Transitions

1
Transitions

• Ivy C. Alford

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Why target middle school transition?
HSTW

• The transition point from middle school to high
  school has the highest percentages of dropouts
  nation wide.
• The highest failure rate occurs in grade nine.
• Preparing students for high school work, directly
  impacts retention.

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Before High School
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Have teachers work together

• Improve communication between high school and
  feeder schools faculties and administration.

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Have teachers work together

• Have all 8th and 9th grade teachers who teach the
  same subject area meet on a regular basis (at
  least once a quarter) to discuss solutions to
  impact deficiency areas that exist on both 8th
  grade and 9th grade state assessments.
• In addition, have all ninth-grade and middle
  grades teachers reach agreement on essential
  state and national readiness standards necessary
  to prepare students for challenging high school
  work--use the HSTW publications on Getting
  Students Ready Guides.
• Have the district curriculum coordinator work
  with schools to develop a six through twelve
  subject area map based on initial conversations
  for high school readiness standards.

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Get a jump start with students

• Establish meetings with 8th graders
• Host meetings for 8th graders and their parents
• Use seniors to mentor 8th graders
• Consider doing a teacher swap
• Host a special orientation day

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Specialize classes for 9th graders

• Reduce the student-to-teacher ratio at grade nine
  in all core academic subjects, particularly
  mathematics, English/reading and science.
• Select teachers with excellent content knowledge
  and who have the 9th grade vision.
• Consider creating a ninth-grade academy

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Establish Extra Help Programs
HSTW

• Structured extra help programs in grades 7 and 8
• 4 to 6 week summer bridge program for students
  who need accelerated instruction in math, English
  and reading
• Develop courses in grades seven and eight to give
  extended time to read, write and do math

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What makes a ninth-grade catch-up program
high-quality?
HSTW

• Early identification of students
• A lower student-teacher ratio in grade nine
• Qualified teachers with depth of content
  knowledge teach challenging content
• School schedules are modified to allow students
  to be double-dosed English/reading and
  mathematics

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What makes a ninth-grade catch-up program
high-quality?

• Standard-based Curriculum with unit planning by
  teachers
• Teachers are organized into planning teams so
  they can plan together
• Recruit the best teachers to lead the ninth-grade
  teams
• Move beyond remedial instructional
• Comprehensive evaluation plan

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Organize a Ninth-Grade School/Academy
HSTW

• Separate grade nine from the rest of the school.
• Get parent support.
• Organize into a series of learning communities
• teams of teachers
• common groups of students
• common planning time

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The Power of I

• Establish a failure is not an option mission for
  ninth graders
• Require extra help
• Review transcripts with students

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Habits of Success

• Ask teachers to integrate study skills, literacy
  skills and other Habits of Success into their
  lesson plans especially in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10.
  
• Design a ninth-grade enhancement course

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Engage Students in CT Studies

• Determine how to get students into CT courses as
  soon as possible
• Create a ninth-grade CT exploration course
• Use interest inventories to assist students in
  selecting a pathway or Cluster Area

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Revise Resources

• Create and use scheduling resources that
  highlight Career Clusters and/or pathways
• Use these resources with required parent
  conferences to assist students in planning their
  high school studies
• Create a portfolio system to use to chart
  progress

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Special Programs for At-Risk

• Create a priority emphasis for at-risk students
• Establish weekly or even daily contact points for
  students
• Communicate with teachers and administrators
• Provide incentives and periodic rewards for
  students

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Keep students in school

• Establish REQUIRED extra help programs
• Provide students/parents with progress reports
• Establish additional opportunities for students
  to make up credits

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Senior Struggles

• How do we provide focus to the senior year? How
  can we assist students to take advantage of
  senior year opportunities?

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Why target postsecondary transition?
HSTW

• Senior year not taken seriously
• Low ACT and SAT scores
• High remedial rate in English and mathematics
• Students unprepared for workforce
• National completion rate for college only 39.9

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Research Based Strategies for Postsecondary
Transition
HSTW

• Students earn college credit while in high
  school.
• Enroll unprepared students in transition
  mathematics and English courses.
• Courses aligned to college and career readiness
  standards
• Ensure that students who do not plan to go on to
  further study are in a CT program.
• Develop extra help for students having trouble
  graduating.

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Additional Actions for Making the Senior Year
Count
HSTW

• Have community college administer placement exam
  during 11th grade
• ACT Test for everyone in 11th grade
• Reality check prior to the senior year with
  parents, adviser and counselor
• Enroll seniors in upper-level courses
• Enroll all seniors in at least three academic
  courses
• Consider requiring a senior project that includes
  a research paper, a product or service, an oral
  presentation and a power point

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• Contact
• Ivy C. Alford
• Director of State Services for School
  ImprovementHSTW, SREB
• ivy.alford_at_sreb.org