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1. Home State Board | Department | Teachers | Parents | Students | Community | Data West Virginia Department of Education1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, WV 25305 (Staff Phone and Email by Name) (School Directory) Principal Training

2. LINKS is a • Comprehensive student-centered advising program for students in grades 9-12 • Structure to deliver specific academic, career, and personal/social content standards • Support to students as they transition from school to school in West Virginia and into post-secondary opportunities

3. Why do we need LINKS? • 8,000 students drop out of high school each year in WV • 52% of WV students qualify for free or reduce-priced meals • 6% of WV children live with grand-parent(s) • 26% of WV children live in poverty, 11% live in extreme poverty • 13% of WV children live in a family where the head of household is a drop-out • 31% of children live in single-parent families • Arrests of individuals with meth use are the highest in state history

5. The LINKS Program can help: Reduce retention rates Decrease truancy and behavioral issues Increase test scores Face the academic rigor of 21st Century schools Explore the broad range of available career choices Students build dreams, give hope for the future, and connect students with that caring adult

6. National Trends…Then and Now U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ALL students must hear the right messages!

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

8. Contributors to Student Success • Career goal • Connection with caring adult • Connection with post secondary opportunities

9. Student/Advisor Relationships • If students know there is an adult at school who truly cares about them as individuals, they will accept being prodded further • Our most vulnerable students are those in greatest need of this meaningful connection

10. Goals • Provide a consistent advocate for each student in the school • Assure that every faculty member is knowledgeable and well prepared to assist any student with components of his/her academic, career or personal/social needs • Assist each student in identifying and addressing his/her unique academic, career and personal/social needs • Address specific school needs to help promote a positive and safe school climate

11. Goals • Provide each student with a sense of connectedness to school and community • Develop a collaboration of stakeholders who encourages each student to progress and succeed • Provide an organized structure for consistent delivery of critical content standards and guidance curriculum for every student

12. Movie or motivational piece

13. Outcomes • Greater student satisfaction with the high school experience • High school experiences that support success in the adult world • Improved school attendance and fewer behavior problems • More students successfully transitioning from grade to grade • A more informed faculty who are prepared to work with all students

14. Outcomes • Increased achievement (measured by grades and test scores) • Lower drop-out rates and higher graduation rates • More informed career decision making • Stronger interpersonal skills • Students who are well prepared for the workforce and global market • More students entering and completing relevant and appropriate post secondary institutions

15. Where will LINKS be used? • For 2008-2009, pilot in all 21st Century High Schools That Work sites • Available to all West Virginia High Schools in 2009-2010

16. Variables Contributing Toward Successful Schools • School Culture • Leadership

19. Serving as chief supervisor and program advocate Supporting the organization, development, implementation, and evaluation processes The principal is responsible for…

20. The principal is responsible for… Deciding if LINKS is offered for credit Allotting appropriate time in the master schedule for weekly LINKS sessions

21. Online resources

22. Materials for Advisors

23. 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 9th Grade / Freshman Year 1 0th Grade / Sophomore Year LINKS Checklist 1 2th Grade / Senior Year Activities I need to complete each year to ensure that I am well-prepared for post-secondary success. 9th Grade/Freshman Year 1 1th Grade / Junior Year

24. Professional Development Training is available at http://wvde.state.wv.us/counselors/links/about.html for all levels of staff participation: • Advisors • Coordinators • Counselors • Principals and Steering Committee

25. Needed: Time Space Leadership Public relations efforts Supporting funds Materials & Resources

26. Evaluation

27. Student Evaluation • All students at your school will participate in the LINKS program. • Consent forms to participate in program evaluation must be sent home at the beginning of the school year for returning students. New students will receive a consent form with enrollment materials. • Only students having parent consent will complete the online surveys at the beginning and end of the academic year.

28. Student Evaluation • Participating students must complete a pre- and post- online survey to assess their knowledge, attitudes and satisfaction with school, advising information and services. • Following advising lessons, advisors will be asked to have students periodically complete a simple 4-question feedback form.

29. Advisor Evaluation • An Advisor’s Log is available online for advisors to complete following lessons. This optional tool is important during the pilot phase in order to make appropriate changes to lessons as needed. • At the end of the pilot phase, advisors will complete an online evaluation of the LINKS program. This will be available through the LINKS Web site.

30. When does it start? • The advisor’s training must occur prior to opening day. • Advising classes begin with the school-year orientation lesson.

31. Web site Toolbar Provides Easy Access

32. LINKS Information and Tools Find what you need for implementing the LINKS Program at http://wvde.state.wv.us/counselors/links/ **Please save this as a favorite site for easy access to project information and supporting materials.

33. Principal/Steering Committee Web site Area • Roles and Responsibilities • Implementation Guidelines • Connecting LINKS to Other School-wide Initiatives • Planning Tools • LINKS Brochures • National and State Standards

34. For more information… • http://wvde.state.wv.us/counselors/links/about.html# • Cynthia Kolsun at ckolsun@access.k12.wv.us 304-558-2348 • Barbara Ashcraft at bashcraft@access.k12.wv.us 304-558-2348