1. Friday, January 14, 2011 Rosaura Rodriguez, Director Department of Guidance & Counseling/At-Risk Population

2. Goal: To help students feel confident, and safe in their new environment. “Transition: A Process Not an Event.” Jay Hertzog (1999) “Is an extended process that involves middle and high school administrators, teachers, counselors, parents and students.” Nancy Mizelle (2005) “More students fail ninth grade than any other grade.” Williams and Richman (2007) “Managing students transition is an effective strategy for school improvement.” Dr. Steven Edwards (2008) 2

3. 1.Identify Students Early 2. Closely Examine Existing School Procedures 3. Build Strong Community Partnerships 4. Reduce Social Isolation 5. Manage Student Transition 6. Create Options and Implement Creative Interventions 7. Build Parent Relationships Seven Key Principles as Approaches to Dropout Prevention Dr. Steven Edwards (2008) 3

4. (Texas Comprehensive Center Model) 1.Transition Vertical Teams Central Staff Campus Administration Counselors Teachers 2.Counseling Teams Academic Career & Technical Education (CTE) (Mustang & Tiger) Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) Special Education 3.Involve parents and families. Parent Orientation Tiger Night Toro Night Mustang Night Early College Night 4

5. 4. Promote collaboration among middle and high school staff. Vertical Team planning meetings 5. Increase awareness of academic programs offered at the high school level. Transition Fair Career Fair College Night 6. Increase comfort and reduce anxiety through orientation activities. Campus Tours (Spring and Summer) Classroom orientations to discuss school-wide expectations and support available to students. 7. Provide resources designed to make the transitions easier. Course Catalog Code of Conduct Guidance & Counseling Brochures District & Campus Websites 5

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7. AP Statistics Geometry or Pre-AP Geometry Math Models with Application Algebra 2 or Pre-AP Algebra 2 Algebra or Pre-AP Algebra 1 Pre-Calculus or Pre-AP Pre-Calculus Independent Study in Mathematics College Algebra Dual Enrollment AP Calculus AB Engineering Mathematics * Note: Math Models with Application may NOT be used as a math credit on the Distinguished Graduation Plan. Algebra I Credit 1.0 Local Course#: 210314 Pre-requisite: None In Algebra 1 students learn to use symbols in a variety of ways. They study relationships among quantities, use functions to represent and model problem situations, analyze and interpret relationships, work in many situations to set up equations and use a variety of methods to solve these equations. Student use a variety of representations (concrete, numerical,, algorithmic, graphical) to solve meaningful problems. Geometry Credit 1.0 Local Course#: 210124 Pre-requisite: Algebra I In Geometry students use geometric thinking to understand mathematical concepts and the relationships among them. Geometry consists of the study of geometric figures of zero, one, two, and three dimensions and the relationships among them. Students study properties and relationships having to do with size, shape, location, direction, and orientation of these figures, perceive the connection between geometry and the real and mathematical worlds, and use geometric ideas, relationships, and properties to solve problems.

8. B usiness, Finance & Marketing Business Management and Administration Top Careers Chief Executive Industrial Production Manager Public Relations Manager Operations Research Analyst Administrative Services Manager Statistician Accountant & Auditor Budget Analyst Principles of Business, Marketing, and FinanceCredit 1.0 Grades: 9-12 Local Course # 867014 Prerequisite: Career Portals Articulated: Yes In Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance, students gain knowledge and skills in economies and private enterprise systems, the impact of global business, marketing of goods and services, advertising, and product pricing. 8

9. 8. Continue the use of counseling teams to maintain support. Fall & Spring Orientation Guidance Lessons Counseling sessions/referrals/follow-up Monitoring academic success & attendance Building relationships 9

11. Friday, January 14, 2011 Rosaura Rodriguez, Director Department of Guidance & Counseling/At-Risk Population