Home State BoardState Board | Department | Teachers | Parents | Students | Community | DataDepartmentTeachersParentsStudentsCommunityData West Virginia Department of Education 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, WV (Staff Phone and by Name) (School Directory)Staff Phone and by NameSchool Directory WVDEWVDE | School Counseling HomeSchool Counseling Home Welcome to the LINKS Program Website Click below to enter. Topics: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ For suggestions, questions, problems contact the webmaster Please read our disclaimerswebmasterdisclaimers About LINKS Barbara Ashcraft, MA, LPC School Counseling Coordinator

Training Objectives Participants will… understand why LINKS is important… the potential impact become familiar with the LINKS Program become familiar with the LINKS Website examine LINKS roles and responsibilities understand the magnitude of the need to plan and secure buy-in explore the planning and implementation Tools explore LINKing LINKS to other school activities and programs

Training Objectives Participants will…  begin developing an individual school plan for implementation establish school timeline consider logistics  Examine current committees and relevance to LINKS and need for expansion  understand the magnitude of the need to plan and secure buy-in  learn some strategies to secure buy-in

Students need to know…. Who they are… Where they want to go… And how they are going to get there!

Contributors to Student Success Career goal Connection with caring adult Connection with post secondary opportunities The Silent Epidemic 2007 Grad Nation 2009

Two Important Interrelated Goals — Achievement and Wellbeing Schools often acknowledge 1 but historically have failed to acknowledge 2 8 Achievement promotes well being Well being promotes achievement

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Opportunity Gap Access to home computer Knowledgeable parents to support student learning and career exploration Participation in Support Services  Tutoring, Mentoring, ESL Classes Participation in Extra / Co-curricular programs Test Prep Programs Dual Credit Programs Early enrollment in college courses 10 Are some students provided more opportunities than others?

11 Groups, Mentoring, Student Helpers, Clubs, Crisis Interventions, Short-term counseling Groups, Tutoring, Peer Helpers, Classroom Guidance Lessons, School Assemblies, Student Advisement Programs, Test Prep Programs, Academic Plans, Field Trips Classroom Guidance Lessons, Student Advisement Programs, School Assemblies IEP, 504 Therapy – Outside or SBMH Centers

2007 Pawley’s Group Report Commissioned by 2006 WV Senate Recommendation 7: Recommendation 7: Develop a model for career counseling, student support and academic advising. –recommended that West Virginia develop a systematic way to help students with career exploration.

2007 Pawley’s Group Report West Virginia must move from “random acts of progress” to a system based on the 4 Ss – Strategic Synergistic Sustainable Scalable

21 st Century Reality Success in a world of change requires schools to ensure that all students have:  the capacity to be autonomous, lifelong learners  the ability to solve problems and create new solutions  the ability to collaboratively work with others

21 st Century Learning… 21 st century students need more than reading, writing, and arithmetic; they must be able to solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and work in teams.

21 st Century Learning…

Personalizing the Learning Environment “High schools of the 21 st century must be much more student-centered and above all much more personalized in programs, support services and intellectual rigor.” This means every student should have a personal adult advocate and a Personal Plan of Progress. NASSP. (2004). Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform

SREB High Schools That Work Ten Key Practices Guidance — Involve students and their parents in a guidance and advisement system that develops positive relationships and ensures completion of an accelerated program of study with an academic or career/technical concentration. Provide each student with the same mentor throughout high school to assist with setting goals, selecting courses, reviewing the student's progress and suggesting appropriate interventions as necessary.

Guidance: What is it? Guidance The help all students receive from parents, teachers, counselors, community members and others to assist with educational and career development Counseling The help some students receive from credentialed professionals to overcome personal and social problems that interfere with learning.

What is Advisement? 1.A systemic approach to providing ALL students with skills and background to make decisions about his/her education and career 2.A process to aid students in developing self-awareness, option awareness, and decision-making skills 3.A process to help each student improve his/her chances for long-term employment

Expected Outcomes All students make informed academic and career plans Parents are systematically involved in development of ISTP plans More students successful in higher level courses Improved school behavior Increased graduation rates Higher test scores

Relationships If students know you care you can push even more We can identify and support those who are most vulnerable?

Introducing LINKS… L earning, I ndividualized N eeds, K nowledge and S kills Improve L earning for ALL Address I ndividualized N eeds Increase K nowledge and S kills for ALL

About LINKS … web-based framework and curriculum for student advisement programs (Advisor/Advisee) in West Virginia designed to advance student learning and development in a deliberate, proactive, manner to encourage individual success

About LINKS … involving a personal relationship with at least one adult serving as an advocate for the student. bridge the gap between what is taught in the core curriculum and the skills necessary for success in school and in the work place

About LINKS… Piloted in 21 st Century HSTW sites 40 lesson plans per grade level (WV specific, downloadable) Standards based (Policy allows schools to offer for credit) Free pilot with Career Cruising (on-line career exploration and planning tool)

About LINKS… Can be offered for credit Course code 7676 called LINKS 1 time per week 45/50 minutes ¼ credit per year = 1 full high school credit Online Career Course 1 time per week 45/50 minutes ¼ credit per year = 1 additional full high school credit for 2 full credits.

40 Lesson Plans (per grade level)- Policy Course Code 7676

LINKS Lesson Plan

9 th Grade / Freshman Year Activity Read the 9 th Grade OnTrack mini-magazine Took a career interest inventory Explored careers and colleges at learnmoreindiana.orglearnmoreindiana.org Took a learning-style assessment Participated in job shadowing Discussed my future plans with my counselor and family Took the Learn More Indiana 9 th Grade Career & College Information Survey Made sure I am on track to graduate Other: 1 0 th Grade / Sophomore Year Activity Read the 10 th Grade OnTrack mini-magazine Took a career interest inventory Explored careers and colleges at learnmoreindiana.orglearnmoreindiana.org Participated in job shadowing Passed the ISTEP+ Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE) Took the PSAT and/or PLAN (fall) Visited an area career center Started researching scholarship opportunities Discussed my future plans with my counselor and family Made sure I am on track to graduate Other: LINKS Checklist Activity Took the Learn More Indiana 11 th Grade Career & College Information Survey Registered online for Indiana e-Transcript Explored careers, colleges, apprenticeships and other training programs at learnmoreindiana.orglearnmoreindiana.org Read Next Indiana: A Guide to Life after High School Registered for rigorous courses to make the most of my senior year Took the PSAT/NMSQT and/or PLAN (fall) Took the SAT and/or ACT (spring) Took an ASVAB assessment Attended a college fair Visited at least one college campus, training center or apprenticeship site Applied for athletic eligibility to the NCAA Clearinghouse (if applicable) Participated in Junior Prep Interviews with 21st Century Scholars (if applicable) Called the Learn More Helpline at to get answers to college, career and financial aid questions Discussed my future plans with my counselor and family Made sure I am on track to graduate Other: 1 2 th Grade / Senior Year Activity Retook the SAT and/or ACT to increase scores (if applicable) Visited college campuses and/or training programs Submitted college or training program applications Attended the financial aid program at my high school Submitted a FAFSA application for need-based financial aid at by the deadlinewww.fafsa.ed.gov Applied for scholarships Developed a budget for life after high school Attended College Goal Sunday in February Completed my Affirmation Form for 21st Century Scholars (if applicable) Registered for the 21st Century Scholars Pledge Ceremony (if applicable) Called the Learn More Helpline at to get answers to college, career and financial aid questions Made sure I am on track to graduate Other: Activities I need to complete each year to ensure that I am well-prepared for post-secondary success. 9 th Grade/Freshman Year1 1th Grade / Junior Year CAREER AND COURSE PLANNER This Career and Course Planner is designed to complement the LINKS Student Advisement Program. You will use this tool to help you document your career plans, assessment results, experiential learning and course work to help you make meaningful plans for your future. Student Identification Student Materials

Research based… Grady High School: Atlanta Public School System overcome the challenges of changing student demographics and falling test scores to regain its academic standing. GRADUATION RATES Grady’s high school graduation rate for all students increased from 56 percent in 2001–2002 to 89 percent in 2004–2005.

Research based… Garden City High School, Garden City, KansasGarden City High School, Garden City, Kansas (2005) Despite rapidly rising numbers of English as a Second Language students, Garden City High School has raised student achievement in reading, mathematics and science. Even with a more rigorous curriculum and higher graduation requirements,  the dropout rate fell from 15 percent in to 3.4 percent in  the attendance rose from 89 percent to 96 percent.

LINKS Student Advisement Program Evaluation Collaborating with ◦ National Center for Family Literacy (Training and Evaluation) ◦ Edvantia / ARCC ◦ WVDE Office of Assessments/Research …to conduct annual and longitudinal study on the impact of this program on student achievement and post-secondary success