Breakout Session B: Helping Students Parents Understand, Use and Act on EXPLORE Results

1. Breakout Session B: Helping Students & Parents Understand, Use and Act on EXPLORE Results Facilitator: Ann Connelly, AZ EXPLORE Manager, NAU Hand out Teal Folders Welcome to Breakout Session 2. Read Title. This workshop is intended primarily for those who are serving as college & career coaches for the AZ EXLORE Initiative. Some of those who are serving as District Liaisons for this initiative, will also find this session helpful. Are you all in the right room / right breakout session? Introduce self and�.Hand out Teal Folders Welcome to Breakout Session 2. Read Title. This workshop is intended primarily for those who are serving as college & career coaches for the AZ EXLORE Initiative. Some of those who are serving as District Liaisons for this initiative, will also find this session helpful. Are you all in the right room / right breakout session? Introduce self and�.

2. Objectives & Outline of Session Overview of EXPLORE Initiative A. What is it? B. Why EXPLORE C. Roles & Responsibilities D. Standards & Expectations II. Modeling of Class Session The objective of this session is to prepare you for helping students, parents and high schools to benefit from the EXPLORE results: This session is broken up into two parts: I. The first half hour will be an overview of the EXPLORE Initiative, and will include II. The Second part of the workshop will be spent with us modeling a class session with students. Our hope is that after we�ve done that, at the end of this session, you will leave feeling prepared and equipped to work effectively with students, parents and your partner high schools so they can understand, use and act on the EXPLORE results.The objective of this session is to prepare you for helping students, parents and high schools to benefit from the EXPLORE results: This session is broken up into two parts: I. The first half hour will be an overview of the EXPLORE Initiative, and will include II. The Second part of the workshop will be spent with us modeling a class session with students. Our hope is that after we�ve done that, at the end of this session, you will leave feeling prepared and equipped to work effectively with students, parents and your partner high schools so they can understand, use and act on the EXPLORE results.

3. What is the EXPLORE Initiative? Most of your superintendents participated in a Kick Off Event we held in November to explain this initiative so they could decide whether or not to participate. Obviously, your superintendents felt it was important to participant, and hence, you are here today. I don�t know how many of you were given an overview of the Initiative from your superintendents or district liaisons, or even whether they passed on materials to you, that we had provided them at the Kick Off event. So, we felt it was important to take a few minutes today to be sure you all had the same understanding of how this initiative came to be, and what it�s purpose is. How it came to be: Through the 2010 Federal College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) program, Governor Brewer established an early college and career awareness initiative, which NAU, through its federally funded GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) project has been charged to lead. What is the EXPLORE Initiative? Most of your superintendents participated in a Kick Off Event we held in November to explain this initiative so they could decide whether or not to participate. Obviously, your superintendents felt it was important to participant, and hence, you are here today. I don�t know how many of you were given an overview of the Initiative from your superintendents or district liaisons, or even whether they passed on materials to you, that we had provided them at the Kick Off event. So, we felt it was important to take a few minutes today to be sure you all had the same understanding of how this initiative came to be, and what it�s purpose is. How it came to be: Through the 2010 Federal College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) program, Governor Brewer established an early college and career awareness initiative, which NAU, through its federally funded GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) project has been charged to lead.

4. �Who are the participants in this initiative? NAU is working with 22 Title I districts/charters, representing 132 schools, to provide more than 20,000 8th grade students throughout the state of Arizona the opportunity to benefit from the ACT EXPLORE assessment. �Who are the participants in this initiative? NAU is working with 22 Title I districts/charters, representing 132 schools, to provide more than 20,000 8th grade students throughout the state of Arizona the opportunity to benefit from the ACT EXPLORE assessment.

5. Here are the 22 participating Districts and Charters in case you were interested in who else is involved.Here are the 22 participating Districts and Charters in case you were interested in who else is involved.

6. Ask this question of the audience. Let them answer�Ask this question of the audience. Let them answer�

7. Well, as NAU�s President, John Haeger, and others have noted, the research is very clear -- some sort of monitoring of student progress IN MIDDLE SCHOOL is ESSENTIAL to college and career readiness and successWell, as NAU�s President, John Haeger, and others have noted, the research is very clear -- some sort of monitoring of student progress IN MIDDLE SCHOOL is ESSENTIAL to college and career readiness and success

8. And the EXPLORE Is a tool to do exactly that. The EXPLORE, a �pre-ACT,� offers an early indicator of college readiness, is designed to help students �explore� the world of possibilities open to them, help them plan for high school and guide them as they start thinking about post high school educational and career opportunitiesAnd the EXPLORE Is a tool to do exactly that. The EXPLORE, a �pre-ACT,� offers an early indicator of college readiness, is designed to help students �explore� the world of possibilities open to them, help them plan for high school and guide them as they start thinking about post high school educational and career opportunities

9. Another good reason is: ACT research has shown that using the EXPLORE results in better performance on the ACT, increases educational achievement, encourages students to take more college-preparatory courses in high school, increases student� readiness for college, and promotes college enrollment, persistence and achievementAnother good reason is: ACT research has shown that using the EXPLORE results in better performance on the ACT, increases educational achievement, encourages students to take more college-preparatory courses in high school, increases student� readiness for college, and promotes college enrollment, persistence and achievement

10. Through the AZ EXPLORE initiative, students will not only take the EXPLORE assessment, but the goal is to ensure that counselors at the high schools into which these students matriculate receive, and use, the EXPLORE results to develop students� ECAP�s and complete high school registration. Students benefit because they get a good sense of where they are academically, and know what they need to do to improve, if necessary. Parents benefit, because they are made aware, EARLY, of how prepared their students are academically, and can take action to support their students� efforts to be successful. Participating schools benefit from data that helps them see, very clearly how they can improve services and interventions as well as curriculum and teaching to improve student performance. Through the AZ EXPLORE initiative, students will not only take the EXPLORE assessment, but the goal is to ensure that counselors at the high schools into which these students matriculate receive, and use, the EXPLORE results to develop students� ECAP�s and complete high school registration. Students benefit because they get a good sense of where they are academically, and know what they need to do to improve, if necessary. Parents benefit, because they are made aware, EARLY, of how prepared their students are academically, and can take action to support their students� efforts to be successful. Participating schools benefit from data that helps them see, very clearly how they can improve services and interventions as well as curriculum and teaching to improve student performance.

11. s Who is responsible for implementing the AZ EXPLORE Initiative at the school level? The answer is: YOU! Who is responsible for implementing the AZ EXPLORE Initiative at the school level? The answer is: YOU!

12. Who in this room is a District Liaison? District Liaisons were chosen by the districts/charters to perform the job duties listed on the District Liaison roles and responsibilities in your folder. They are responsible for working with the EXPLORE Manager (me) � and with the participating schools in their district to ensure successful attainment of grant goals and outcomes in their district. Look at all the steps you have completed! As you can see, there are only 3 duties left, and they are probably the most important duties you have, highlighted on your paper. Next expectations after this workshop: 1) Collect final reports from College and Career Coaches and submit to NAU my May 31, 2011 2) Prepare Request for Reimbursement and submits to NAU by May 31, 2011 and 3) As requested, provide information to NAU for project evaluation Who in this room is a District Liaison? District Liaisons were chosen by the districts/charters to perform the job duties listed on the District Liaison roles and responsibilities in your folder. They are responsible for working with the EXPLORE Manager (me) � and with the participating schools in their district to ensure successful attainment of grant goals and outcomes in their district. Look at all the steps you have completed! As you can see, there are only 3 duties left, and they are probably the most important duties you have, highlighted on your paper. Next expectations after this workshop: 1) Collect final reports from College and Career Coaches and submit to NAU my May 31, 2011 2) Prepare Request for Reimbursement and submits to NAU by May 31, 2011 and 3) As requested, provide information to NAU for project evaluation

13. Who in this room is a College and Career Coach? You will find a copy of your roles and responsibilities in your folder. At least one College and Career Coach was assigned to each school by the school Principal. The Coach is responsible for administration of the EXPLORE at the school and using the results to support students and parents in a successful transition to high school. Point out all the tasks on the job description they have completed There are just 3 duties left and they are probably the most important, highlighted on your sheet NEXT steps after this workshop: 1) Provide interpretation of EXPLORE results with students and/or parents, including completion of PreECAP (Planning Guide) 2) Makes arrangements for students� PreECAP�s to be used with the high school registration process and high school required ECAP 3) Prepares final EXPLORE report on NAU-Provided template and submit to District Liaison Who in this room is a College and Career Coach? You will find a copy of your roles and responsibilities in your folder. At least one College and Career Coach was assigned to each school by the school Principal. The Coach is responsible for administration of the EXPLORE at the school and using the results to support students and parents in a successful transition to high school. Point out all the tasks on the job description they have completed There are just 3 duties left and they are probably the most important, highlighted on your sheet NEXT steps after this workshop: 1) Provide interpretation of EXPLORE results with students and/or parents, including completion of PreECAP (Planning Guide) 2) Makes arrangements for students� PreECAP�s to be used with the high school registration process and high school required ECAP 3) Prepares final EXPLORE report on NAU-Provided template and submit to District Liaison

14. Thank you for the great work you have done so far! Ordering and administering the EXPLORE were big tasks, in themselves, I know, and I want to THANK YOU for all the great work you have done!Ordering and administering the EXPLORE were big tasks, in themselves, I know, and I want to THANK YOU for all the great work you have done!

15. For the remainder of this session we are going to provide you with tools and information you will need to successfully complete your remaining responsibilities � that is to ensure that students and parents understand what their EXPLORE results mean and have developed a preECAP to plan for how to act on the results. The EXPLORE data is very rich, and there is a lot of it! In an ideal world, we would all have plenty of time and resources to ensure every student and every parent got the absolute full benefit from all that data. In reality, however, we have very limited time and resources, so we�ve developed minimum standards for you to meet, and we�ll provide the tools you need to meet those standards, given the time and resource constraints we all face. For the remainder of this session we are going to provide you with tools and information you will need to successfully complete your remaining responsibilities � that is to ensure that students and parents understand what their EXPLORE results mean and have developed a preECAP to plan for how to act on the results. The EXPLORE data is very rich, and there is a lot of it! In an ideal world, we would all have plenty of time and resources to ensure every student and every parent got the absolute full benefit from all that data.

16. Clarifying Expectations College & Career Coach Responsibility: Provide interpretation of EXPLORE results with students and/or parents, including completion of PreECAP. When you each look at your responsibilities under this initiative, as written in the Descriptions we looked at earlier, you can see it is � somewhat vague. You could each go about completing this responsibility in a variety of ways. We know that you want to be successful. Not only for your own professional reputation, but for the sake of your students who you care about. So, we want to make sure you leave here today with a clear picture of what �being successful� in this role looks like.When you each look at your responsibilities under this initiative, as written in the Descriptions we looked at earlier, you can see it is � somewhat vague. You could each go about completing this responsibility in a variety of ways. We know that you want to be successful. Not only for your own professional reputation, but for the sake of your students who you care about. So, we want to make sure you leave here today with a clear picture of what �being successful� in this role looks like.

17. We have developed a metaphor for this. You�ve all heard the phrase before �the cadillac version� of something. Well, not that we�re partial to Toyotas, but we have used the various levels of Toyotas for our metaphor. The top �of-the-line �Lexus� version of working with students and parents around EXPLORE results would look like this: There would be: a certified counselor 1:1 adult-to-student ratio for every student unlimited time and multiple meetings on-line career exploration and resources A PreECAP shared meaningfully with HS Counselor for use in registering student for freshman year classes and meaningful parent involvement Wouldn�t this be awesome! BUT, we realize that, under the current circumstances, it would be unrealistic and unfair to expect you to do this, to meet this standard. We were off to a late start this year with the testing in January, there isn�t much time left in the school year, you don�t all have sufficient computer resources, and your high school counselors may have already completed the registration process with your 8th graders.. In future years, our goal would be to have the testing completed in the fall which would leave you the entire spring semester to work with your students, and their parents. We have developed a metaphor for this. You�ve all heard the phrase before �the cadillac version� of something. Well, not that we�re partial to Toyotas, but we have used the various levels of Toyotas for our metaphor. The top �of-the-line �Lexus� version of working with students and parents around EXPLORE results would look like this: There would be: a certified counselor 1:1 adult-to-student ratio for every student unlimited time and multiple meetings on-line career exploration and resources A PreECAP shared meaningfully with HS Counselor for use in registering student for freshman year classes and meaningful parent involvement Wouldn�t this be awesome! BUT, we realize that, under the current circumstances, it would be unrealistic and unfair to expect you to do this, to meet this standard. We were off to a late start this year with the testing in January, there isn�t much time left in the school year, you don�t all have sufficient computer resources, and your high school counselors may have already completed the registration process with your 8th graders.. In future years, our goal would be to have the testing completed in the fall which would leave you the entire spring semester to work with your students, and their parents.

18. So, we�ve got to lower our expectations some. Under the Camry Standard � still a really nice car, but not quite as nice as the Lexus, we would have: > a trained facilitator or certified counselor working with the students and parents > 1:20 adult-to-student ratio > 3 to 4 guided sessions with students > engaging / interactive activities > opportunities for significant parent involvement and > PreECAP may or may not be part of planning for HS for all student Under the current circumstances, even this is a hard standard to meet. You may or may not have time left this school year to facilitate 3 or 4 guided sessions with students; you may or may not have time or resources to give parents an opportunity to be involved. So��. So, we�ve got to lower our expectations some. Under the Camry Standard � still a really nice car, but not quite as nice as the Lexus, we would have: > a trained facilitator or certified counselor working with the students and parents > 1:20 adult-to-student ratio > 3 to 4 guided sessions with students > engaging / interactive activities > opportunities for significant parent involvement and > PreECAP may or may not be part of planning for HS for all student Under the current circumstances, even this is a hard standard to meet. You may or may not have time left this school year to facilitate 3 or 4 guided sessions with students; you may or may not have time or resources to give parents an opportunity to be involved. So��.

19. Our expectation is that this year, you will all meet the Corolla level this year at the minimum. Of course, if you�re able to exceed expectations, and meet the Camry Standard, that would be great! So what does the Corolla standard look like? There will be: 1) there will be a trained facilitator working with the students (Your participation here today will allow you to meet that expectation) 2) EXPLORE results will be explained to students in sessions that have at least one adult for every 35 students 3) EXPLORE results will be explained to students over 1 class period 4) A guided process and discussion will be used to helpf students understand and internalize their EXPLORE results (compared to online and one-on-one interaction in the lexus) 5) Every student will produce a PreECAP 6) there will be some parent � probably in groups, probably only one, maybe two opportunities before the school year ends. The tools and information we will be providing in the rest of this session have been developed to ensure you can meet this corolla standard! Our expectation is that this year, you will all meet the Corolla level this year at the minimum. Of course, if you�re able to exceed expectations, and meet the Camry Standard, that would be great! So what does the Corolla standard look like? There will be: 1) there will be a trained facilitator working with the students (Your participation here today will allow you to meet that expectation) 2) EXPLORE results will be explained to students in sessions that have at least one adult for every 35 students 3) EXPLORE results will be explained to students over 1 class period 4) A guided process and discussion will be used to helpf students understand and internalize their EXPLORE results (compared to online and one-on-one interaction in the lexus) 5) Every student will produce a PreECAP 6) there will be some parent � probably in groups, probably only one, maybe two opportunities before the school year ends. The tools and information we will be providing in the rest of this session have been developed to ensure you can meet this corolla standard!

20. Just to be perfectly clear, what would be unacceptable would look like the totaled Yaris depicted here. Nothing more than a PA announcement instructing students to pick up their results in the Auditorium between 3 and 4 pm on Friday, before Spring Break. No adult interaction and no parent involvementJust to be perfectly clear, what would be unacceptable would look like the totaled Yaris depicted here. Nothing more than a PA announcement instructing students to pick up their results in the Auditorium between 3 and 4 pm on Friday, before Spring Break. No adult interaction and no parent involvement

21. Any questions about anything I�ve covered so far? We�ll move on now to the primary focus of this session: giving you the tools and information you need to go back and work with your students and parents at the Corolla Level to understand, use and act on their EXPLORE results. I hope the overview provided by ACT (Jo, Jim or Fred) in the first session this morning was helpful to you. If you didn�t know what was on the EXPLORE results, or score report for students, you should now. We decided that the best way to help you learn how to go over the EXPLORE results with students, and help them produce their preECAPS was to model a classroom session for you. So, for the next 30 minutes, imagine you are 8thgraders (of course, you are the good kids; no acting out in this session)� ? and Claudia is You, the counselor, going into the classroom to give the EXPLORE Guidance Session. Claudia�Any questions about anything I�ve covered so far? We�ll move on now to the primary focus of this session: giving you the tools and information you need to go back and work with your students and parents at the Corolla Level to understand, use and act on their EXPLORE results. I hope the overview provided by ACT (Jo, Jim or Fred) in the first session this morning was helpful to you. If you didn�t know what was on the EXPLORE results, or score report for students, you should now. We decided that the best way to help you learn how to go over the EXPLORE results with students, and help them produce their preECAPS was to model a classroom session for you. So, for the next 30 minutes, imagine you are 8thgraders (of course, you are the good kids; no acting out in this session)� ? and Claudia is You, the counselor, going into the classroom to give the EXPLORE Guidance Session. Claudia�