recovering lost time: reengaging students through college and community presented by miguel...
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Recovering Lost Time:Reengaging Students through College and Community
Presented byMiguel Contreras, Director, Gateway College and Career Academy, Riverside City [email protected] Jill Marks, California State Manager, Gateway to College National [email protected]
Recovering Lost Time: Reengaging Students through College and Community
(Goal) To provide an in-depth look at the Gateway to College National Network (GTCNN) specialized student services model that facilitates the success of reengaged students in the community college setting:
Gateway to College (GtC) program structures
Local GtC strategies and tools that exemplify the intensive student services model Gateway College and Career Academy (GCCA) -
charter school at Riverside City College, CA
Recovering Lost Time – Presentation Outcomes
Review dual enrollment and early college research reduces high school dropout rates, increases student aspirations, and
decreases the amount of remediation needed by incoming college students
Understand how GtC structure, strategies and tools create a college-going culture high expectations and accountability for newly re-engaged students
Understand high touch role and responsibilities of the Student Resource Specialist (counselor, ed advisor:) academic counseling, mentoring, teach college guidance courses,
coordinate wrap around services, and build the small learning community
Identify resources that address students’ socio-emotional needs
Essential Elements Gateway to College National Network Model
Dual Enrollment: “Creating a recruitment pipeline of college-ready
students”
“Dual enrollment programs offer a number of advantages to the participating colleges by ideally creating a recruitment pipeline of college-ready students – especially among a group who may have been unlikely to pursue a college education – who are more likely to persist and successfully complete a postsecondary degree or credential without any delays resulting from the need to complete development coursework (Barnett & Stamm, 2010).”
– Dr. Rogeair Purnell, Senior Researcher, The RP Group
Dual Enrollment: Benefits for all students
• Better prepared to successfully complete college coursework
• Able to explore various career and majors before enrolling in college full-
time
• More confident in their ability to do college-level work and successfully
pursue a postsecondary credential
• Better able understand of the potential economic benefits of a
postsecondary education
• Able to accelerate the pathway through college saves time and
money
Source: Purnell, R. (2014). A guide to launching and expanding dual enrollment programs for historically underserved students in California. Berkeley, CA: Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges in collaboration with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the San Joaquin Delta Community College District, Stockton, CA.
Early College Definition
Early college high schools are small schools designed so that students can earn both a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree or up to two years of credit toward a Bachelor’s degree.
[Goals] Potential to improve high school graduation rates Better prepare all students for high-skill careers by engaging them in a rigorous,
college preparatory curriculum and compressing the number of years to a college degree
[Indicators] Located on a college campus Strong academic program Supportive environment – serve first generation college-going students Defined and structured program that enables the high school students to earn both
their high school diplomas and their Associate’s Degree in 4 to 5 years with no cost to the student
Sources: Jobs for the Future; Middle College National Consortium
“College for All”: Early College Outcomes
“Early College designs, which immerse high school students in a “college for all” culture and support their progression into dual-enrollment college courses, have produced particularly dramatic results, beating typical outcomes for students of color and low-income youth “ 2013 data:
90% of EC students earn a high school diploma vs. national rates of 66% of blacks, 69% of Native Americans, and 72% of Latinos
30% of EC students earn an Associate’s degree or other postsecondary credential along with their high school diploma vs. very few students of any background nationally
71% of EC graduates enroll in college the semester following graduation vs. 67% of black students and 67% of Latinos nationally; and 54%of low-income students
Source: Jobs For the Future. (2014). Expanding Opportunity and Outcomes for Young Men of Color.
Dual Enrollment as a Re-engagement Strategy:
Gateway to College Early College Model
“Every year, over one million students fail to graduate from high school. They face a future of uncertainty and limited opportunity, with much higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and incarceration. Gateway to College provides young people with a second chance to earn their high school diploma while simultaneously building skills and gaining credits to complete college successfully. ” -Laurel Dukehart, President, Gateway to College
National Network
Gateway to College Mission
To reconnect struggling and off-track youth with an opportunity to complete a high school diploma in a supportive post-secondary environment where they earn college credit and experience academic success.
GtC Student Demographic Information (2013-14)
GtC Student Academic Information (2013-14)
17 average age of Gateway to College student entering the program
64 % students of color
75 % first generation college-goers
1.5 average GPA at entry (on a 4-point scale)
49 average % of credits needed to complete a high school diploma at entry
17 average number of months to complete a Gateway to College program
22 average number of college credits earned at graduation from Gateway to College
73 % of graduates continue on in post-secondary education
Sources: Gateway to College National Network. (2014). 2012-13 Data Book; Gateway to College National Network. (2014). 10 Years of Impact: 2014 2013 Annual Report; Gateway to College National Network Database. (2004-2014); Rider, S.,Winters, K., and Neilson, T. (2012). Gateway to College Evaluation of Post-Secondary Attainment Graduates. Pacific Research and Evaluation, LLC.
Gateway to College Student Profile
Youth (16-21 yrs.) who are at-risk of dropping out or who have already disconnected from their education – issues (attendance, academics, social, health, economics, addiction, peers, legal)
Have expressed a desire to reconnect and have aspirations for post-secondary education
Are willing to work through past barriers to school success
Gateway to College Program Design
Foundation (First) Term - Small learning community (SLC) courses – academic development, college success strategies, career exploration, defining purpose
Pathway Alignment – college pathway or major, aligned with high school completion requirements and college degree or certificate requirements
College for All - transition to college courses with the general student population while continuing to receive intensive support from GtC staff
High academic expectations and high touch
Intensive case management and wrap-around supports
Gateway to CollegeStudent Outreach and Recruitment
Strong connections with local HS counselors and district dropout prevention specialists
Clear communication about program structure and expectations
Collaboration with local youth and family programs and services
Current student referrals/word of mouth
Intensive enrollment process- A counseling approach
GtC College-Going Culture and Environment: High Expectations and Accountability for newly re-
engaged students
From the beginning (outreach and enrollment) High expectations, college focused Purposeful enrollment activities
The Power of Place Community (student culture as well as staff culture) Developing Purpose Engaging and highly effective instruction - Common Core implementation and
Professional Growth Plans Accountability
Structured schedules and activities Behavior/Habits Academic Progress Attendance Student Accountability Plan Instructional team meetings
Solution focused counseling Immediate interventions Commitment to Success Plans “Scholarship Accountability Form”
Gateway to College High School and College Pathway Alignment
Early and consistent academic planning
Alignment with California’s core diploma requirements
Full access to community college certificate and degree programs
Defined pathway as a student engagement tool
GTC Student Resource Specialist: High Touch Role and Responsibilities
Student Resource Specialist (RS)) at the center of our student support structureo Small and manageable caseloads are
necessaryo Coordinates with students, instructors,
parents, administrators, and support services
Develops and fosters the small learning community (SLC)
Delivers college readiness and success courses- Eases college transition
Develops personalized academic planning (graduation and college pathway)
Employs a solution focused counseling approach to help navigate barriers to success and develop student agency
Coordinates for wrap around services (at the college and in the community)
A TRUSTED AND AVAILABLE SOURCE FOR HELP, MOTIVATION, AND GENUINE CARE
Ongoing Support Structure for GtC Foundation and Continuing
Students
Foundation (first) termo SLCo Focus on developing purpose and committing
to the habits of successful students Continuing terms
o Pursuit of college pathway and diploma through dual enrollment
o Application of college success strategieso Advisory sessions for frequent contact and
support and post-secondary transitioning
Academic Supports Gateway College and Career Academy (GCCA)
Two Academic Coaches
College Reading and Writing Center
College Math Lab
College Disability Resource Center
“It Takes a Village” GCCA programs, college and community resources that address students’ socio-emotional needs
Special Education Program – Services & Accommodations Intensive Student Support Program Student Health and Psychological Services Disability Resource Center WIA Riverside County Youth Opportunity Centers Operation Safe House Cup of Happy Program Women Wonder Writers Program Employment Development Department Board of Directors, GCCA
“Ten Years of Impact”: Gateway to College National Network
Since 2003, the GtCNN evolved from a single-site program into a national network of 43 colleges in 23 states partnering with more than 150 school districts
Over 15,000 students served in GtC programs over the last ten years that number is expected that number to double by 2018
In AY 2013-14: over 4,600 GtC students served nationally 793 students graduated nationally 974 students served in California
We Are Part of a Broader Movement
Gateway to College model and partnerships address systemic challenges
Ensures that a tuition-free dual-credit option in the college setting exists to provide students with the incentives to work hard and visualize a more successful future
Trains staff and create systems in the college to provide wrap-around academic and social emotional supports for students in Gateway to College and other programs seeking to improve their service to these young people
Forges a formal partnerships between one or more K-12 school districts and a local college to provide the funding structure and procedures to sustain a program into the future
Conducts research about enrolled students and programming, and share promising practices in the wider education community
Advocates for policies and participate in national coalitions promoting sustainable pathways to post-secondary education for at-risk youth
“What inspires me most about my work with Gateway to College students is the moment they find their truth—the truth that links them to the success they were always meant to have. I am grateful to be a small catalyst of that truth.”
- Jane Larson, Resource Specialist
Questions/Comments?
Gateway to College National Network529 SE Grand Avenue, Suite 300, Portland,
OR 97214 phone: 971-634-1212
fax: 971-634-1213
Presented byMiguel Contreras, Director, Gateway College and Career Academy, Riverside City
Jill Marks, California State Manager, Gateway to College National Network