File Includes the Following Documents: It Starts with Us Publication Education Review Powerpoint ACT Aspire
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File includes the following documents: It Starts With Us Publication Education Review PowerPoint ACT Aspire: Understanding the ACT Aspire video‐ Screen Shot Annual Legislative Meeting Agenda A publication of Mobile County Public Schools January 2016 Two more National Blue Ribbons for MCPSS On-time grad rate up to 86 percent Inside: A message from Superintendent Martha Peek; Gov. Bentley makes big pre-K announcement in Mobile; A look at our Signature Academies; Magnet school applications; Bryant High partners with Cambridge; Meet the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners; MCPSS students, employees Stuff the Bus; Construction update How did we increase the which provides online student career guidance and planning. Beginning in sixth grade, students explore career and education options and build graduation rate? career planning portfolios. This technology allows students and schools to select relevant courses based on career choices and it links each stu- Success doesn’t happen overnight. We in Mobile County Public Schools know dent’s career plans to community workforce needs. that for our students to be successful, we must begin preparing them for gradua- 4. We ease the transition from middle to high school. tion as soon as they come to us for pre-kindergarten or kindergarten and contin- Middle and high school counselors work together to conduct high ue until they receive their diploma, meaning they are college and career ready. school planning sessions with all eighth-graders and their parents to de- Here is a list of what we are specifically doing to increase our graduation rate. velop an individual High School Plan of Study. The Plan of Study is based 1. We provide students opportunities to be successful from Day 1. on each student’s academic needs and career goals. Students take the We offer a growing number of pre-kindergarten classes and rigorous as well as ACT Explore Test and Career Inventory to provide career planning data. innovative K-5 programs. Freshmen are enrolled in our Ninth Grade Academies, which establish 2. Students at-risk of dropping out of high school are identified as early as the foundation for secondary learning success. elementary school. 5. School counselors monitor and provide continuous guid- We use our Data Warehouse (which includes up-to- ance as students work through their High School Plan of Study. date information about student grades, attendance, disci- Counselors work with juniors and seniors and closely monitor pline, demographics and other data) to identify elementary student completion of their High School Plan of Study and assist students at-risk of dropping out of high school so we can students in finalizing post-secondary education and career plans. provide early intervention. We require all students to complete a career portfolio to graduate 3. Career guidance and planning starts in middle detailing their accomplishments. school. MCPSS uses the Kuder Career Planning program, Martha L. Peek Superintendent Mobile County Public Schools I am very pleased with 2 2 2 2 the fact that we have been able to increase Mobile Coun- 0 0 0 0 ty Public Schools’ four-year, on-time graduation rate to 82 1 1 1 1 percent. Education Starts With Us. That means making sure 1 2 3 4 that our students exit our schools with a diploma in hand and that all students are college and career ready. 6. Multiple Pathways to Graduation MCPSS has implemented and fully sup- Eighty-two percent is just a milestone. I want to com- keep our students engaged in learning. ports the rigorous Alabama College and Ca- mend the high school principals for their work on this. Counselors, teachers and school ad- reer Ready Standards, which are challenging They took it as a challenge when the goal was set at 80 ministrators guide students in grades 9-12 our students to achieve more and compete percent by 2020. They reached it by 2014. in planning courses of study that meet each nationally and globally. That’s one leg of the journey. Our goal is to be at 90 student’s individual learning needs. 8. We provide outstanding academic percent by 2017. Signature Academies provide hands-on, support in grades 9-12. The graduation rate is a culmination of everything we relevant instruction that prepare students for Academic support programs are pro- do from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Particu- careers available in southwest Alabama. vided for all students to prevent course larly over the last six years, we have had a real focus on Our Signature Academies are: Avia- failure and prepare students for academic graduation. We have been working in our feeder patterns tion and Aerospace at B.C. Rain; Health at assessment. Credit recovery is offered in the and everyone, in elementary, middle and high school, has Blount; Coastal Studies at Bryant; Advanced event of course failure. These programs in- set increasing our graduation rate as a goal. Industry, Manufacturing and Technology clude: RTI (Re-teaching for learning mastery As our graduation rate goes up, we are indeed meet- at Citronelle; Teaching and Learning at and academic success); Grad Point (credit ing our obligation to our students first and foremost. We Mary G. Montgomery; International Stud- recovery program for students to remediate are saying to them, “Come into our schools and we will ies at Murphy; Industry and Engineering at course deficiencies and earn credits through teach you. We will make sure you are successful.” It is also Theodore; and Manufacturing, Engineering computer-assisted instruction); tutoring; a commitment to the community because the quality of and Entrepreneurship at Williamson. We are ACT test prep; WorkKeys test prep; AP life depends on a well-educated citizenry. opening in 2015: Advanced Careers at Baker; Exam prep; Special-Education programs; College and career ready is a fact here in Mobile Engineering/EPIC at Davidson; Arts and Summer School; and Academic Coaching County. It’s not just a saying or buzz word. We are com- Sciences, Medicine and Law at LeFlore; and and Mentoring. mitted to our students graduating and being well-edu- Advanced Technology at Vigor. 9. Struggling students have access to cated so they can move into college or, if they choose, to Opportunities are available to earn a variety of alternative school programs. enter the workforce or the military. college credit while in high school through Those include: Evening Education Options Ultimately, I want our students to be well-educated, Advanced Placement (AP) courses at all 12 Program (EEOP), Pathways Alternative independent, successful, productive citizens who contrib- high schools; International Baccalaureate School, STAR Academy, Continuous Learn- ute to society and support a premium quality of life for (IB) programs at Davidson and Murphy high ing Center, Twilight School at all 12 high themselves and their families. schools and Council Traditional School; and schools, and Envision Virtual Academy. The key to opening any of those doors is that high Dual Enrollment. 10. We provide extended learning op- school diploma. Our students must earn a diploma. That We provide specialized programs includ- portunities for students performing at all is the first step toward their future. Having a diploma ing EPIC Engineering, International Studies, levels. MCPSS offers a variety of additional shows that they have reached their academic goals. It Career-Technical Education, Athletics and learning times and programs available be- also shows that they have learned along the way how to Fine Arts. fore, after and during the school day. These set priorities in life and work toward those priorities. It Our Envision Virtual Academy and Dis- programs enhance learning and provide shows character. tance Learning program offer opportunities remediation. They include: Fifth Block, It is important for our students to know where they to graduate early and/or earn credit online. Extended Day Programs, Saturday School, are going and how they are going to get there. We want 7. Our challenging curriculum holds Summer School and Advanced Placement to provide our young people with every opportunity for students to high academic standards. and ACT exam prep. success in life. Academies SignatureWith a focus on preparing students for in- the end of their freshman year. Beginning in 10th initiative. demand careers and the rigors of college, Mobile grade, students are required to take at least three Students in some pathways, such as welding County Public Schools has expanded its Signature sequential elective courses within an academy at Williamson High School, may also earn college Academy initiative, launching programs at four -- also called a pathway -- prior to graduation credit through a dual enrollment program with more high schools this academic year. to complete the academy. The idea is that many Bishop State Community College. Other students New for 2014-15 is the Coastal Studies Acad- students will gain credentials and employment who score high enough on Advanced Placement emy at Alma Bryant High School, the Academy of opportunities through the Signature Academy exams can qualify to skip or earn partial credit for International Studies at Murphy High School, Industry and Engi- neering at Theodore High School and Maritime, Engineering and Entrepreneurship at Williamson High School. With the career-oriented Signature Academies, ninth- graders learn about the different paths of instruction offered at each school. Some may take an assessment to help determine what profession they may be best suited for. With the help of parents, teachers and counselors, students select an academy by Follow us: Mobile County Public Schools MobilePublicSch mcpss.com It Starts With Us is the Mobile County Public Schools’ effort to spread the word that good things are happening in our schools and to encour- age community members to get more involved. This publication was produced by Rena Philips, Supervisor of Marketing and Education Part- nerships for Mobile County Public Schools.