Help Your Child Choose the Right Course

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Help Your ChildChoose the Right Course

• A presentation from the Public Education Forum
  and the
• Mississippi Economic Council

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Who Are We?

• The Public Education Forum of Mississippi and the
  Mississippi Economic Council (our state Chamber
  of Commerce).
• Our membership consists of Mississippi employers
  and their employees.

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Change Happens Quickly

• There was a time when
• Mail was delivered by horse and it took six
  months for a letter to get from Mississippi to
  California,
• Only 8 of homes had a telephone,
• Only 14 of homes had a bathtub,
• Average salary was 440.00 per year.

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Workforce Statistics

• The skills needed in tomorrows workplace will be
  very different from those needed today
• Many of the jobs that will be available to your
  children dont even exist today.
• Many of the new jobs that will be available to
  your children will require a college degree.
• College education can result in substantial
  increases in earnings capacity.

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Education More Earnings

• Average Annual Income in Mississippi
• Based on Educational Attainment
• No High School Diploma 15,600
• High School Graduate 22,500
• Community College Graduate 30,500
• Four-year College Graduate 40,400

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Here Today

• Telephone operators
• Toll booth operators
• Board games manufacturers
• Mail carriers
• Typists
• Cinematographers
• POS Salespeople

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Here Today Gone Tomorrow

• Telephone operators Voice recognition
• Toll booth operators EZ pass
• Board games manufacturers Video games
• Mail carriers Email/IP service providers
• Typists Voice recognition/Word processing
• Artists Computer graphics
• POS Salespeople Internet Sales operations

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Which is Why

• As representatives of the business community, we
  are here to tell you that your child will need
  more education than you have in order to do at
  least as well as you and to maintain the same
  standard of living.

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Most Students Do Try

• Over 75 of high school seniors enter college
  after graduation
• 2-year colleges 26
• 4-year colleges 45
• Other post-secondary 4

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But, Many Students Do Not Succeed

• College Freshmen Not Returning
• for Sophomore Year
• 4-year Colleges 26
• 2-year Colleges 45

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Here in Mississippi,

• Only half (47) of full-time, first-year students
  earn a bachelors degree within six years.

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Because

• College-level work is difficult, and
• Many students have not acquired the academic
  knowledge and study skills they need to
  successfully complete college.

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More Mississippi Information

• State four-year colleges report that 14 of
  freshmen are enrolled in remedial classes.
• State community colleges report that 16 of
  freshmen are enrolled in remedial classes.
• Every course/semester spent in remediation does
  NOT count toward a degree,
• Every course/semester spent in remediation costs
  YOU more money !!!!!!

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What Helps Students Succeed?

• A study funded by the U.S. Department of
  Education provides a clear recipe for success
• Research shows that the best predictor for a
  childs success in college and in life is the
  level of quality and intensity of his or her high
  school curriculum
• Challenging high school courses help students
  prepare for college and the workplace.

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In fact,

• Mathematics is a clear indicator for college
  completion
• Algebra I and Geometry 23.1
• Algebra II 39.5
• Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus 62.2

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No College? Guess What

• Students who take academically rigorous courses
  in high school can earn more (up to 13 a year)
  than students who do not take rigorous courses
  even if college is not an option
• Because they have the mathematics and language
  knowledge that employers want,
• And they have the critical thinking skills
  employers need.

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But Lets Emphasize,

• It is the level of course completed, NOT just the
  grade obtained, that correlates with future
  success,
• Your child needs to complete the course with the
  best grade possible to gain the benefits provided
  by a demanding, rigorous curriculum
• Broad foundation of knowledge in key areas,
• Mental discipline and study habits,
• Critical thinking skills.

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Research Says

• A specific sequence of courses results in the
  highest level of success
• Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry
• Biology, Chemistry, a third lab-based science
  above Chemistry (Physics, preferred)
• English I, II, III, IV
• Two years of the same World Language
• Four years of Social Studies

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And When They Do

• Students who complete the courses in the listed
  sequence are designated as Mississippi Scholars
  and are recognized publicly for making wise
  course selections.
• The Mississippi Scholars Course of Study is the
  RIGHT COURSE for students in high school.

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Mississippi Scholars

• Score higher on the college admissions tests
  (ACT).
• Complete college more often and need less
  remediation.
• Can earn an average of 13 more each year than
  students who do not take the course sequence,
  even if they do not go to college.
• Have many more options available to them at the
  end of high school than those who do not take
  this sequence of courses.

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So Encourage Your Child

• To go to school EVERY day and be on time,
• To take the most challenging courses available,
• To take full advantage of the high school
  education offered by the tax payers of this
  state,
• To Learn More Now, Do More Now,Earn More Later.

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Because Its All About Options

• Even if you dont think your child will go to
  college after high school,
• Even if you think you cannot afford to send your
  child to college,
• Think again
• Once employed, many young adults can obtain
  degrees at night,
• Once employed, many young adults receive tuition
  credit from employers.

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But,

• Your child will not be able to take advantage of
  an educational opportunity in the future if he or
  she does not take high school seriously, enroll
  in rigorous courses, and study hard now.

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Remember

• Mississippi Scholars
• Emphasizes course completion, not just grade
  obtained,
• Is for MOST students of average academic ability,
• Provides benefits for students whether they go to
  college or the workplace,
• Provides the greatest range of options for your
  childs future.

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Parents You make a difference.

• Who is advising our young people on how to make
  their college dreams come true? According to an
  ACT survey, PARENTS are the 1 influence in
  advising their children on high school
  course-taking and other college planning. While
  43 percent named teachers, 24 percent named
  counselors, and 8 percent singled out principals.
  Parents make the difference!

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Parents You make a difference.

• Heres what you can do
• Participate in your students course selection
  each year in high school.
• Help your student make the connection between
  high school courses and future career options.
• Encourage your student to accept challenges and
  take the Mississippi Scholars Course of Study.
• Remind your student that it is not all about the
  grade, but about learning and being prepared for
  the future.
• Be your students best advocatemake sure he or
  she is getting the help necessary to succeed.
  Support is available.

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Who Should be a Mississippi Scholar?Your Child!

• For More Information
• www.mississippischolars.org
• www.centerforstatescholars.org
• www.publiceducationforum.org