Frederick County Public Schools Educational Partnerships Annual Report 2019-2020 Dear Community Partners: As Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, I know how privileged our schools are to have community stakeholders who are invested in education. Partnerships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, higher education, and government agencies enable FCPS to achieve our mission to reach students with exceptional teaching and caring support, challenge them to achieve their potential, and prepare them for success in a global society. The outstanding work FCPS is able to accomplish collaboratively with our community partners results in a well-earned reputation for excellence in education in Frederick County! Partnership support is critically important in preparing students for success in essential skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication. Because of the many generous organizations that give of their time and expertise, Frederick County students have amazing opportunities to explore new interests and apply their skills in real-world contexts. Equally important is the support our partners provide to ensure students are safe and healthy. Arrival of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in our 2019-2020 school year proved the value of partnerships with agencies such as the Frederick County Health Department (FCHD). During the in-person months of our school year, the FCHD provided services in all schools as part of a multi-disciplinary school team whose purpose is to maximize the health and learning of each student. Once all classes moved to a fully virtual format, the FCHD has remained an essential partner, helping us navigate the pandemic as safely as possible. Their work remains invaluable to FCPS students, families, and staff. The relationships and care that our partners provide make a significant difference for our community’s children. FCPS is indebted to all of our partners for the generous support you provide to ensure our students achieve their full potential. We value your commitment and thank you for joining with us to prepare each Frederick County student for lifelong success. Sincerely, Theresa R. Alban, Ph. D Superintendent Frederick County Public Schools The Board of Education of Frederick County 2019-2020 Brad Young Jay Mason Liz Barrett Michael Bunitsky Rae Gallagher Lois Jarman Karen Yoho Malachi Macon President Vice President Student Member CONTENTS Linking Youth to New eXperiences: Empowered Learners 4 Brook Lane: A Continuum of Mental Health Services 6 SHIP: Support for Students Experiencing Homelessness 7 Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital 8 BNBI Supports STEM Studies 10 Earth and Space Science Partnerships 12 The Heart of CommUNITY 14 School Partnerships 16 Systemic Partnerships 23 Career & Technology Education Partnerships 24 The FCPS Educational Partnerships Annual Report reflects active partnerships between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Our goal is to include all active partners; if there are any omissions or errors, please accept our apologies and inform the FCPS Public Affairs Department. 1 2 Business support of public education significantly increases student achievement. Partnership activities allow students to expand their learning horizons, have more interest in school, earn better grades, and realize a deeper understanding of their role in society as it relates to becoming productive citizens. The school system’s strength and success are directly linked to the generous contributions of talent and resources from community and business partners. At every school, valuable PTA/PTSA/PTO partnerships support our mission to reach, challenge, and prepare each student for success. Countywide, the PTA Council of Frederick County is a key systemic partner. We thank them for their dedication and commitment. 3 EMPOWERED LEARNERS LINKING YOUTH TO NEW EXPERIENCES LYNX partnerships continued to expand during the During the 2019-2020 school year: 2019-2020 school year! y More than 700 Frederick High students LYNX -- Linking Youth to New eXperiences -- participated in at least one exploratory LYNX brings together students at Frederick High School experience (with 69 on-campus experiences, with partners from local businesses, community 38 off-campus experiences, and 19 college organizations, and institutions of higher education. visits held prior to schools closing due to the During the first three years of implementation, over COVID-19 pandemic). 140 partners have supported LYNX by working directly y All 10th graders participated in a monthly “soft with Frederick High students and guiding them to skills” instructional series with 20 of our LYNX become empowered learners and engaged citizens. partners on topics including “The Importance Our partners report that LYNX enables them to give of First Impressions” and “How to Build Your back to the community, recruit tomorrow’s generation Network of Contacts.” of workers, and provide information about their y Seniors benefited from LYNX partners’ businesses and organizations. As one LYNX partner expertise during Mock Interviews...and shared: received some job offers as a result! “Personally, I walk away from every meeting, every Students continued to learn from LYNX partners via session, and every interaction feeling successful if “virtual LYNX experiences” and recorded interviews I know my contribution has made even the smallest during the COVID-19 school closure through June 2020. difference in a student’s life. Impacting one student in an entire class is a win. Professionally, I have made Thank you, LYNX partners, for continuing to innovate connections to other like-minded business partners. with FCPS and expand opportunities and access for I have also brought in business partners who, I felt, our students! would enhance the LYNX program. This is all about changing lives, preparing kids for tomorrow, and bettering our workforce and communities.” LYNX partners contribute to the success of Frederick High students in grades 9-12 by providing a continuum of experiential learning opportunities, including career exploration, “soft skills” instruction, and work-based learning experiences (job placements, internships, and apprenticeships). Annual surveys consistently confirm a high level of student satisfaction with LYNX partnership experiences, and data indicates that student participation in work-based learning experiences increased 85% between Year 1 and Year 3 of LYNX! 4 5 Brook Lane: A Continuum of Mental Health Services Brook Lane is a nonprofit mental health facility with PHP provides tutoring space, office essentials, and a mission to help individuals improve their emotional direct mental health staff to assist the teacher. A PHP and behavioral well-being through education nurse practitioner serves as a liaison between FCPS and treatment. FCPS signed a memorandum of and Brook Lane to facilitate discussions with parents understanding with Brook Lane Behavioral Health requesting approval for student services. PHP staffs Services, Inc. to provide hospital teaching services each tutoring session with at least one mental health to support students enrolled in Brook Lane’s Partial associate and validates student attendance. Hospitalization Program (PHP) in Frederick. FCPS and PHP regularly collaborate with the FCPS agreed to hire, pay, and supervise a home FCPS Community Agency School Services (CASS) and hospital teacher to tutor all students enrolled coordinator, FCPS pupil personnel worker, and PHP in Brook Lane so education can continue for our representative to address logistical concerns and students at the facility while they participate in planning. Together, we support students’ educational mental health treatment programs. Two 45-minute needs during their time of crisis. blocks of tutoring are provided to keep students on track with schoolwork. The tutoring focuses on core academic subjects, based upon work the school has provided the child’s parent. 6 SHIP: Support for Students Experiencing Homelessness Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership placement. Students receive school supplies, (SHIP) is a nonprofit public charity that provides transportation, and summer learning opportunities. critical resources and urgent services to hundreds of SHIP’s New Horizons program is instrumental Frederick County youth experiencing homelessness. in increasing on-time graduation for students As an FCPS partner, SHIP helps students realize experiencing homelessness. Of the program’s their potential and complete their education, participants, 72% of the high school seniors equipping them to break the cycle of poverty. SHIP graduated, compared with 67% of students receives support from several community-based experiencing homelessness without the benefit of organizations as well as from the federal McKinney- New Horizons. The high school dropout rate of New Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Horizons’ participants was 0%, compared with 8% of Assistance Act that ensures immediate enrollment nonparticipants experiencing homelessness. and educational stability for homeless children and FCPS is proud to partner with SHIP in assisting youth. SHIP supports students and their families students experiencing homelessness, helping them with housing options, health services, clothing, earn academic credits, gain job and life skills, and personal hygiene items, after-school and other youth receive additional support to foster future success. activities and experiences such as music lessons, camps, sports programs, driver training,