SUPPORTING INNER CITY MIDDLE TO HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITIONS DR. IAN MARTIN, UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO STACEY RAWSON, EPIPHANY PREP CHARTER SCHOOL A SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

INTRODUCTION EPIPHANY PREP CHARTER SCHOOLUNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

EPIPHANY PREP 250 students K-8 90% Free and Reduced Lunch 75% English Language Learners 15% with IEPs Closing a GAP of 2-3 grade levels academically.

RESEARCH AND PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT

RESEARCH BASE Cooper and Markoe-Hayes (2005) –Policy Recommendations for Transition Programs 1. allocate resources to support and oversee the 9 th grade transition 2. Fund programs that create intentional opportunities for positive peer network development 3. Educate families about the importance of the 9 th grade transition. 4. Urban schools must place an explicit emphasis on “over-determining” success, creating a program that incorporates multiple evidence based programs into one.

INFLUENTIAL RESOURCES Sister-school Nativity Prep –Existing wrap-around high school transition and alumni support program that sends 90% of its 8 th grade graduates onto college after high school. University of San Diego –Including professors and researchers in program development. –University representative on transition committee Epiphany Prep Administration and School Board Epiphany Prep Students and Parents

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT April- July 2014 –Committee Recruitment –Program Goal Brainstorming and Development –Discussion of Program Components and Timeline –Initial Research for Best Practices August 2015 –Developed Criteria for “College Prep High School” –Initial Research into local high schools –Networking with local high schools September-October 2015 –Finalized list of “college prep high schools” –Created interest survey –Established Annual Timeline and Program Components

PROGRAM GOALS 1. The Epiphany Prep High School Transition Committee will build on-going connections for our students with high-caliber, college-prep high schools in San Diego County in order to foster effective transitions from Epiphany Prep into schools best matched for their unique needs. 2. The Epiphany Prep High School Transition Committee will follow students with wraparound services throughout their transition to high school by student advising services, parent advising services and experiential learning opportunities in order to provide the support they need to successfully research, apply and enroll in the school of their choice. 3. The Epiphany Prep High School Transition Committee will successfully enroll 100% students in each transitioning 8 th grade class at a college prep high school best matched for their unique needs by June 1 of the corresponding year.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS Student Advising Student Interest Survey Monthly advising meetings (1 advisor per 3 students) Research Workshop Application Workshops Student Alumni assistance program Experiential Learning Guest Speakers (current high school students) High School Field Trips High School Exploration Night (High School Fair) Parent Advising Parent/ Student/ Counselor/ Advisor Conferences- 2 times per year Enrollment Assistance Alumni Parent Workshops

ANNUAL TIMELINE September –First Committee Meeting –Student Interest Survey October –High School Exploration Night –Parent Conferences November –Advisory Meetings begin –High School Field Trips and Guest Speakers December- March –Application Workshops and Advising –Parent Conferences April –Enrollment Assistance

PROGRAM RESULTS

COLLEGE- PREP HIGH SCHOOLS

YEAR 1 RESULTS 6 committee members 21 students 100% participation in interest survey 100% students met with transition advisors Every student applied to at least 2 high schools. 19 out of 21 parents attended at least 1 parent/advisor/ counselor conference 100% of students were accepted to at least 1 college prep high school. 95% of students enrolled at a college prep high school (1 moved out of state) After 1 semester, 86% of students continue attending a college prep high school –2 returned to neighborhood schools. –1 moved out of state.

YEAR 2 RESULTS 9 committee members 29 students 100% participation in interest survey 100% students met with transition advisors Every student applied to at least 3 college prep high schools. 27 out of 29 parents attended at least 1 parent/advisor/ counselor conference 100% of students attended at least 1 high school field trip Acceptance letters are sent beginning April 1, 2016

STUDENT TESTIMONY

PARENT TESTIMONY

LONG- TERM SUCCESS PLAN Epiphany Prep Continues to Grow –New school opening in Escondido, CA Fall 2016 Develop new role within the Charter Network –Coordinator of Student and Family Engagement –Will oversee High School Transition and Alumni Support instead of individual school counselors –School counselors will continue to be a part of the committee and serve as advisors. –Track data and student progress in Student Information System. Alumni Support Program development –Support alumni throughout high school and during college admissions process. –Utilize alumni as transition mentors. –Expand committee to oversee both programs. Strengthen networking and University partnership

LESSONS LEARNED

LESSONS FROM YEAR 1 Student Research on High Schools should begin sooner in the year. –Student Research began in October instead of December –Parent Conferences were moved from November to October. Student Research was taking too long independently –Student research was moved to a workshop format with USD students assisting 2-1 Enrollment was challenging for families and turnaround was too quick. –Prepare families for enrollment before acceptance letters are sent out –Work with registrar to create “enrollment packets” for each student

LESSONS FROM YEAR 2 Committee meetings are essential to keep all committee members actively involved. Transition Coordinator also needs to allot time to committee management. At least 2 parent meetings are necessary to ensure that parents feel connected to the process Scheduled monthly parent phone calls increase high school informational night attendance.

STRATEGIES AND TOOLS

INTEREST SURVEY

PARENT SURVEY

STUDENT RESEARCH TEMPLATE

APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

DISCUSSION