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The Graduation Coach as a Counselor Resource. Calcasieu Graduation Coaches Reducing Dropouts Increasing Graduation Rates Keeping Students on Track. Necessity is the Mother of All Invention Part 1. Why did Calcasieu Parish initiate a graduation coach program?
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The Graduation Coach as a Counselor Resource Calcasieu Graduation Coaches Reducing Dropouts Increasing Graduation Rates Keeping Students on Track
Necessity is the Mother of All InventionPart 1 Why did Calcasieu Parish initiate a graduation coach program? • Closing of Lake Charles Boston High School. • Transfer of LCB students to local high schools. • School Board mandate to provide “guardian angels” to assist both LCB students and receiving schools. • Research led to Georgia’s Graduation Coach Program.
GraduationCoach • Develop relationships with students. • Insure successful transitions. • Promote home to school connections. • Keep students focused on academic achievement. • Monitor and motivate students to set and reach career goals.
Roles of a Graduation Coach politicians community parents administration grades society pressures counselors attendance peers teachers social issues activities volunteers choices teachers peers family decisions responsibilities organizations school board businesses conflict-resolution credit recovery behavior technical schools alternative programs colleges/universities
Necessity is the Mother of All Invention Part 2 Why did Calcasieu Parish decide to sustain and expand the graduation coach program once the LCB mandate was completed? • The same needs existed in the non-LCB student population. • Growing focus on the reduction of dropouts and growth of graduation rates. • Measureable success. • Compatibility with district-wide intervention strategies.
“Failure is NOT an Option”CPSB High School RTI • The graduation coach is not a “silver bullet” solution. • In CPSB High Schools there are multiple “Failure is Not an Option” components to address RTI. • Freshman Academy • Grade Recovery • Credit Recovery • Adopt a Senior • ZAP (Zero’s aren’t permitted) • PBS (Positive Behavior Support) • Reading Programs • Distance Learning • Acceleration of new credit opportunities
Calcasieu Parish High SchoolsTwo Consecutive Years of Significant Growth2007-2008 and 2008-2009 Calcasieu Parish High School Testing –Two Consecutive Years • Increased the Composite GEE Score (State Accountability - 10th /11th grades) • Increased the Composite iLeap Score (State Accountability - 9th grade) • Increased both ELA and Math Proficiency (NCLB -10th grade) Calcasieu Parish Graduation Index Indicators (All grades) • Increased the percentage of graduates • Increased the percentage of GED graduates • Increased the number of Industrial Based Certifications • Increased the number of Academic/CTE Endorsements • Increased number of AP courses and credits earned • Increased number of Dual Enrollment courses and credits earned • Decreased dropout percentage • Decreased percentage of seniors not completing during the senior year • Decreased percentage of high school course failures at all grade levels*
Raise Course Pass Rate Raise Test Scores Increase Diploma Track Graduation Rate 2006-072007-08 2008-09 Course Pass Rate (9-12) 87.2%90.3% GEE Index (10th/11th) 87.188.1 92.5 iLeap Index (9th) 83.086.890.8 Senior Graduation Rate93.3% 94.9% 95.4% (October 1 Seniors)
Target AudienceforGraduation Coaches • Administration and counselors provide all students with many service. • Graduation coaches focus specialized services on a target audience. • The target audience may vary based on school needs but generally focuses on potential dropouts and student not likely to graduate on-time (4 year graduation rate).
Graduation Coach • “Graduation Coach” is a full-time and/or part-time job opportunity for secondary certified CPSB high school employees with 5 or more years of successful teaching experience. • Initial training was provided by the Georgia State Department of Education. Current training provided locally. • There are five Graduation Coaches in Calcasieu Parish. (Barbe, Sulphur, Iowa, LaGrange, Washington-Marion Magnet.) • Locally funded initiative.
Transition Monitoring • Monitor social and system transitions. • Meet with targeted students to verify system services such as bus transportation, class scheduling, student involvement, student access to school activities and student availability to material resources. • Inform school administration and counselors of systemic issues. • Meet with targeted students to explore social issues and solutions. • Contact a parent/guardian as relates to transitional issues.
Attendance Monitoring • Monitor attendance of targeted students. • Report erratic or excessive absences to administration and counselors. • Meet with students to explore and resolve attendance issues. • Contact parent/guardians as relates to attendance problems.
Achievement Monitoring • Monitor classroom performance of students. • Facilitate academic support system of tutoring, reading programs and credit recovery. • Facilitate meetings with all stakeholders. • Maintain contact with parent/guardian as relates to classroom achievement issues.
Plan for the Future • Verify the five year plan for each targeted student. • Conduct periodic reviews of career goals with targeted students. • Utilize resources such as E-Portal and course offerings to expand the range of possibilities for student and their plans. • Insure the student/parent has an understanding of the student’s goal and the necessary steps to achieve those goals.
Common SenseStudent don’t drop out when: • They see value in what they do at school. • They consistently experience academic success. • They feel school is safe and interesting. • They are inspired and supported by adults and peers. • They get to do things they enjoy. • They believe they can make it.
Grow Success Rather Than Reduce Failure • Change from the neck up. • Make objectives and goals positive. • Be pro-active rather than reactive. • Use the Graduation Index for Goal Setting.
Focus on ImprovingPositive Steps Give students what they need. • Core academic foundation before high school • Structured/supportive transition into high school. • Many curriculum pathways to success. • Intervention opportunities at difficult times. • Preparation for success beyond high school.
Be Pro-activeMake Intervention a Positive Experience • On-going career exploration and planning • Make learning (not tests) the focus • Increase course passage rate • Tiered Intervention/Recovery • Early Warning Systems • Freshman Academy Processes • Alternative methods of instruction and assessment • Electives that address student interest. • Provide for challenging curriculum (AP and Dual Enrollment) • Provide for acceleration (LCB Academy)
Featured Calcasieu Schools • LaGrange High School Judy Harrison, Counselor and Anya Miller, Graduation Coach • Sulphur High School Jill Lockhart, Counselor and Nick Limberis, Graduation Coach • Iowa High School Janis Genius, Counselor and Janet Manuel, Graduation Coach
LaGrange High SchoolGators • Enrollment 1059 • Regular Education 860 (81%) • Special Education 199 (19%) • Free/Reduced Lunch 672 (63%) • Graduation Index 103.1
Sulphur High SchoolGolden Tornado • Enrollment 1867 • Regular Education 1625 (87%) • Special Education 242 (13%) • Free/Reduced Lunch 571 (31%) • Graduation Index 126.0
Iowa High SchoolYellow Jackets • Enrollment 568 • Regular Education 483 (85%) • Special Education 85 (15%) • Free/Reduced Lunch 294 (52%) • Graduation Index 113.3
Please feel free to contact Calcasieu Parishfor more information on the graduation coach program. Patrick Deaville, District Director of High School Curriculum and Instruction patrick.deaville@cpsb.org James Powers, District Supervisor of Counselors james.powers@cpsb.org Otto Strasburg, District Task Force Coordinator otto.strasburg@cpsb.org Anya Miller, LaGrange High Graduation Coach anya.miller@cpsb.org Judy Harrison, LaGrange High Counselor judy.harrison@cpsb.org Nick Limberis, Sulphur High Graduation Coach nick.limberis@cpsb.org Jill Lockhart, Sulphur High Counselor jill.lockhart@cpsb.org Janet Manuel, Iowa High Graduation Coach janet.manuel@cpsb.org Janis Genius, Iowa High Counselor janis.genisu@cpbs.org