUKE TIP if you qualify Start “THE LIST” From www.ktprep.com 2012

48. Take the PSAT in the fall and the SAT in the Spring Study SAT Vocabulary College Prep Time Line for High School Update “THE LIST” Don’t get “senioritis” - Stay focused! Take challenging AP and/or Dual Credit courses From www.ktprep.com 2012

49. District

50. Rigorous, College Preparatory and/or College Level Course Offerings • Opportunities for Distinguished Level Achievement and Performance Acknowledgements • College Readiness Assessment Programs • Prep for College Entrance Exams