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Freshman On Track. Chicago Public Schools Freshman Connections: A Strategic Approach US Department of Education College Access Affinity Group April 30 th , 2013. Developing Your FOT Strategy. Taking Inventory: The School Inventory process/form should be completed during the
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Freshman On Track • Chicago Public Schools • Freshman Connections: A Strategic Approach • US Department of Education • College Access Affinity Group • April 30th, 2013
Developing Your FOT Strategy • Taking Inventory: The School Inventory process/form should be completed during the • planning period. • It is necessary to list the faculty and staff overseeing all programs in your school because • these may be some of your key stakeholders. • The school inventory sheet may cover the following areas: • Transition to High School • Attendance • Course Performance • Personalization • Grades • Credit Recovery • Each area is broken down to include the following: Activity, Faculty/Staff Leader(s), • Objective, Description, Students Targeted, Actual Participation, Observations, Follow-up • questions.
Key Steps • Review the findings • 2. Conduct a needs assessment • 3. Develop and implement your strategic plan • 4. Identify key players in your school and set up freshman teacher meetings • 5. Plan and implement 8th and 9th grade articulation programs such as • High School Investigation Day, Freshmen Connection and Freshmen Orientation for your incoming freshmen
Key Steps (Continued) • 6. Use the freshmen Watch list and Success reports throughout the year to identify trends and the need for specific targeted interventions • 7. Conduct interventions with students and track progress • 8. Survey all the students and conduct focus groups • 9. Compare your new FOT rate to previous years (baseline) • 10. Review your results and assess which strategies and interventions that worked best at your school.
One Strategy: Freshman Connections • 8th- 9TH Grade High School Summer Transition Program • Promote basic strategies to be a successful freshman • Decrease anxieties among freshmen students entering high school • Promote healthy interactions between rising 9th graders, their teachers and upperclassmen • Reinforce expectations about academic performance, positive behavior and goal setting
Freshman Connections: Who Participates? • 8th Grade Bridge • Extended School Year (ESY) • GEAR UP • Service Learning • Step Up • Youth Engaged In School (YES)
Freshman Connections: Staffing Needs • High School Investigation Coordinator • Freshman Connection Administrator (paid by school) • Kid Start AM/PM Coordinator (possible PSESD staff person) • Summer Transition Counselor • 3 Day Orientation Coordinator • Freshman Connection/Kid Start Clerk • Freshman Connection PM Coordinator (possible PSESD staff person) • 8. Freshman Connection English Teachers • (Hire 1 Teacher Per 32 Students) • 9. Freshman Connection Math Teachers • (Hire 1 Teacher Per 32 Students) • 10. Freshman Connection Counselor • (Hire 1 Counselor Per 100 Students)
Freshman Connections: Program Design AM/PM Academic sessions 8:30 am – 12:15 pm • English and math instruction • Counseling support • “Mechanics” of high school Registration Class schedules Counselor/Advisor Enrichment Sessions 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm (2-days per week) • “Rights of passage” to welcome students to high school • Teambuilding exercises • Building personalization skills • Large/ small group interactive activities with upperclassmen • Conflict resolution • Career and college exploration • Sports • Activities fair • Parent involvement/opportunities
Resources • Chicago Public Schools • Graduation Pathways • Freshman On-Track Handbook • www.chooseyourfuture.org