John Fanning, Director of The Partners Program at The College Preparatory School, spoke about College Knowledge, an innovative and effective curriculum developed at Jones College Prep that provides a template for you to take back to your school administrators and colleagues.
7. OUR RESULTS: 1a. Increased the %-age of students enrolling in selective colleges by nearly 200%
8. OUR RESULTS: 1b. Increased the %-age of students enrolling in HIGHLY selective colleges by nearly 300%
9. OUR RESULTS: 2. Cut by almost 2/3 the %age of 4-year eligible students enrolling in 2-year college or not going at all
10. OUR RESULTS: 3. Increased per-pupil scholarship support 500% (baseline $6 million for 200 students)
11. OUR RESULTS: 4. Accomplished this in two years, with most of the gains accomplished in the first year
12. OUR RESEARCH: Potholes on the Road to College … (Roderick, et al, University of Chicago)
13. MAIN POINTS: 1. Students need structured supports for school transitions and college awareness/readiness
14. MAIN POINTS: 2. Students need structured supports for college, scholarship, and financial aid apps
15. MAIN POINTS: 3. FAFSA completion is critical for college enrollment and scholarship program success
16. MAIN POINTS: 4. Academic match & not just cultural fit is a strong determinant of retention and graduation
17. OUR STRATEGIES: 1a. “Freshman Fridays” to work on transition issues into HS: 4-year HS plan, college awareness, GPA, & so much more
18. OUR STRATEGIES: 1b. 1-on-1 counselor meeting for every freshman and new student (in addition to the usuals – Frosh Orientation, Back to School Night, etc.)
19. OUR STRATEGIES: 2. Sophomore college awareness programming (at retreat, at parents’ nights, college tours)
20. OUR STRATEGIES: 3. Daily 45-minute period with all 2nd-sem. JRs and 1st-sem. SRs in highly-structured “College Knowledge” class
21. OUR STRATEGIES: 4. Relentless FAFSA completion program in January of SR year
22. OUR STRATEGIES: 5. Continued group and individual counseling as needed during 2nd-sem. of SR year (CK class now with 2nd-sem JRs)
23. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 1. Administrator buy-in (principal) and leadership (chair); if you want these gains, you have to plan and work for them!
24. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 2. Hire/assign a freshman-only counselor and give that person dedicated weekly “Freshman Friday” time
25. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 3. Hire/assign College Knowledge teachers (counselors work best IMHO); will need to re-assign a teacher FTE to a counselor or new hire
26. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 4. Use our curriculum and tailor it rather than start from scratch; set aside time and pay for curriculum planning
27. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 5. Get interns involved; excellent arena for small group and 1-on-1 supports in both FF and CK classes. They are INSTRUMENTAL!
28. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 6. DATA DATA DATA. Know your baselines and data goals at all levels, and follow them in 1st year to build consensus around FF, SA, & CK
29. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 7. TALK IT UP! At staff and board meetings, in the grad program, in the press, at district meetings, etc. Make the successes public!
30. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 8. KNOW YOUR STUDENTS! CK was designed for 4-year eligible low-income urban kids – but could be designed for other students.
31. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 9. COLLEGE EXPOSURE IS CRITICAL, esp. for first-gen kids. Start in soph year, or earlier!
32. KEYS 2 SUCCESS: 10. It’s all about RELATIONSHIPS … with students, their families, and college reps. See your role as the “relationship broker.”
33. MISC POINTS: 1. Well-aligned with the ASCA national model; principals will often need education on this model and why/how it works
34. MISC POINTS: 2. Principal needs to assign non-counselor duties (registration, standardized testing, sharpening pencils, etc.) away from couns./CK teachers
35. MISC POINTS: 2 (cont’d). In other words, if principals treat counselors as “100% other duties as assigned,” that’s exactly what they’ll get – misc. admin.
36. MISC POINTS: 3. We had no teacher resistance; in fact, new JR/SR semester-long electives contributed to teacher buy-in and enthusiasm
37. MISC POINTS: 4. CK was well-received by all students and families, not just first-gen; ‘voluntary’ (opt-out rather than opt-in) enrollment at 99%
38. MISC POINTS: 5. Students reported greatly reduced stress relative to previous year’s seniors and to peers at other HSs (suicide prevention)
39. MISC POINTS: 6. Students reported understanding the process, focus on match, appreciation for daily assistance, & being able to make better decisions
40. MISC POINTS: 7. Other successful programs not identical, but similar in allocating dedicated time; THIS IS NOT ADVISORY or ENGLISH CLASS!!!
41. MISC POINTS: 8. All SRs accepted into a 4-year college is a start BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH AND WE ALL KNOW IT; don’t feed into that standard
42. MISC POINTS: 9. NPO action is awesome BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH AND WE ALL KNOW IT; ALL KIDS NEED AND DESERVE THIS SUPPORT!!!
43. MISC POINTS: 10. This is not a pipe dream, even in this economy, but…
44. MISC POINTS: 10 (cont’d). …inertia is huge; are you a strong enough leader to make the case for this program and see it through?
