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The purpose of this section and these tools is to help schools and outreach practitioners develop plans for increasing college readiness. During the planning stage, consider the following points:
- Students will receive the greatest amount of benefit from collaborative plans. In the past, college outreach programs have not been directly connected to the improvement efforts of schools. It is important that change and college readiness efforts become embedded in the daily life of the school.
- Schools need to think about preparing students for college as a part of the overall school improvement effort and not a separate goal or activity. The strategies proposed in this toolbox are those found in school improvement research and literature. The shift comes from thinking beyond the high school diploma in order to have all students achieve at high levels.
The Planning Process
There are several important actions involved in the planning process.
- Pay attention to the everyday language of the school. The expectation that all students are going to college is pervasive.
- Use words like “changing,” “dedicated,” “positive,” “diverse,” “personal,” and “caring” to describe the staff.
- “Talk college” in every setting and interaction with students. College planning isn’t limited to student’s junior or senior year.
- Encourage former students to stay connected to the school and act as role models for other students who want to go to college and may face many challenges.
- Shift the focus of the school from “hanging on” to students until they are seniors to providing an exciting, challenging, and fun environment that actively supports the transition from childhood to adulthood – a P-16 transition. Provide counselors who support all students in the college search and application process.
- Pay attention to both internal and external catalysts for change. These catalysts include increasing internal expectations for student achievement, external expectations and goals (high-stakes testing, district plans), and a clear picture of the future for students.
- Know that turning points are a combination of factors. The turning point for a school is the point at which it becomes dissatisfied with the status quo. New leadership, new visions for the school, and the ability to envision new dreams for students can act as catalysts to draw together a critical mass of adults in the school community to begin the conversation about what needs to change. A combination of these variables creates a synergy that produces new fuel for change within the school.
The following tools are included to accomplish these tasks:
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