Selection Criteria for College Access and Student Success ...



PART I: Application Face Sheet

College Access and Student Success Programming

1. Funding Requested: Project Year 2009-2010 $ __5000____________

2. School name sponsoring/administering the program: ___Freedom High School__________________

3. School County/District: Burke County Public Schools

4. Approximate number of students who will be served by the program: 223

5. Contact Information (Program Coordinator): Mr. Ms. Dr.

Name: Dr. Ken Prichard

Title: Principal

Department/Division: Freedom High School

School Address: 511 Independence Blvd.

City: Morganton State: NC Zip Code: 28655

Phone: 433-1310 Fax: 439-8420 E-mail kprichard@burke.k12.nc.us

Home Address: 101 Newland St.

City: Morganton State: NC Zip Code: 28655

Phone: 770-856-6605 Fax: E-mail kprichard@burke.k12.nc.us

| |

|NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ATTENDING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS |

| | | | | |

|Academic School Year |Size of 9th Grade |# Enrolled Beginning of Senior|# Graduating |# Actually enrolled in 2- |

| |Cohort* |Year |from High School |or 4-yr. Institutions |

| | | | | |

|Class of 2009 | | | | |

| | | | | |

|Class of 2008 | | |77.3% | |

| | | | | |

|Class of 2007 | | |72.8% | |

| | | | | |

|Class of 2006 | | |61.3% | |

*Number of students who were enrolled during their ninth grade enrollment period.

Data retrieved by the NCDPI/Accountability Services site.

6. Certification and Signature: To the best of my knowledge, the information contained in this application is accurate and I understand that our county/district is expected to provide a minimum $5000 match in dollars or in-kind service:

Name of Superintendent (print): Mr. Rick Sherrill

Signature of Superintendent/Date:

II. Abstract

Freedom High School, in Morganton, North Carolina, is seeking a grant to expand the services and programs currently offered to our student body in order that we might include seniors who are not part of the GEAR UP cohort. The objectives on which we intend to focus are to increase the high school graduation rate and further develop students’ college awareness and readiness, as well as assist 95% of the current senior class in completing college and financial aid applications. In order to develop students’ interest in post-secondary education, programs will be implemented by the school advisement committee, along with the help of community partners – Western Piedmont Community College and the Education Committee of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce. Based on the success of events conducted by the GEAR UP program, the grant will replicate many of the same programs but will offer those mainly to seniors not served by GEAR UP this year. Funding in the amount of $8035 is requested to fund transportation for college visits, as well as a University You day for seniors and their parents at the local community college, parent/student informational meetings, and tuition assistance that would provide a book fund for students participating in concurrent enrollment classes at the community college. Funding will also be used for the purchase of additional sets of test prep books, for professional development for the grant coordinator, and for a license with the National School Clearinghouse.

III. Program Narrative

A. Freedom High School serves students in the western-most section of Burke County. Historically, this area has not required an educated workforce due to the number of furniture and textile factories. However, in the past five years, many blue collar jobs that were available to those with little or no education have disappeared as factories have begun to close. Families, who for several generations counted on employment at these factories, are finding that they can no longer rely on being able to find a job easily – especially if they have not earned even a high school diploma. Until recently, students have been lackadaisical in their attitude toward the pursuit of a college degree or even technical training following high school. According to information obtained in the last census, the percent of Burke County individuals without a four year degree is 87.2%. This is only slightly lower than two of the surrounding counties. In 2006, the Appalachian Regional Commission designated Burke County a “Transitional” county. Since that time, a downturn in the economy has created financial hardships for many families as well as for the school system. In June 2009, the unemployment rate in Burke County increased to 14.9%. It is projected that there will be an increase in the number of students at Freedom High School requesting assistance from the Free and Reduced Lunch program. Last year, 54.84% of the student body had applied for and received this service. This corresponds with the data provided by the USDA’s Economic Research Service showing that the poverty rate (2007) in Burke County is 16%, compared to the state poverty rate of 14.3%. An additional financial burden to the school system has been the cut in state and county funding. Simply put, the resources are not available. Confidence in the ability of the Burke County School Board has diminished since a SACS report, released last month, spotlighted many areas of concern. Students and parents alike are confused and disillusioned about the state of education and the many opportunities that a college degree would provide.

B. Goals and Objectives: The goals this grant would enable Freedom High School to accomplish include increasing the number of students applying to college and for financial aid, as well as increasing students’ interest in pursuing a post-secondary degree or technical training. One objective the Advisement Committee has set is that all senior advisement teachers will create a portfolio for their advisees in which the student will place a copy of his or her completed FAFSA and confirmation letters from online college applications. In 2009, nearly 90% of seniors surveyed reported they planned to attend college.* However, this number contrasted sharply with the number who reported they had actually applied for college and/or had completed a FAFSA. Among the reasons cited for not applying to college were:

- I don’t understand how to do it online.

- I thought it was too late.

- I didn’t think my grades were good enough.

- My counselor said she was too busy to assist me.

Those who reported not completing a FAFSA provided the following reasons:

- I don’t know how to do it.

- I don’t know where my (or my parent’s/s’) tax information is.

- I don’t have computer access at home.

- I didn’t think I would qualify for financial aid.

Another objective, set by the school leadership team, is improving students’ college readiness by implementing a more uniform approach to teaching through the development of departmental syllabi, common pacing guides, and lesson plans that reflect the use of college preparatory materials. Students have a clear idea of the educational expectations of the faculty and will be asked to perform at higher levels. This includes the idea of completing the SAT and/or ACT (for those students who have considered attending a 4 year college or university) or taking the placement test required by the community college (for those planning on a 2 year degree or the 2 year + transfer). In order to assist students in meeting testing goals, several testing opportunities will be provided. The SAT will be offered both semesters, and arrangements are being made to offer a “group test” to high school seniors interested in taking the placement test for Western Piedmont Community College.

C. Plan of Operation: Many of the services outlined have been coordinated by the GEAR UP coordinator for the cohort students. This grant will allow seniors to “piggyback” on these existing services and will also provide funding for seniors to have services that are exclusively theirs and which support their college goals.

1. 5 college visits: WCU Teachers of Tomorrow Reaching to Teach conference Oct. 6th, NC A & T fall open house, NCSU spring visit TBD, “University YOU” at WPCC spring semester, and an overnight visit to ASU. These trips will be planned by Dr. Prichard and the GEAR UP coordinator and will be offered to those students who have not yet participated in GEAR UP activities and to seniors who have expressed an interest in attending those colleges.

2. (No-cost) College Day: held at FHS in the fall and offered to all juniors and seniors. Representatives from across the state will share information with students interested in applying to colleges and universities. This event is coordinated by guidance counselors and has been in place for several years. This is currently the sole school-wide effort to increase senior awareness of college opportunities.

3. (No-cost) Career Day: held at FHS in the spring and offered to all students. Community partners from the Chamber of Commerce will serve as volunteers and will present information about careers and the education needed to pursue those careers. This event will be planned by Dr. Prichard and the GEAR UP coordinator, working in conjunction with the Burke County Chamber of Commerce and its members. This is the first event of its kind and will seek to engage students through demonstrations and lectures.

4. The purchase of 50 SAT test prep books and 50 ACT prep books: for use in sophomore, junior, and senior advisements as well as available to classroom teachers. This order will be completed by the grant coordinator and will be completed by October. One classroom set of SAT prep books is currently available and the purchase of additional books will allow more students to have access to the information.

5. Participation in the SREB conference held Feb. 1 -3 in Hilton Head, SC: “Quality Teaching: Creating Schools That Engage Students Intellectually, Emotionally, Behaviorally, & Socially.” Grant coordinator will join those educators already scheduled to attend (via GEAR UP funding) and will provide professional development to the faculty in the spring, focusing on engaging those students who believe they are not “college material.”

6. Two Senior Nights for students and parents, focusing on applying and paying for college. The grant coordinator will work with the senior guidance counselor, the GEAR UP coordinator, and the CFNC representative to organize and conduct these informational meetings. Topics will include how to apply to college, how to read a transcript, how to complete a FAFSA, and an overview of high school graduation requirements. Spring semester senior night, occurring in February, will include the creation of a portfolio that contains a transcript, a FAFSA form, and contact information for colleges and universities to which the student has applied (during College Application Week or later).

7. Membership in the National School Clearinghouse. Having a license will enable the school to provide data to students, parents, educators, and the community. This will be arranged by the grant coordinator.

8. Provisions for the acquisition of textbooks for those students participating in concurrent enrollment at the community college (spring semester). Students in need of financial assistance to purchase math, science, or technology texts will apply to the grant coordinator for assistance. Monies will be allocated based on need. This will prevent students from dropping courses for which expensive textbooks are required.

D. Evaluation plan: The effectiveness of this project will be measured by the graduation cohort data provided by the NSC and by NCDPI Accountability Services. Freedom High School is in desperate need of having a reliable method of tracking students and the use of the NSC system will provide reliable data on which further programs can be developed. As the grant is being implemented, data will be collected through the use of surveys and sign in sheets, as well as by evaluation forms completed by participants in each event. Accurate and timely data required by the grant will be collected by the grant coordinator and will be shared with the GEAR UP coordinator and the superintendent.

BUDGET

|Category |Item |Federal Funds |Matching Funds |

|Personnel | | | |

| |Coordinator (4.5%) | |$4500 |

| |Volunteers from community partners| |$500 |

| |& use of facilities | | |

|Travel | | | |

| |3 college visits for students, 860|$860 | |

| |miles @ $1/m.* | | |

| |Coordinator travel to SREB |$375 travel**, (other expenses | |

| |conference Hilton Head, SC |paid by GEAR UP) | |

| |Feb. 1 – 3 | | |

| |1 overnight college visit for 30 |$630 | |

| |students @ $21/student (3 meals @ | | |

| |$7 per meal card) | | |

|Supplies | | | |

| |SAT & ACT Prep Books, 100 @ |$900 | |

| |$9/each (includes tax & shipping) | | |

| |Folders for sr. portfolios |$210 | |

| |Postage to mail information to |$150 | |

| |parents | | |

| |Food for parent/student |$600 | |

| |meetings(2x year) $3 per person x| | |

| |100 x 2 *** | | |

|Other |License for the National School |$475 | |

| |Clearinghouse | | |

| |Tuition assistance for college |$800 | |

| |textbooks – concurrent enrollment | | |

| |students | | |

|Total | |$5000 |$5000 |

|*mileage rates are based on the BCPS |**travel reimbursement is per the |***cost of food for parent night | |

|rate of $1/mile for the use of an |state rate of .55/mile |is below the recommended state | |

|activity bus | |rate | |

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