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AUTHOR TITLE

INSTITUTION PUB DATE NOTE PUB TYPE EDRS PRICE DESCRIPTORS

CG 027 832

Snyder, Jon D.; Spindel, Ann Stacking the Odds: A National Directory of Exemplary Programs. Indiana Youth Inst., Indianapolis.

97 203p.

Reference Materials Directories/Catalogs (132) MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. Adolescents; Career Counseling; *Directories; *Long Range Planning; Post High School Guidance; Program Descriptions; Program Development; Program Guides; *Pupil Personnel Services; School Counseling; School Counselors; Secondary Education; Secondary School Students; Student Needs

ABSTRACT

A recent study found that many students have dreams for the

future, but many of them are on paths that do not lead to that future. Many

institutions are already taking steps to close the gap between aspirations

and reality, and some of the programs that are working to stack the odds in

children's favor are profiled in this directory. Educational research

indicates that visits to successful programs motivates visitors by allowing them to see how the process works and by showing them the power of possibility. This directory is intended as a resource that individuals or institutions can refer to when looking for ways to help students and to

locate financial aid, counseling programs, and other information. The program

descriptions are designed to provide sufficient information to pique interest

and to encourage a site visit. The directory helps identify programs that may

support readers' needs. It is organized around the focus of project activities. Exemplary sites fall into four domains: (1) Pathways in schools; (2) Pathways into Postsecondary Institutions; (3) Pathways into work; and (4) Pathways to families and communities. Sites are also grouped into geographical clusters. Further information on mini-grants, such as the school

counselor project, is also provided. Appended is a partial list of

organizations listed by state who supported this work and continue to engage

in efforts to promote programs that enhance education and career options for

young people. (RJM)

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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made

*-

from the original document.

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C.

Stacking the Odds

High Hopes, Long Odds

^

_

Meeting the Challenge

A National Directory of Exemplary Programs

Jon D. Snyder

Director of Teacher Education Graduate School of Education University of California, Santa Barbara

Ann Spindel

Educational Consultant Scarsdale Group

"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY

St tr.,brtx.) cA,

TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."

The

Indiana...

Youth Institute

Worldng with adults who care about youth

9

U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Once of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION

CENTER (ERIC) O This document hSS been reproduces, as

received from the person or organization originating it O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality.

Points of view or opinions stated in this clocumen! do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.

RFCT nnpv AWN, A DI

Authors' Acknowledgments

First and foremost, we thank the people and programs whose labor and commitment are evident on every page of this document. Second, we received an incredible amount of information from the people and projects we have listed in the Resource Guide. The time and expertise they gave to us was indispensable to our work. We also gratefully acknowledge the researchers who traveled to the sites and provided us with the concrete information that allowed us to recommend these sites for visitations: Sally Cato, Leticia Fickel, Victor Geraci, Kyle Haver, Connie Ruff, Ann Sabatini, and Dolores Wisdom. We have also been blessed by wise and supportive counsel from Joseph Huse, Stephanie Hasbrouck, Joan Lipsitz, and Susie De Hart. As all writers know, we owe a debt of gratitude to our editor, Jean B. Rose. We also cannot forget the hard work of Judy Reuter, our graphic designer. Finally, though they deserve much more than a line in the acknowledgments, "Thank you," to the members of our families who lived through this work with us Cinda, J.B., and Paul.

About the Indiana

ITnhde iana Youth Institute

I

Youth Institute

The Indiana Youth

ll.brIong with adults

who case aDout youtn Institute (IYI), is an

intermediary organiza-

tion which promotes attentiveness to

Indiana's young people and those who work

on their behalf; encourages policies and

programs that foster healthy development of

youth; collaborates with state and national

organizations to improve the lives of our

state's young people and ensures that their

voices are heard. IYI promotes the healthy

development of youth by providing research,

training and development, and advocacy

services for adults who serve and influence

the lives of youth.

Authors:

Jon D. Snyder Ann Spindel

Project Coordinator: Stephanie Hasbrouck

Editor:

Jean B. Rose

Designer:

Judy Reuter

Any and all portions of this report may be freely reproduced and circulated without prior permission, pro-

vided the source is cited as Jon D.

Snyder and Ann Spindel,Stacking the Odds: A National Directory of Exemplary Programs (Indianapolis, IN: Indiana Youth Institute, 1997).

4

%am

3

Indiana Youth Institute 3901 N. Meridian St. Suite 200 Indianapolis Indiana 46208-4046 (317) 924-3657 (800) 343-7060 (317) 924-1314

Table of Contents

Stacking the Odds: A National Directory of Exemplary Programs

Introduction to Stacking the Odds

High Hopes, Long Odds

5

Function of the Directory

7

How to Use the Directory for Site Visits

8

Site Selection

9

How the Directory is Organized

9

National Site Descriptions

Cross-Reference Grid of National Sites

11

Pathways in Schools.

Introduction

13

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)

15

Alliance for Achievement

18

Destination: Education IUK

21

East Bay Consortium The Pre-Collegiate Academy

24

Get A Life

28

Indian Creek High School

31

Northridge High School Guidance Program

34

Pursuits Program Fort Wayne Community Schools

37

The Governor's School for Government and International Studies

40

The Valley: A Comprehensive Youth Agency

44

Pathways into Postsecondary Institutions

Introduction

47

Asian-American Communities for Education

48

Educational Talent Search

52

Options

54

Upward Bound at Bowdoin College

57

Pathways into Work

Introduction

61

California Partnership Academies Pasadena Unified School District

62

Career Beginnings

66

Fenway Middle College High.School

69

Job Shadowing Program

72

4

Stacking the Odds

Table of Contents

New Way Workers and the Mayor's Youth Employment & Education Program

75

PACE (Partnership for Academic and Career Education)

78

Youth Build Sandtown Project

81

Pathways to Families & Communities

Introduction

85

An Achievable Dream

86

Canton Middle School

89

Crawford Community Connection

92

E=MC2 (Expanding Effective At-Risk Programs = Michigan Communities Making Change)

95

I Care Program

98

Now For The Future

101

Parent Empowerment Project

104

Village to Child

107

Indiana Meeting the Challenge Mini-Grant Project Descriptions

Introduction to Indiana Mini-Grants

111

Cross-Reference Grid of Indiana Mini-Grants

112

School Counselor Mini-Grant Projects

Introduction

113

Bridging the Information Barriers

114

Connections: Opening the Lines of Communication

115

Focus on Your Future

117

Lunch With School Counselors

119

Peer Pathways to Planning

121

PREP Program: Keeping Parents Informed

123

Soaring To Success

125

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

127

Work Force 2000

129

Community Change-Maker Mini-Grant Projects

Introduction

133

Articulation Reducing the Odds

134

Blueprint For Tomorrow's Careers

137

Bridging the Information Gap with Career Planning

139

Career Awareness Initiative

141

Career Pathways: The Labor Market Information Connection

143

Choices 2000

145

Stacking the Odds

Table of Contents

Dreams and Dollars for Parents and Scholars

147

Education and Career Planning for Parents and Students

151

Education and the Workforce: Bringing It All Together

153

The Electronic University

155

Enhancing Career Opportunity Information and the Teaching of Study Skills

157

Fill it UP for MDA

159

Finding a Good Job Becomes Reality

162

Four Years: The Rest of Your Life

163

Future Focus

164

GUIDANCE! A Musical in Three Movements

165

Inspiring Kids to Reach For Their Dreams ... The American Dream

167

L.E.A.P. Project

170

Opportunity Information Project

172

Pike County's Workforce of Tomorrow: Building a Quality Tech Prep Program

173

P.LAN.S. for the Future ... Making Dreams Come True

176

Reduce the Odds, Increase Your Opportunity, Use Labor Market Information

178

Teacher Internships in Industry: Linking Education and Employment

180

The TLC Program: Teens Learning to Care

182

Train The Trainers

185

Two Worlds Transition Pilot Program

187

Appendix

Resources

191

-H

6

a Stacking the Odds

Introduction to

Stacking the Odds

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gntroducticn t @ Seale/ming ghe

High Hopes, Long Odds

I'm overwhelmed by the immorality of what we're doing. I have a vision of my father on the boat and the man on the dock telling him, "You can't make it here. The dream is not for your kids." (High School Counselor)

Stacking the Odds: A National Directory of

Exemplary Programs (Directory) serves as a follow-up to the High Hopes, Long Odds study. High Hopes, Long Odds is a collaborative research project conducted by Dr. Gary Orfield and Dr. Faith Paul, disseminated by the Indiana Youth Institute, and funded by the Lilly Endowment. The three sets of collaborators shared certain centering convictions:

All young people deserve a fair opportunity and caring guidance to see a bright future for themselves and to follow a pathway to that future.

A primary function of education policy and practice is to promote young people's and their parents' aspirations for the future.

Young people and parents need information that helps them match their aspirations with what is possible in the state and national economy.

Families, schools, communities, and policymakers share responsibility for ensuring fair opportunity and providing guidance to young people.

High Hopes, Long Odds documented that children and their families have powerful dreams for their futures. The issue, as the report made clear, was not low aspirations:

Supposedly knowledgeable people have argued for years that teenagers

8

(particularly low-income youth and young people of color) have low educational and vocational aspirations if they think about their future at all. The way to motivate them is to get them to raise their aspirations.

But this view does not match most Indiana teenagers' and their parents' views. Most Hoosier teenagers male and female, white, African-American, Hispanic, rich and poor, urban and rural

have extremely high aspirations. And their parents share these high aspirations.

The issue identified by the study was not a shortage of dreams but rather the long odds faced to make those dreams a reality the challenges to creating and living a future of one's own choosing. For instance, three in four high school seniors think the chances are high they will go to college; yet, even among students in college preparatory programs, only 57% have taken the courses required by all schools and campuses and the numbers in the general and vocational programs shrink to 19% and 14%, respectively. The students do have dreams for the future, but many are on paths that do not lead there. Worse, many students are on paths to the past a past that no longer exists. For instance, while vocational, technical and service jobs still exist, they increasingly require not just a high school degree but also some form of postsecondary education. The old either/or of college or a job is no more. As the report elucidates:

While not all Hoosier students may want to go to college after high school, an ever-increasing number of vocational/ technical jobs and other service positions call for the mathematical, communication

Stacking the Odds

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