Overview

A rigorous College and Career Preparatory Program is being developed for junior and senior students at Eastside Memorial High School in 2009-2010 and 2010 - 2011 that will enable them to take the courses they need to graduate while preparing them for post secondary enrollment. It will provide a strong academic focus while creating “college going” expectations individualized for each student and opportunities to become college and career ready.  

Components of the College Prep Program

An Individualized Student Approach Will Help Ensure Success
An aggressive effort will be undertaken to be certain that college and career preparation opportunities are tailored to the specific needs of the students at Eastside Memorial High School. We want the kids to graduate together!

On Track to Graduate Checklist – A check of the credits required to graduate will be made for every student on an individual basis to determine exactly what courses must be taken to ensure the student graduates on time.  The checklist will be provided to every student.

Personal Education Plan (PEP) – A PEP will be developed with each student that maps his/her academic, career, and life goals over and includes the concrete steps necessary for fulfillment.  With the PEP in place, Advisors will be charged with ensuring students take advantage of the opportunities available and tracking student participation.

Strategic Summer Opportunities:  In Summer 2009 and 2010, classes will be conducted  for Eastside students that provide an expanded offering intended to fill gaps in student schedules, offer credit recovery, prepare students to take dual credit, focus on math and literacy skills, and enrich academic experience.  Because construction will be underway in Summer 2009, these classes will be held at Reagan High School with bus transportation provided.

Dual Enrollment at ACC
Dual enrollment will be an expectation so that students graduate with college credit.   In partnership with the Austin Community College, barriers to dual college enrollment for each student will be identified and programs to overcome these barriers will be available to every student (e.g., programs to prepare students for ASSET test, briefings to familiarize student with ACC course offerings, etc.).

Creation of College Going Culture at Eastside Memorial
Specific steps will be taken to create a “college-going” culture with all students at Eastside Memorial, but especially with juniors and seniors, by:

•    Effectively outlining and facilitating the applications and financial aid processes for students and parents.
•    Providing Eastside Memorial students with a first hand experience of the college environment through college visits.
•    Providing parents with tools and information that will help them identify specific steps that they can take to help students prepare for college and career success.

Opportunities for Juniors/Seniors to Benefit From the New Tech Experience
Although juniors and seniors will not be embedded in the full New Tech practice, every effort will be made to ensure they can take advantage of new opportunities:
•    Every junior and senior student will have a laptop computer assigned to them for use at school and at home.
•    Courses will be provided to orient them to computer use.
•    Certain classes will be taught by teachers trained in the “Project Based Learning” instructional model in order to engage students academically and make their learning more relevant.
•    Students will have the experience of presenting their projects and working in teams.
•    The administrative team will be familiar with New Tech practices and incorporate many into the program.

Staff Dedicated to Junior/Senior College Readiness at Eastside Memorial High School
•    An Additional Assistant Principal and Counselor will be dedicated to the juniors and seniors in the College/Career Prep program to ensure that every component of the program is implemented with quality and that every student is on track to graduate.  
•    Existing staff resources (i.e., Project Advance Facilitator (if funds are available), School Improvement Facilitator, Social Worker, Parent Support Specialist, and Dropout Specialist) will also be focused on supporting student success.