MESA

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MESA

• Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement
  Program
• Davis School District 2003-2004

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A Little History

• MESA began in California in 1970 as an outreach
  program to help prepare students for college.
• The Utah MESA/STEP began in 1985 to aid minority
  and female students in pursuing careers in math,
  science, and engineering.

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The Objectives of MESA UT Admin Code R277-717

• Increase number of underserved ethnic minority
  and all female students who pursue course work,
  advanced study and possible careers in math,
  engineering, and science.
• Provide a program and activities designed to
  motivate underserved ethnic minority an all
  female students to take better advantage of all
  existing educational opportunities.
• Increase in graduation rates of MESA-involved
  students from high school.

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• Strengthen the self-image of underserved ethnic
  minority and all female students relating to
  their success in math and science courses, and to
  provide them with skills and opportunities to
  become successful role models for other students.
• Provide underserved ethnic minority and all
  female students the opportunity to relate and
  associate with successful role models.

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• Coordinate the efforts of public schools,
  colleges and universities, the USOE, industries,
  etc. in developing and maintaining support
  programs. Courses may include
• ATE classes
• Community school classes
• Concurrent enrollment
• AP classes
• Classes offered through higher ed institutions

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Examples of MESA Activities

• Regularly scheduled after-school meetings with
  advisors to hear guest presenters
• Tutoring sessions, particularly in math and
  science
• Field trips
• Hands-on activities designed to introduce
  students to career possibilities, curriculum
  options or additional course of study

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• Exposure to career opportunities in math,
  engineering, and science, including teaching in
  these fields
• Community service designed to address school
  interest and attendance issues as well as to
  introduce underserved ethnic minority and all
  female students to math, science,
  engineering-related business, high school and
  post-secondary classes
• Internships or work experiences in identified
  areas which may be encourage by student stipends
  or academic credit or both

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Davis School DistrictsMESA Schools

• High School
• Canyon Heights
• Clearfield High
• Layton High
• Northridge High

• Junior High Schools
• Central Davis Jr.
• Fairfield Jr.
• North Davis Jr.
• North Layton Jr.
• Sunset Jr.
• Syracuse Jr.
• West Point Jr.

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Schools were selected by enrollment of ethnic
minority and female students 55 or higher
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(No Transcript)
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Statement of Need

• Ethnic minority and female students are enrolled
  in higher level math, science, and engineering
  classes at a significantly lower rate than white
  male students.
• Ethnic minority students consistently score lower
  on math CRTs.

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Percent Proficient on Math CRT
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Women are underrepresented in highly paid
occupations.

• Engineers 8
• Cisco Certified Network 24
• Computer Networking Tech 22
• Mechanical Engineers 0
• Electronics Technology 9

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AP Computer Science Exam
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Skills USA Internetworking Competition Winners
99/2000
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Program Summary

• MESA will include three parts
• Identifying students of the targeted population
• Recruiting the identified students
• Implementing a program to retain these students
  in math, science,and engineering classes

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Identifying Students

• Each school will generate a list of all eligible
  students through
• Demographic information from the school
• Demographic information from the feeder schools.
• Referrals from math, science, and ATE teachers
• Referrals from other MESA students

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Recruiting Students

• A letter will be sent home to all prospective
  MESA students and their parents encouraging them
  to attend the MESA Recruitment Night.
• Personal invitations from advisors and teachers
  encouraging attendance at the MESA Recruitment
  Night.
• High School MESA students will be asked to help
  with the recruitment night as role models for
  younger students.

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Why a MESA Recruitment Night?

• Ethnic minorities and women are most effectively
  reached by targeted marketing.
• Must overcome cultural stereotypes to be
  effective.
• Develop a targeted recruitment/marketing plan for
  targeted population.

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What Works? Principles

• Specific strategies for identified population
• Proactively recruit
• Ethnic minority and female role models
• Appeal to targeted population interests
• Career and salary info
• Target population in groups
• Include parents

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Recruitment Messages

• We want ethnic minorities and women
• Employers want ethnic minorities and women
• High wage careers
• Great placement rate
• Geeks are cool!!!

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MESA Recruitment Night

• Information about the activities of the MESA
  program.
• Hands-on activities in math, science, and
  engineering geared toward ethnic minority and
  female students.
• Fact sheets available on career possibilities in
  math, science, and engineering.

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Retaining Students

• Research indicates that student programs that
  focus on interests and needs of the targeted
  population can make significant improvement in
  recruiting and retaining identified students in
  math, science, and engineering programs.

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Interventions Work

• Oklahoma
• 1991 0 girls in elective computer science
• 1992 31
• Oregon
• Advanced Math 37 to 64 in one year
• Advanced Chemistry 20 to 63
• New York
• Ratio of girls to boys in computer lab after
  school
• Before 2 to 25 After 1 to 1

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School MESA Team

• School Administrator
• School Counselor
• MESA advisor(s) (math, science and/or technology
  teachers)
• MESA Team will meet 3-4 times per year to monitor
  students attendance, behavior, and grades.

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MESA Counselors

• MESA students will be assigned to MESA counselor
  who will conduct their SEOP with their parents.
• MESA Counselors will receive information
  concerning courses, scholarships, internships and
  university programs specifically for MESA
  students.

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MESA Advisors

• Monthly activities planned by the school MESA
  team and carried out by the MESA Advisors
  including
• Guest speakers
• Field trips
• Meeting with mentors
• Science/engineering activities

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Tutoring

• MESA students who are struggling academically
  will be encouraged to participate in the tutoring
  programs offered at their school.
• MESA funds can be used to pay any fee associated
  with tutoring.

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Evaluation Plan

• MESA students and parents fill out survey on
  satisfaction with the MESA program.
• Analyze End-of-Level CRT test results.
• Analyze the number of MESA students enrolling in
  AP, concurrent, high-level math, science, and
  engineering classes.
• Describe MESA team activities.
• Report the number of students enrolled in MESA.
• Report the number students attending tutoring.
• Report the number of students tutoring other MESA
  students.