The Graduation Coach as a Counselor Resource

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The Graduation Coach as a Counselor Resource

• Calcasieu Graduation Coaches
• Reducing Dropouts
• Increasing Graduation Rates
• Keeping Students on Track

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Necessity is the Mother of All InventionPart 1

• Why did Calcasieu Parish initiate a graduation
  coach program?
• Closing of Lake Charles Boston High School.
• Transfer of LCB students to local high schools.
• School Board mandate to provide guardian
  angels to assist both LCB students and
  receiving schools.
• Research led to Georgias Graduation Coach
  Program.

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Graduation Coach

• Develop relationships with students.
• Insure successful transitions.
• Promote home to school connections.
• Keep students focused on
• academic achievement.
• Monitor and motivate students to set and reach
  career goals.

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Roles of a Graduation Coach
politicians
community
parents
administration
grades
society pressures
counselors
attendance
peers
teachers
social issues
activities
volunteers
choices
teachers
peers
family
decisions
responsibilities
school board
organizations
businesses
conflict-resolution
credit recovery
behavior
technical schools
alternative programs
colleges/universities
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Necessity is the Mother of All Invention Part 2

• Why did Calcasieu Parish decide to sustain and
  expand the graduation coach program once the LCB
  mandate was completed?
• The same needs existed in the non-LCB student
  population.
• Growing focus on the reduction of dropouts and
  growth of graduation rates.
• Measureable success.
• Compatibility with district-wide intervention
  strategies.

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Failure is NOT an OptionCPSB High School RTI

• The graduation coach is not a silver bullet
  solution.
• In CPSB High Schools there are multiple Failure
  is Not an Option components to address RTI.
• Freshman Academy
• Grade Recovery
• Credit Recovery
• Adopt a Senior
• ZAP (Zeros arent permitted)
• PBS (Positive Behavior Support)
• Reading Programs
• Distance Learning
• Acceleration of new credit opportunities

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Calcasieu Parish High SchoolsTwo Consecutive
Years of Significant Growth2007-2008 and
2008-2009

• Calcasieu Parish High School Testing Two
  Consecutive Years
• Increased the Composite GEE Score (State
  Accountability - 10th /11th grades)
• Increased the Composite iLeap Score (State
  Accountability - 9th grade)
• Increased both ELA and Math Proficiency (NCLB
  -10th grade)
• Calcasieu Parish Graduation Index Indicators (All
  grades)
• Increased the percentage of graduates
• Increased the percentage of GED graduates
• Increased the number of Industrial Based
  Certifications
• Increased the number of Academic/CTE Endorsements
• Increased number of AP courses and credits earned
• Increased number of Dual Enrollment courses and
  credits earned
• Decreased dropout percentage
• Decreased percentage of seniors not completing
  during the senior year
• Decreased percentage of high school course
  failures at all grade levels

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Raise Course Pass Rate Raise Test Scores
Increase Diploma Track Graduation Rate

• 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
• Course Pass Rate (9-12) 87.2 90.3
• GEE Index (10th/11th) 87.1 88.1 92.5
• iLeap Index (9th) 83.0
  86.8 90.8
• Senior Graduation Rate 93.3
  94.9 95.4
• (October 1 Seniors)

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Target AudienceforGraduation Coaches

• Administration and counselors provide all
  students with many service.
• Graduation coaches focus specialized services on
  a target audience.
• The target audience may vary based on school
  needs but generally focuses on potential dropouts
  and student not likely to graduate on-time (4
  year graduation rate).

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Graduation Coach

• Graduation Coach is a full-time and/or
  part-time job opportunity for secondary certified
  CPSB high school employees with 5 or more years
  of successful teaching experience.
• Initial training was provided by the Georgia
  State Department of Education. Current training
  provided locally.
• There are five Graduation Coaches in Calcasieu
  Parish. (Barbe, Sulphur, Iowa, LaGrange,
  Washington-Marion Magnet.)
• Locally funded initiative.

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Transition Monitoring

• Monitor social and system transitions.
• Meet with targeted students to verify system
  services such as bus transportation, class
  scheduling, student involvement, student access
  to school activities and student availability to
  material resources.
• Inform school administration and counselors of
  systemic issues.
• Meet with targeted students to explore social
  issues and solutions.
• Contact a parent/guardian as relates to
  transitional issues.

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Attendance Monitoring

• Monitor attendance of targeted students.
• Report erratic or excessive absences to
  administration and counselors.
• Meet with students to explore and resolve
  attendance issues.
• Contact parent/guardians as relates to attendance
  problems.

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Achievement Monitoring

• Monitor classroom performance of students.
• Facilitate academic support system of tutoring,
  reading programs and credit recovery.
• Facilitate meetings with all stakeholders.
• Maintain contact with parent/guardian as relates
  to classroom achievement issues.

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Plan for the Future

• Verify the five year plan for each targeted
  student.
• Conduct periodic reviews of career goals with
  targeted students.
• Utilize resources such as E-Portal and course
  offerings to expand the range of possibilities
  for student and their plans.
• Insure the student/parent has an understanding of
  the students goal and the necessary steps to
  achieve those goals.

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Common SenseStudent dont drop out when

• They see value in what they do at school.
• They consistently experience academic success.
• They feel school is safe and interesting.
• They are inspired and supported by adults and
  peers.
• They get to do things they enjoy.
• They believe they can make it.

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Grow Success Rather Than Reduce Failure

• Change from the neck up.
• Make objectives and goals positive.
• Be pro-active rather than reactive.
• Use the Graduation Index for Goal Setting.

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Focus on ImprovingPositive Steps

• Give students what they need.
• Core academic foundation before high school
• Structured/supportive transition into high
  school.
• Many curriculum pathways to success.
• Intervention opportunities at difficult times.
• Preparation for success beyond high school.

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Be Pro-activeMake Intervention a Positive
Experience

• On-going career exploration and planning
• Make learning (not tests) the focus
• Increase course passage rate
• Tiered Intervention/Recovery
• Early Warning Systems
• Freshman Academy Processes
• Alternative methods of instruction and assessment
• Electives that address student interest.
• Provide for challenging curriculum (AP and Dual
  Enrollment)
• Provide for acceleration (LCB Academy)

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Featured Calcasieu Schools

• LaGrange High School
• Judy Harrison, Counselor and Anya Miller,
  Graduation Coach
• Sulphur High School
• Jill Lockhart, Counselor and Nick Limberis,
  Graduation Coach
• Iowa High School
• Janis Genius, Counselor and Janet Manuel,
  Graduation Coach

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LaGrange High SchoolGators

• Enrollment 1059
• Regular Education 860 (81)
• Special Education 199 (19)
• Free/Reduced Lunch 672 (63)
• Graduation Index 103.1

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Sulphur High SchoolGolden Tornado

• Enrollment 1867
• Regular Education 1625 (87)
• Special Education 242 (13)
• Free/Reduced Lunch 571 (31)
• Graduation Index 126.0

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Iowa High SchoolYellow Jackets

• Enrollment 568
• Regular Education 483 (85)
• Special Education 85 (15)
• Free/Reduced Lunch 294 (52)
• Graduation Index 113.3

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Please feel free to contact Calcasieu Parishfor
more information on the graduation coach program.

• Patrick Deaville, District Director of High
  School Curriculum and Instruction
• patrick.deaville_at_cpsb.org
• James Powers, District Supervisor of Counselors
• james.powers_at_cpsb.org
• Otto Strasburg, District Task Force Coordinator
• otto.strasburg_at_cpsb.org
• Anya Miller, LaGrange High Graduation Coach
• anya.miller_at_cpsb.org
• Judy Harrison, LaGrange High Counselor
• judy.harrison_at_cpsb.org
• Nick Limberis, Sulphur High Graduation Coach
• nick.limberis_at_cpsb.org
• Jill Lockhart, Sulphur High Counselor
• jill.lockhart_at_cpsb.org
• Janet Manuel, Iowa High Graduation Coach
• janet.manuel_at_cpsb.org
• Janis Genius, Iowa High Counselor
• janis.genisu_at_cpbs.org