1. achievement Project Excel transition to high school resilience

2. Project Excel Program Description Project Excel, a program designed for minority youth to extend academic skills and enhance resilience, was instituted to ease the transition into high school and put students on track to more advanced coursework. Project Excel begins with a six-week summer program designed to provide intensive English and mathematics skill enhancement at a rigorous level so that students will be able to advance to accelerated level coursework as freshmen. Transition Resilience Achievement A developed and focused high school transition program, which targets students potentially at risk for academic struggle, might protect academically vulnerable students during the transition to high school by promoting educational resilience and enhancing academic achievement.

3. Areas for Research Review Factors that Contribute to Achievement 1 Transition to High School 2Resilience 3EducationalResilience

4. TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL A Critical Period 1

5. Transition to High School Failure Success Failure Low GPA Poor attendance Lack of school engagement Weak peer and teacher bonds Poor performance on standardized tests Course failure as a freshman associated with later dropout. Only 45% of students who fail 2 or more courses graduate in 4 years. Success High GPA Consistent attendance School-involved Positive peer and teacher bonds More than expected growth on EPAS system No failures College-bound

6. Opportunity to build resilience Transition to High School

7. 2 It’s not about avoiding the negative, but strengthening the positive

8. Resilience Care and SupportHigh ExpectationsOpportunities Academics Sustain and Build Resilience Achievement Resilience Resilience is fostered in an environment that promotes a caring and supportive community, high expectations of its members, and access to opportunities for all (Benard, 1991). These three elements help students realize their strengths, enhance their development, guide them toward positive choices, and find direction for their futures beyond high school (Brooks, 2006).

9. By adhering to a foundational belief in resiliency, high school programs for incoming freshman focus on building a network of supportive and caring relationships, developing and maintaining high expectations, and widening students’ opportunities to develop. Resilience during transition

10. 3 EDUCATIONAL RESILIENCE.

11. “the heightened likelihood of success in school and other life accomplishments despite environmental adversities brought about by early traits, conditions, and experiences” Educational Resilience…

12. » Increased academic performance, including GPA » Gains in test scores and standardized tests » Connections with teachers and students » Raise self-efficacy and autonomy » Better attendance » Graduation Educational Resilience

13. Achievement Resilience for a freshman cohort tracked over three years Analysis of Participants Non-participants Hoffman Estates High School Participants Non-participants Schaumburg High School

14. a higher weighted grade point average exposure to more rigorous coursework through the Advanced Placement curriculum enrollment in college growth in EPAS Achievement Measures Project Excel Research

15. Factors of Resilience – Goal setting/Valuing the importance of education – Academic confidence – Strong connections with others – Stress management – Balanced sense of well-being – Intrinsic motivation Resilience Measures Project Excel Research

16. ? Research Questions 1.Does Project Excel lead to improvements in resilience and academic performance? 2.What is the relationship to resilience factors and academic achievement? 3.What is the academic performance of those recommended for Project Excel who do not participate in the program relative to those who did? 4.How does the resilience of nonparticipating freshman compare to those that are in Project Excel?

17. ? Questions for you 1.I suspect the schools vary in their implementation of Project Excel. How do I account for the variance in program implementation? 2.If I use a qualitative approach in the study, how would you suggest I approach it? 3.Are there other variable of achievement or resilience I should investigate?