4-H/FCS Response to K-12 Education Issues

1. 4-H/FCS Response to K-12 Education Issues State Advisory Council February 10, 2009

2. K-12 Response • North Carolina Cooperative Extension • Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences • Youth and Family Programs/Outreach • Economic Opportunity • Educational Excellence • Health/Well-Being

3. K-12 Response • Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development Program • 4-H - 100 years in NC (2009) • Evolution of Corn Growing and Tomato Canning Clubs • Youth Member and Youth Serving Organization • 239,000 4-H youth in North Carolina • 24,000 4-H volunteers in North Carolina • 101 4-H agents • 150+ 4-H youth county professionals • 35 faculty and staff on NCSU campus • Five residential camping properties

4. K-12 Response • Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences • Family & Consumer Sciences Program • Evolution of Home Demonstration Clubs per Jane McKimmon (1911) • 101 FCS county agents • 10,000 ECA members/volunteers • 35 faculty and staff on campus

5. K-12 Response • What are North Carolinians saying? • NC Cooperative Extension • 5-Year Environmental Scan - 2007 • 25,000 citizens participating in the survey process • 9 major themes • 5 themes highlighted: Youth and Families • Health and Physical Activity • Parenting and Life Skills • Educational Achievement • Workforce Development • Civic Engagement

6. K-12 Response • What are North Carolinians saying? • UNC Tomorrow Report • 2,700 citizens attended • 1,000 faculty, students and staff • 6,700 on-line respondents • 7 Major Themes • Children and Their Future • Teacher quantity and quality • Science and math • Teaching quality • Graduate rate/drop-out issue • Educational continuum (K-20)

7. K-12 Response • Chancellor Oblinger’s priorities • Leadership Development • Education Innovation • Health and Wellness • Economic Development • Energy Innovation

8. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Delivery Methods - how we deliver • Extension Professional delivered • Guest lecturer or targeted program • Teacher delivered • School enrichment, after-school program • Volunteer delivered • Community-based clubs • Mentoring/Coaching • Teen delivered • Teens Reaching Youth • Camping Program delivered • Technical Assistance

9. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • 4-H STEM Initiative • Relevant science lessons to supplement • Lessons and Curriculum Kits available • Integrated into Standard Course of Study • Research from the University • Reducing time from discovery to application • Train-the-Teacher training • Volunteer-friendly • Subject areas examples include: • Plant science, animal science, environmental science, physics, engineering.

10. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • JUNTOS Para Una Mejor Educacion (Together for a Better Education) • Builds on Latino Parent, Family Advocacy, Support Program (Durham County, 2001) • Targets 6th through 12th graders to reduce drop-out rate for Latino youth, improve academic performance and promote interest in higher education. • Moore County Pilot (87% family completion/0% drop-out) • Significant increases in parental knowledge of high school graduation requirements and knowing where to get help. • Significant increase in understanding access requirements and support for higher education. • Significant increase in communication between teachers and parents.

11. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • High School Graduation Project • 4-H history in project-based learning • 4-H projects provide an opportunity for youth to determine an area of interest, conduct research, prepare and present their research findings. • County 4-H professionals working with teachers to assist youth in project identification, design and presentation. • Builds on the strengths of 4-H and provides youth an opportunity to showcase their work through 4-H presentation program.

12. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • Bertie County Agriscience High School • Collaboration between NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Science, NC New Schools Project and Bertie County Schools • Building on the natural resource and economic assets of the region • Early College Model (five year program that would provide high school graduation and 2 years of college completed). • Increasing interest from economic development, private business, educational partners and agribusiness community.

13. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • 4-H Youth Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy • 2007 - 10,434 youth started their own business enterprise • Focused on helping youth to understand that it is not only about getting a good job; it could be about starting a business. • Focused helping youth design business plans and developing a sustainable business. • Partnering with DPI and NC Rural Center • Financial Literacy • National Endowment on Financial Education • Partnership with ROTC, DPI and State Employee’s Credit Union

14. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • Health/Nutrition Programs • EFNEP - Expanded Food & Nutrition Program • 43 counties in North Carolina • Limited resource youth (9,500/year) and families (4,600/year) • SNAP-ED - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program • 31 counties in North Carolina • 3rd grade audience - 2,500/year

15. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • Gates County Planning Process Pilot • Requested by School Superintendent and County Extension Director. • Recognized need to develop a comprehensive plan that engaged the community to address the drop-out challenge. • Conducted pilot process with campus faculty. • Implementing plan and developing benchmarks for tracking success of the plan. • Focusing on building upon the strengths/assets of the community.

16. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • 4-H Operation Military Kids (4-H OMK) • Support over 123,000 active duty, reserve and guard troops in North Carolina. • Provide mentoring and educational support. • Offer summer camping programs. • 4-H programs and opportunities to assist with the family challenges faced from youth of deployed parents. • HERO Packs for students - school supplies • Training for teachers and counselors that are impacted by this issue in their school.

17. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • Community Engagement and Volunteer Administration • 4-H Volunteers engaged in support of education • Extension Community Association (ECA) • Parenting Education • Attendance, Achievement and Literacy of the School System • Parents as Teachers • Grandparents as Parents

18. K-12 Education • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • Planning Outdoor Playground Environments • Development of an instructional and evaluation guide for developing playground environments that are safe and educational. • Preschool Outdoor Environment Measurement Scale • www.poemsnc.org

19. K-12 Response • NC Cooperative Extension 4-H and FCS • Programs/Initiatives - what we deliver • Camping Education Programs • Special interest topics: GPS, Team-building, Astronomy, Environmental, Health and Fitness , Wildlife Management, Conservation, • One-Day or Multiple-Day Experiences • Trained staff on site • Accredited by the American Camp Association

20. K-12 Response • Summary • We offer: • Statewide Network - professionals and volunteers. • Professional Expertise - youth and family issues. • Connection to two Land-Grant Universities • NC State University • NC A&T State University • Historical record of creating change in local communities. • We welcome: • Opportunities to partner and collaborate with you for our children, youth, families and communities.