PostHigh School What to do By Andrea Sperberg

Post-High School What to do!? By Andrea Sperberg Western Washington University

Objectives Provide knowledge on a variety of post-high school options Explore ways to implement post-high school curriculum at all levels of education Including ways to incorporate parents and ways to engage more diverse populations Increase knowledge on ways to pay for post-secondary education (especially low SES) Increase knowledge on what goes into a counselor’s recommendation letter for a majority of post-high school options

Subject Minimum State Requirements OHSD (2016+) Minimum Requirements 4 yr public Univ Recommended for highly selective Univ English 3 credits 4 years 4 (Honors/AP) Math 2 (3 for 2013+) 3 (Al 1, Geo, Al 2) 3 years 3 -4 (AP) years Science (one lab) 2 2 2 years 3 -4 years Social Studies 2. 5 3 years 3 -4 years World Language 0 0 2 years 3 -4 years Visual/Performi ng Arts 1 1 1 year 2 -3 years CTE (occupational) 1 1 Varies varies Health/Fitness 2 2 (. 5 health, 1. 5 fitness) Varies Electives 5. 5 7. 5 (7. 0 2016+) Varies Total 19 (20, 2013+) 23 (+ 0. 5 PNW) 3 (World, US, American, MWP)

Other High School Graduation Requirements Must pass series of WA State Standardized Tests EOC Al 1, EOC Geo, HSPE Reading and Writing, EOC Bio OR approved alternatives Complete a HS and Beyond Plan Complete a Culminating Project

Post-High School Options Work (career): on the job training Apprenticeship: on the job training & classroom instruction Job Corps: Federally funded residential schooling program Military: military service academy, ROTC, direct enlist, or reserve unit Technical College: Training for workplace skills which require a certificate or associate degree Community College: Provides either a certificate or degree in a specific applied area, or a transfer associate degree for a 4 -year university 4 -year College/University: Bachelor Degree, Masters Degree, or Professional & Doctoral Degree in a specific area of study.

How to Educate on Post-High School Options for all Ages Elementary School Career Day- Mix it up!!! Compass 2 Campus Class Discussions (Ex. Of teacher w/ brochures) Guidance Lessons (Ex. Bizzy Bees) Field Trips to businesses/Museums Career Themed Dress Up Day

Middle School Development of effective study skills Development of habits promoting academic excellence Including increasing self-awareness, individual abilities, interests, potential, values, and personal attitudes Promoting caring relationships between students and staff Planning secondary school curriculum Involving parents in developing an understanding of techniques and strategies in exploring the college admission process (including cost) Help students understand the process of standardized testing and the education opportunities available Develop career awareness and life-planning skills, including the routes to each College Bound or other similar programs

High School Will vary from 9 th to 12 th grade Advisory lessons on post-high school options Provide Career Interest Surveys Arrange for college reps and other career reps to visit school site Student and Family information nights on credits, graduation, options (including college, FASFA, RS, AP, career options, etc. )

What the Student should do… 9 th Grade: Begin to prepare a schedule that reflects your interests for after high school Begin to focus on class work Participate in any field trips, sports, clubs or other activities that may be relevant to your interests WOIS- or some sort of career interest inventory Set Academic Goals with a teacher or counselor

10 th Grade: Take a PSAT or PLAN test Begin to think about taking challenging courses (honors/AP) Take the HSPE and EOC Continue to participate in clubs, sports, volunteer work, etc. Take part in summer enrichment programs, camps, volunteer, classes Try to take a class that will earn you a college credit

11 th Grade: Take the PSAT/PLAN again, take the SAT or ACT Participate in another career interest inventory- anything changed? Attend College Rep visits and college/career fairs Begin the application process/register if you are thinking of going to a military academy or continuing on into the NCAA Attend campus visits if you are considering college Begin to prepare a draft of a resume Apply for a summer job or internship/volunteer work relevant to your interests Continue to take challenging courses – Take the AP exams Begin to work on college admission applications/career applications and essays in late spring.

12 th Grade: Take the SAT/ACT if have not done so Review Transcript with counselor Work on admissions essays for college / cover letters for careers Gather recommendation letters Submit applications as early as possible, don’t wait until the day of the deadline Apply for scholarships as early as possible if considering college and apply to FASFA Complete Resume

How to Educate Families on their Child’s Options Parent Information Nights and Conferences Building School Capacity Informational Emails/Newsletters One-on-One: Helping them find a Balanced Parental Role First find where they are in the process Help Develop a career goal Respond to “failure-to-graduate-syndrome. ” But… Help balance any tension if differing opinions Provide a few counseling sessions that provide “family time” Home Visits District Level Strategies

5 Best Practices to Ensure Family Engagement Shared Vision of Family Engagement Purposeful Connections to Learning Investments in high quality programming and staff Robust Communication Systems Evaluation for accountability and continuous learning

Working with Diverse Populations include (but not limited to): ethnic minorities, gender minorities, GLBT, and low SES Use LEADERSHIP to communicate with multicultural students! LE: Listen Empathically AD: Affirm Diversity ER: Empower through Reflection SH: Show Heroism/Humility IP: Inculcating Partnerships

Working with Diverse Populations Other Suggestions to working with diverse populations: Learn about the cultures present at your school Educate parents Provide college workshops (as early as possible) Families mentor Families Expect the best, and provide the best Provide Testing Assistance Walk Students through the admission/career process Provide information on “minority student weekends” If college has been decided: help the student with a variety of local resources! (Discuss) REPEAT

Working with Students with LDs Transitions in place before the student is 16 Help student develop appropriate goals Use age-appropriate transition assessments Help student develop a class schedule based on those goals Summary of Performance Academic Achievements and how they performed Help Student learn to be able to articulate difficulties and advocate for himself/herself Ex. Rights are different in college than in HS Provide Testing Accommodations Keep parents in the loop Must have parent and student consent to release information

Preparing Athletes First Step: Help the student receive initial clearance from NCAA’s Initial “Eligibility Clearing House” Sliding Scale- composite of SAT/ACT and GPA Core Courses and GPA It is a 4 -year record!!! Second Step: Continue Progress Third Step: Letter-of-Intent Commitment To Get Recruited: Best ally is your coach! Create an athletic biography, includes: contacts, film, and resume Discuss with Counselor your “admissibility” Make sure school is a good fit academically as well

Know the Application Process Common Application Know the deadlines (the student’s and yours) If a student asks you for a Recommendation letter, keep letters to one page Make sure you have current, up to date information on the student and the school Do not be afraid to call the admission offices if there is something you do not feel comfortable writing or are unsure of in the application

Purpose of the Counselor Letter? Presenting the whole person Highlighting and providing context for significant achievements Explaining unusual circumstances Making the paper student come alive! But I work in a LARGE high school… Ask for a senior packet Resume Interview Get questionnaires completed by teachers and/or the student’s parent(s)/guardian

What goes into the letter? Develop an image of the student as a whole Include overview of the student’s academic work, extracurricular and volunteer activities Include “anecdotes, examples and references Provide an example of how that student has stood out in some way Provide an explanation on why the student is a good candidate Explain any personal circumstances End with a paragraph that expresses the strength of your support for that student and also thank the admissions for their time

Post-High School Options and Educating Students on how to Finance Them Financial Aid Needs-Based and Merit-based Needs-Based: Priority Deadlines Grants, a type of gift-aid, do not need to be repaid. Based on family’s EFC Loans, must be repaid. Apply for FASFA asap. Four types. Work-Study, part-time job through school Counselor should also help student apply for as many relevant local and national scholarships as possible!!! Deadlines are scattered throughout the whole year

Resources NACAC (2008). Fundamentals of college admission counseling: A textbook for graduate students and practicing counselors (2 nd ed. ). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. http: //professionals. collegeboard. com/guidance/applications/counselor-tips Planning for High School and Beyond: A Family Resource Guide for Whatcom County High Schools http: //www. nd. gov/cte/crn/docs/Elementary. Career. Curriculum. pdf http: //www. k 12. wa. us/Graduation. Requirements/Requirement-Credits. aspx Preparing Educators to engage families: Case studies using an ecological systems framework