Using the Reach for College! curriculum to

improve college-readiness

Jonathan Williams, Executive Director &Kenneth Parker, Program Director

Welcome & Introductions Objectives College Readiness Assessment Reach for College! Video College Readiness Skills Overview of RFC! materials Implementation of the RFC! curriculum College Readiness Institute (CRI) Sample Lesson (time permitting)

Session Evaluation

AGENDA

Review of RFC curriculum by grade level, teacher manuals, and workbooks

Integration of RFC in your high school—a whole school model

Specific ways the RFC program can prepare students for college

Overview of College Readiness Institute

Objectives

Position & Length of Time in Position

What is one thing you hope to gain from today’s session?

What skills or resources would better assist you in preparing students for college?

What preparation, if any, did you receive prior to working in your role?

Include contact information

College Readiness Assessment

Mission:◦ To increase the number of traditionally

disadvantaged students accessing and graduating from a postsecondary education.

We believe:◦ ...all students should aim for some sort of

education after high school.◦ ...all students can succeed if they are determined

enough.◦ ...it is important to help low-income students

because these students represent 17% of the students in the country.

What is Reach for College?

Reach for College! video

The Reach for College! curriculum has been used over the past five years with nearly 12,000 students in the D.C. and Prince George’s County Public Schools.

Grades 9-12

In 16 schools with the lowest college-going rates. Some of schools we have served are indicated on the following slide.

Who do we serve?

*Booker T. Washington PCSBallou Senior High School

Cesar Chavez Public Charter School - ParksideCesar Chavez Public Charter School – Capitol Hill

*Cardozo*Dunbar

Eastern Senior High SchoolHospitality PCS

*The Next Step PCSThurgood Marshall Public Charter School

SEED PCS – DCSEED PCS – MD

Urban Leadership Institute – Baltimore, MDWashington Math, Science and Technology PCS

*Crossland (PGCPS)*Potomac (PGCPS)

USTA Program – New Jersey

Schools that have used the RFC curriculum

What skills do students need to be college-ready?Key Content Knowledge—

reading and writing skills are basic to college and career success

Contextual Skills—the practical skills for getting into and succeeding in college, which include: understanding college admissions, placement testing, financial aid, academic norms, time-management and expectations of college life

Habits of Mind— critical thinking, problem-solving, inquisitiveness, researching,

analyzing and presenting conclusions

Social and emotional— adjustment to more independence, prioritizing

responsibilities, self-advocacy, financial responsibility

What college-readiness skills are in RFC curriculum?√Key Content Knowledge

reading and writing skills are basic to college and career success, but no content specific to a subject area other English

√ Contextual Skills—the practical skills for getting into and succeeding in college, which include: understanding college admissions, placement testing, financial aid, academic norms, time-management and expectations of college life

√ Habits of Mind critical thinking, problem-solving, inquisitiveness, researching,

analyzing and presenting conclusions

√ Social and emotional adjustment to more independence, prioritizing

responsibilities, self-advocacy, financial responsibility

Is there a structured curriculum that focuses on the broad range of these college-readiness skills?

This is a lot to teach in addition to math, science, history,

English . . .

YesThe Reach for College! curriculum & program.

On mid-year surveys, students say:

87% say they feel the RFC class is preparing them for college

86% say they would recommend the class to a friend.

Results:

Schools choose how they want to implement the curriculum and with which students. Here are some of the ways it has been done:

With a single class of seniors in a senior seminar course.

With a single class of 10th graders or 11th graders.

With every junior in the school as part of a required SAT prep class.

How is implementation done?

Integrated into a junior or senior English class

In a daily advisory period

With every student in the school, grades 9-12 In other words the curriculum is flexible and

can be used in a variety of ways that fit into a school’s academic program.

No one size fits all

What’s in the Reach for College! curriculum and How much does it cost?

The RFC curriculum helps students succeed in high school, set goals and prepare for college & careers.

Cost is approximately $23 per student

A book for each grade level and two for seniors

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th grade

12th grade (1st semester) 12th grade (2nd semester)

NINTH GRADE SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

Welcome to high school—what to expect and tips for smooth transition

Goal-setting for high school & beyond Interest and ability exploration to link to

possible careers to think about Study skills and time-management Good decision-making The importance of attitude 137 pages, © 2008

9th Grade—1st Semester

SKILLS FOR SUCCESS NOW AND AFTER GRADUATION

Introduction to college access and benefits of postsecondary education

College-level reading, writing, time-management skills to improve GPA in high school and to practice using these skills for later college success

Goal-setting and importance of attitude in success

148 pages, © 2006 3rd printing © 2009

10th Grade

CAREER SKILLS FOR SUCCESS AFTER GRADUATION

Benefits of postsecondary education Career exploration and educational

planning for career SAT Prep College search and practice applications Essay-writing Employability skills Interview skills 119 pages, © 2006 3rd printing © 2009

11th Grade

APPLY FOR SUCCESS AFTER GRADUATION

Career and educational goal-setting SAT Prep College selection and application In-depth essay-writing for

applications Financial aid and scholarship

applications 109 pages, © 2006 2nd printing © 2008

12th grade—1st semester

COLLEGE & REAL LIFE SKILLS FOR SUCCESS AFTER GRADUATION

Issues in transitioning from high school & home to college

Time-management, organization & study skills for academic success

Resources for assistance available on campuses

Personal problem-solving & decision-making Real life finances & managing financial aid Tips for commuting, working or parenting

students 138 pages, © 2006 2nd printing © 2008

12th Grade—2nd semester

Include suggested activities

Pacing charts

Some supplemental materialsLists of words frequently found on the SAT, crossword puzzles for

vocabulary development, tests for those words

Teacher Manuals for each book

For the transition to high school, accompanies the 9th grade student book

HELP YOUR CHILD SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL Help your child set goals for success in high school

and beyond Promote education beyond high school as the best

choice for success in life How to get to education beyond high school and how

to pay for it Help your child be responsible and self-disciplined Encourage a positive attitude

40 pages, © 2008

Books for families

For the transition to college, accompanies the 12 grade Apply book

GETTING YOUR CHILD INTO COLLEGE Why college is the best option for your child Help your child prepare for high school

graduation How to choose and apply to college or training

programs Understanding the SAT What you need to know about financial aid Help your child prepare for college life 39 pages, © 2007

Books for families

Books for families also available in Spanish

Accompanies 9th grade book Accompanies 12th grade book

The College Readiness for Educators

A partnership between Reach for College! and the Community College of the District of Columbia

Need for College-Readiness Institute National Completion Agenda College Readiness for DC’s Students Race To The Top Graduation rates of development education

students

Need for College-Readiness Institute

Thinking ahead to postsecondary education from the early grades◦ Certainly, they need to be focused on college and

preparing for it from Day One in 9th grade Removing limits on the lives of young people

◦ Without this goal on the part of students, teachers & parents, students inevitably fall short in all sorts of ways

Mending a broken pipeline from high school to college◦ Students get to the end of high school without a

plan or the skills needed to succeed in college or a career

A solution to fill this need A multi-day, intensive professional

development Institute

No shame or blame

Community of Learners representing high school and college.

Share expertise, experience, wisdom and to

learn from each other.To begin a conversation with colleagues to

continue for weeks and months as they continued to share materials, ideas, and support.

Institute Goals To inspire with a vision of college-readiness.

To raise educators’ expectations of students.

To provide practical strategies and materials that could be used right away.

To help educators create their own materials for their own students that would help them toward college-readiness.

Why are college- and career-readiness important?

Nationally

The US has fallen behind in the number of college graduates, now ranking 10th in the world.

The average Black and Latino college graduate is considered to be at least 4 years behind their White counterparts in terms of educational and economic status

President Obama has said that college and career-readiness should be the standard for high school endeavors.

Why are college- and career-readiness important?

Locally In Washington, D.C., only 29%

of students go to college and only 9% graduate.

By 2014, 80% of jobs in D.C. will require some postsecondary education.

Majority of D.C. young adults cannot get good jobs in their home town.

Schedule and Logistics 9:00-12:00 Several whole group sessions with

speakers on national and local college-readiness data, raising expectations, inspiration, etc.

1:00-3:30 Choice of two small groups sessions given by pairing of a high school master teacher and a college teacher on specific topics, such as improving writing skills.Part of the time was devoted to participants creating their own lessons building on skill presented

3:30-4:00 Feedback to large group

Large group session topics Why are college and career-readiness important? Are college- and career-readiness the same thing? Are our students currently prepared for college

and careers? What does college/career readiness look like? If our students are not currently prepared, what

can we do to better prepare them? What target goals should we have so we’ll know

when we’ve attained them and been successful?

Small group sessions topics addressed Critical thinking College-level reading skills College-level writing skills Technology skills Research skills Habits of mind

Building websites for use in their classrooms

Role-playing teacher and student

Sharing ideas & strategies that work

Incentives CCDC provided certificates for participants

to teach Freshman Seminar RFC provided Continuing Education Units

Results 46 teachers, guidance counselors, program

coordinators attended and completed the Institute

Participants came from 7 States and the District of Columbia

93% of participants said they thought all these Institute goals were met:Provided with information you can utilize professionally and/or

personally.The opportunity to meet and collaborate with other educators.Practical strategies and tools to prepare students for success

in postsecondary education. 

Results One person wrote on her evaluation, ‘now I

know the difference between college-eligible and college-ready.’ 

Another wrote, ‘I didn’t expect to leave with info and strategies that will change my philosophy and performance, but I did.’

Why are college- and career-readiness important for young people?

Ask the audience

.

Why are college- and career-readiness important to you/educators?

Ask the audience

Proud Graduates

Receiving a Certificate from Dr. Gueverra

Jonathan Williams, Executive Director

jwilliams@reachforcollege.orgor

Kenneth Parker, Program Directorkparker@reachforcollege.org

Contact information