Salt River Community Schools Junior ACE Program (Achieving a College Education)

1. Salt River Community SchoolsJunior ACE Program(Achieving a College Education) Helios Junior ACE Advisory Committee Meeting Tempe, Arizona November 18, 2008

2. College Going Patterns for Salt River Community • Majority attend college in 20s • High school graduates may not immediately attend college • Participation in high school college going programs low

3. Salt River Community Schools Pre-K to Grade 6 Salt River Elementary School BIE Grant School Enrollment of 354 students Grades 7-12 Salt River High School Arizona Charter School Enrollment of over 330 students

4. Salt River Junior ACE Evolution • Meeting with ACE Program & Maricopa Community College Foundation • Initial funding from the Scottsdale CHARROS and an anonymous donor • Additional funding from Casino Arizona and Salt River Children’s Foundation

5. Salt River’s Four Essential Priorities • All aspects of the program are designed collaboratively with input elicited from all stakeholders • The project must help strengthen the collective vision of the community as a whole

6. Salt River’s Four Essential Priorities • The project must hold high expectations of success in a non-threatening and inclusive manner without placing limits or ceilings on students and their families • Program delivery must be sensitive to the cultural and social mores of the participants and their community

7. Salt River Junior ACE Program Community • Established a community advisory board • Created a mission statement • Emphasized importance of cultural values • Workforce succession for the benefit of community survival

8. Salt River Junior ACE • Identified cultural/societal strengths and challenges of 5th and 6th grade SRPMIC students • Important to feature and involve community role models • Discussed and re-confirmed SCC as college of choice for Junior ACE experience

9. Salt River Junior ACE Mission Statement: Working collectively and responsibly, we help our students recognize and become prepared for post-secondary opportunities.

10. Salt River Junior ACE Program Goals • To strengthen and/or reinforce student expectations for educational achievement • To increase the high school completion rate of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade Junior ACE students

11. Salt River Junior ACE Program Components • Advisory Committee • Family Component • Salt River Community Schools • Career Development and Exploration • Strengthening the Spirit

12. Salt River Junior ACE @ SCC First Year – June 2007 • 5th & 6th Grades • Recruitment • Coordinated application process • Integrated Jr. ACE with Salt River summer school calendar • Family orientation • Four days on campus • Field trip day - SRPMIC business in Clarkdale • Activities aligned with Department of Education standards

13. Salt River Junior ACE @ SCC Second Year – June 2008 • 5th & 6th Grades – one week college experience • Added 7th & 8th Grades • 7th & 8th Grades participated in 2 week college experience

14. Salt River Student Progression 2007 21 Students 5 and 6th grades 2008 39 Students 5, 6, 7, 8th grades 2009 Adding 9th graders

15. Salt River Community Conversations • Community members shared education journey and how they knew they’d achieved their education and career goals • Students gained confidence in asking thoughtful questions • Personal stories increased knowledge of community’s history

16. Salt River Junior ACE Coordinator • Supports Advisory Committee • Attends Education Department Meetings as Invited • Coordinates SRCS and college activities and events • Participates in school and community events • Maintain program visibility and connection to students & families • Provides reports and maintains data

17. Next Steps • Develop the 9th grade component to support students moving to junior high • Plan and implement fall and spring retention activities and events • Early recruitment for summer 2009 • Continuous community collaboration