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THE ALPHA INITIATIVE

THE ALPHA INITIATIVE. WHY ALPHA?. There are three major factors that impact the ability of students to experience success in school: Attendance Attachment Achievement

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THE ALPHA INITIATIVE

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  1. THE ALPHA INITIATIVE

  2. WHY ALPHA? • There are three major factors that impact the ability of students to experience success in school: • Attendance • Attachment • Achievement Alpha is the Greek letter for A and typically means the beginning. Alpha will signify the importance of the “A’s” and the success mastering them will bring.

  3. MISSION OF THE INITIATIVE This initiative utilizes existing positions and specialized new positions to provide students in the El Paso Independent School District with support in the following key areas : Attendance and Truancy Support Gang and Family Intervention and Referral Anti-Bullying Support Dropout Prevention

  4. THE ALPHA INITIATIVE BARRIER REMOVAL EXPERTS The Alpha Initiative includes support from At Risk Coordinators, Teachers, Assistant Principals, Principals, Attendance Clerks, Social Workers and Justice of the Peace Courts, among others. Every campus has made attendance a top priority by developing an attendance improvement plan incorporating incentives for good attendance.

  5. THE ALPHA INITIATIVE BARRIER REMOVAL EXPERTS A large part of intervention comes from The Alpha Team, a team of Student Outreach Specialists whose job is to provide attendance support for identified students throughout the school year. The Alpha Initiative works to remove barriers that may prevent students from attending school. For EPISD students, success is an expectation. Failure should not be an option.

  6. Student Identification ALPHA TEAM PROGRAM OFFERINGS • Issues appropriate for referral to the Alpha Team: • A parent that the school has made repeated attempts to contact with little or no success. • Intervention for students with excessive excused or unexcused absences after the school has made good faith effort to remediate the situation. • A student that is demonstrating that BARRIERS exist that are keeping the student from attending (lack of credit, substance abuse, family issues, etc.) • A student or family that requires a person from outside the school to monitor attendance and to provide intervention services. • A student or family that requires outside referral. • A potential Houston School of Choice candidate.

  7. Attendance Increase Programs ALPHA TEAM PROGRAM OFFERINGS • Tracking of Attendance for Identified Students to Provide Opportunities for Growth. • Student and Family Case Management. • Home Visits, Evaluation of Family for Possible Referral. • Referral of Students and/or Families to Outside Agencies Upon Identified Need. • Mass Outreach Meetings with Target Populations to Provide Attendance Information and Options, including how to improve an individual student’s attendance pattern. • Truancy Court Support (Actual document preparation and filing must be done by the campus).

  8. Project structure and support ORGANIZING EFFORT: UNIFYING SERVICES TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL

  9. PROJECT SUPPORT This project requires the cooperation and support of the following EPISD Departments: • Office for Pupil Services • Police Services • Guidance Services • Research and Evaluation • Human Resources • Elementary Division • Secondary Division • Priority Schools Division • Finance and External Funding • Technology and Information Systems

  10. ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY SUPPORT

  11. NEW POSITION AT A GLANCE: STUDENT OUTREACH SPECIALIST • Number of Positions: 11 • Assignment: One per High School Feeder Pattern • Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree (Social Work or Criminal Justice Preferred) • Experience working with at risk youth, especially through truancy or gang intervention. • Days on Duty: 189 days

  12. NEW POSITION DUTIES: STUDENT OUTREACH SPECIALIST • Identifies and monitors academic and other progress of students at all grade levels who are at demonstrating truancy, attendance and/or gang issues using cumulative record history information, student test score data, individual student course failure data and other appropriate sources. • Maintains documentation on attendance, gang and related indicators and interventions attempted for identified students. • Consults and works with parents, administrators, counselors, teachers, community agencies, and other relevant individuals regarding students who are demonstrating truancy and other related issues.

  13. NEW POSITION DUTIES: STUDENT OUTREACH SPECIALIST • Works with identified students and families to deter gang involvement and truancy at all grade levels. • Works with students and parents addressing all issues that might prohibit them from staying in school. • Uses a multidisciplinary case management approach to build and maintain relationships with government agencies, community-based organizations, social services agencies and schools to refer students and families for needed services.

  14. NEW POSITION DUTIES: STUDENT OUTREACH SPECIALIST • Works directly with parents to develop strategies for themselves and the academic success of their children. • Documents and follows up on family cases and provides statistics on families receiving services. • Provides community outreach, assesses family problems, and assists the family in problem solving. • Assists campus attendance personnel with attendance court filings within state and locally required timelines and specifications.

  15. IF THEY DON’T COME BACK, GO OUT AND GET ‘EM!

  16. OPERATION: OUTREACH • Beginning of each semester and several times throughout school year, the following takes place: • No Show or Leaver Identification • Teams are formed with high profile citizens • Paired with Alpha Team, Student Contact Teams go to student homes • When students are recovered, care plans are developed and implemented

  17. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH’EM ONCE YOU GOT’EM?

  18. THE ALPHA CENTER • Grant based program. • Non Traditional Hours • Combination of face to face and computer based instruction • Intense Case Management and Monitoring • Dedicated personnel • 177 graduates last year.

  19. STUDENT AND FAMILY LEVEL INTERVENTION MAKING A DIFFERENCE: ONE STUDENT AT A TIME

  20. SCENARIO STUDENT LEVEL INTERVENTION • This student is an 18 year old female requiring intensive assistance to finish high school.

  21. SITUATION ANALYSIS • Homeless • Enrolled but not attending • Court ordered to GED and Alpha Initiative • Started program with 17 credits • Candidate for diploma despite court order

  22. ALPHA INTERVENTION • JP Court • Enroll at Alpha Center • Substance Abuse Counseling • Home Visits • Aggressive Case Management/Monitoring • Linking to Employment • Linking to Community Agencies • Attempting to transition to Higher Education

  23. WHERE IS SHE NOW? • Graduated with a diploma • In process on enrolling at El Paso Community College • In workforce • Attempting to link to Veterinary Technician program though area Veterinary Office (interest of student) • Continue case management even though student has graduated.

  24. FAMILY LEVEL INTERVENTION MAKING A DIFFERENCE: ONE STUDENT AT A TIME

  25. SCENARIO FAMILY LEVEL INTERVENTION The family involved consisted of: 1 female student at Andress High School 1 male student at Chapin High School 1 female student at Irvin High School 1 male student at Terrace Hills Middle School 1 female student at Terrace Hills Middle School

  26. SITUATION ANALYSIS • Students were demonstrating poor attendance. • Either were very late or absent • All students residing within the El Paso Transitional Living Center (except for older male student) • Parental support non-existent • Were going to lose the entire family

  27. ALPHA INTERVENTION • Advocated for students within court system • Withheld filing on truancy cases in favor of social assistance. • Utilized El Paso Police Department Youth Initiative Program • Coordinated services to family • Acted as a team

  28. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? • Parent secured rental • Alpha Team assisted in acquiring furniture for the family. • Child Protective Services closed the case. • One student has since graduated.

  29. Middle school student INTERVENTION MAKING A DIFFERENCE: ONE STUDENT AT A TIME

  30. SCENARIO FAMILY LEVEL INTERVENTION This student is an 8th grade who is transitioning to the high school level.

  31. SITUATION ANALYSIS • Student attendance pattern indicates non-attendance. • When student does go to school, multiple tardies are an issue. • Student demonstrates strong behavioral issues.

  32. ALPHA INTERVENTION • Contact made by Alpha Team Member while student was in the DAEP • Alpha Team became familiar with student as student spent most of 9th grade in Alternative. • Assisted in setting goal of NO DAEP PLACEMENT for 2nd year of high school. • Introduced student to TEEN COURT. • Supported student when student told parent of pregnancy.

  33. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? • Student not placed in DAEP her 2nd year of high school. • Currently recovering credits at EPISD’s School Age Parent Center • Still attends Teen Court regularly.

  34. FAMILY LEVEL INTERVENTION MAKING A DIFFERENCE: ONE STUDENT AT A TIME

  35. SCENARIO FAMILY LEVEL INTERVENTION The family involved consisted of: 1 young single parent with two male students

  36. SITUATION ANALYSIS • Students were demonstrating poor attendance. • Either were very late, or • Accruing Unexcused Absences • Parent has pending fraud case preventing referral to Food Stamps or Medicaid/CHIP programs

  37. ALPHA INTERVENTION • Made multiple home visits right after 8:15 AM • Transported Parent/Students to school. • Provided parent Texas attendance law information. (one on one and with administration) • Referral to Housing Authority • Filing in JP Court for Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance

  38. COURT INTERVENTION • Sign in every morning at attendance office • Meet with Alpha Team Member weekly • Parent is to request attendance reports every Friday for three months

  39. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? • Students were not retained in grade level. • Housing was secured • Pattern of tardiness/absence was broken. Good attendance pattern established.

  40. BRIDGING THE SOCIAL WORKER/ADMINISTRATOR GAP ORGANIZING EFFORT: UNIFYING SERVICES TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL

  41. ESTABLISH YOUR PROGRAM • IDENTIFY RATIONALE • GAIN FUNDING • ASSEMBLE GREAT TEAM • SET MISSION AND GOALS • SET COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES • IMPLEMENT • DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING • FOLLOW THROUGH

  42. WINNING THE CAMPUS • BE VISIBLE • GAIN CREDIBILITY • BE PART OF THE TEAM • COORDINATE EFFORTS • COMMUNICATION IS KEY • DON’T MICROMANAGE • EMPOWER FAMILIES AND STUDENTS • GO OUT AND GET SUCCESS

  43. BECOME INDISPENSIBLE • HOW COULD THEY EVER HAVE LIVED WITHOUT US? • WELL ROUNDED HELPER – BE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE PLACE TOGETHER • BE VERSATILE • BE RESOURCEFUL • BE A TEAM PLAYER BUT STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT • BE OBJECTIVE

  44. BECOME INDISPENSIBLE • BE COLLABORATIVE • KNOW HOW TO MULTI-TASK • BE KNOWLEDGEABLE (ED CODE, POLICY, ETC.) • MAKE YOUR JP COURTS AND DISTRICT ATTYS YOUR BEST BUDDIES • BRING IN NEW PROGRAMS (TEEN COURT) • KNOW THE KIDS • YOU GOTTA SCORE!

  45. THE PROOF IS IN THE NUMBERS ORGANIZING EFFORT: UNIFYING SERVICES TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL

  46. TEA GOLD PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  47. TEA GOLD PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  48. THE ALPHA INITIATIVE:the proof is in the numbers ORGANIZING EFFORT: UNIFYING SERVICES TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL

  49. EPISD CUMULATIVE ATTENDANCE

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