Freshman Transition Initiative

1. Freshman Transition Initiative The George Washington University rdedmond@gwu.edu www.freshman transition.org

2. How do we help ALL students recognize the value of education? The key to impacting students: How do we help ALL students view their futures?

3. What can we do? • Freshman Transition Initiative: • - systemic change (10 steps) • - course for ALL students • - culminates in a 10-year plan

4. Standards-driven Freshman Transition courses: • Reduce dropout rates (high school and college) • Create meaningful pathways • Increase matriculation into post-secondary programs • Increase recruitment and retention into technical programs • Provide skills to successfully navigate life and work transitions

5. A 10-Year Plan provides the vision that helps students: • Create a personalized plan/pathway, based on information and study... • Stay in high school, graduate... • Enter and COMPLETE post-secondary education and/or training... • Make timely and successful transitions into an economically self-sufficient adulthood.

6. Motivational Cycle When a student sees personal benefit in the task – such as developing their 10-year plan for their ideal future… Motivation Increases Student Experiences Success Comprehension Increases Self-esteem Increases Skill Level Increases

7. Dan BlakeCareer Development SpecialistSonoma County Office of Education • “Why do we have to know this?” • “You expect kids to choose a career in middle school?” • Sonoma County Middle School Career Exploration Program

8. “Why do we have to know this?”

9. Sixth-through-ninth-grade children have demonstrated very little understanding of how school relates to the real world and seem to have little to no awareness of the skills and knowledge needed for success in the future. (Johnson, 2000)

10. When surveyed, the majority of high school dropouts say they began to “disconnect” in middle school or earlier. (Castellano et al., 2002)

11. “You expect kids to choose a career in middle school?”

12. Middle school is an age-appropriate time to ask students to think about their career ambitions. This does NOT mean forcing students to make career choices, but creating activities that allow them to research and gather information on specific careers.

13. Young people have high ambitions, expecting to be highly educated and have professional careers, yet research has found that many do not develop coherent plans for achieving their goals.(Hughes & Merchur Karp, 2004)

14. Sex-role stereotypes, particularly about gender-appropriate occupations are formed early. (Guss & Adams, 1998)

15. Guidance activities directed at junior high school students had the largest effect sizes, indicating that guidance efforts may be most effective with pre-teenage (rather than high school or college) students.(Hughes & Merchur Karp, 2004)

16. Current efforts… Too frequently, career preparation for middle grade students consists of a single, brief unit once a year. Ideally, career education and development should be infused into the curriculum.

17. The most effective career development programs aresystemic—developmental, accessible to all learners, and embedded in the curriculum as part of the whole process of educating a child for the larger thing called life.(Maddy-Bernstein & Dare, 1997)

18. Sonoma County Middle School Career Exploration Program

19. History Goals & Objectives Organizational Structure Funding Key Curriculum, Resources & Activities Planning & Implementation Challenges & Barriers Program Overview

20. Without willing & motivated learners, all our best reform efforts will be in vain.

21. Dr. Patrick J. HollandPrincipal, School of Law & BusinessCrawford High School Educational ComplexSan Diego USD • “Best to Go By Plan Than Chance” • What’s In It For Me as a Student? • Relevancy and Relationship

22. 9th Grade Readiness • High Rate of Failure – Demographics? • Poor Attendance • Disruptive Behavior • Limited Study Skills • Low High School Expectations • Critical Thinking • Realistic Outlook – NFL, Rock Star • Apathy • Hard Work

23. Integration of Ten Year Plan • Within English - All Students - All 4 Years • Flexible – Can and Needs to be Updated • Part of LAB Senior Exhibition Project • Values Parent Input • Empowers Student – What Will I Be? • Serve as a Bridge for 9th Grade Entrance • Moves With Students • Personal Touch – Doc Talk – Transcripts, CST

24. 10 Year Plan Topics • Income – earning gap – dropout vs. graduates • Lifestyle – employment and education • Opportunity – education/training and job growth – open doors

25. References – Noted on 10 Year Plan Topics Slide • Income and Lifestyle: “ From No Child Left Behind to Every Child a Graduate – The Case for a National Response” , Alliance for Excellent Education, Aug. 2008 • Lifestyle and Opportunity: “ From No Child Left Behind to Every Child a Graduate – The Case for a National Response” , A Framework for Action to Improve Secondary Schools” , Alliance for Excellent Education, Aug.2008 • Note on Job Growth Opportunity and AA Degree: ” From Remarks by President Obama at White House Summit on Community Colleges, The White House Office of the Press Secretary, Oct. 5, 2010

26. Visitwww.freshmantransition.orgfor a copy of theCourse Standards for Freshman Transition Classesan other resources.A presentation byGeorge Washington University’sFreshman Transition Initiative

27. For more information, contact Rebecca Dedmond, Ph.D. The George Washington University rdedmond@gwu.edu