Two boys studying

Academically prepare all students for postsecondary education through rigorous curriculum and necessary academic support.

 

GRANT OBJECTIVES
  1. Increase performance on standardized test scores.
  2. Reduce percentage of students with failing grades.
  3. Increase percentage of students who pass pre-algebra by the end of 8th grade.
  4. Increase percentage of students who pass Algebra I by the end of 9th grade.
  5. Increase percentage of students who take two years of math beyond Algebra I by the end of 12th grade.
  6. Increase percentage of students who are on track to graduate at the end of each grade.
  7. Increase number of AP/IB and dual credit classes offered and taken.

 

STRATEGIES
Ensure that students have necessary academic content knowledge and support for success in postsecondary education.
  • Align curriculum with state standards, including Common Core, as well as across grades to eliminate gaps and overlapping in courses.
  • Provide equitable opportunities for each and every student to access college preparation courses, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
  • Provide access to additional support for each and every student through regular tutorial periods before, after, and/or during school, as well as summer school for enrichment and remediation.
  • Provide access to academically challenging courses such as a default college-prep curriculum for all, dual enrollment programs, and online or other distance media.
  • Uphold rigorous performance standards for all students in all classes.
  • Ensure that students understand what constitutes a college-ready curriculum.
  • Utilize performance data to identify and inform students about their academic proficiency and college readiness.

 

Develop students’ learning skills, techniques, behaviors and character; provide just enough assistance for them to learn to do tasks themselves.  
  • Use advisories, ninth-grade academies, and senior seminars to cover goal setting, persistence, self-awareness, motivation, self-efficacy, time management, study skills, and other key non-cognitive skills.
  • Encourage families to support college-going behavior by helping their children be organized, setting aside dedicated time and space for academic and college-related activities, and being intentional and mindful about the future.
  • Help students develop their cognitive skills such as research, interpretation of data, communication, etc.

 

Provide professional development to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.
  • Offer professional development opportunities that explicitly address issues of equity in the classroom.
  • Provide time for teachers to align grading policies across same classes/subjects.
  • Provide opportunities to learn innovative and effective teaching strategies such as differentiated instruction, project-based learning, proficiency-based teaching and grading, etc.
  • Offer professional development in social and emotional learning, and growth mindset.
  • Ensure all educators understand the elements necessary for college readiness (i.e. the GEAR UP model, non-cognitive skills, developmental approach to college readiness, etc.)