Supporting At-Risk Youth Supporting At-Risk Youth in the Development of in the Development of

Programs of StudyPrograms of Study

The Facts About ALS’ Dropout The Facts About ALS’ Dropout Prevention and Recovery Prevention and Recovery

ProgramsPrograms

Jan SpivakJan SpivakDirector of Student Services & Director of Student Services & College and Career ReadinessCollege and Career ReadinessAccelerated Learning SolutionsAccelerated Learning Solutions

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Partners in EducationPartners in Education

ALS schools are located in ALS schools are located in underserved and low-income areas. underserved and low-income areas. 81% of our students live in 81% of our students live in neighborhoods with average household neighborhoods with average household incomes below the state average. 82% incomes below the state average. 82% of the students are eligible for “free and of the students are eligible for “free and reduced lunches”, an indicator of low reduced lunches”, an indicator of low family income. family income.

2013-14 - 21 schools in 7 Florida counties.2013-14 - 21 schools in 7 Florida counties. 2014-15 – 23 schools in Florida, 1 school in 2014-15 – 23 schools in Florida, 1 school in

North CarolinaNorth Carolina www.yourdiplomayourway.com 2

Partners in EducationPartners in Education

Only serve students who have Only serve students who have already dropped out of school or are already dropped out of school or are at-risk of dropping out. at-risk of dropping out. Only 8% of Only 8% of charter schools in the southeastern US charter schools in the southeastern US serve this population of students.serve this population of students.

PartnerPartner with the public schoolswith the public schools to to address the needs of these at-risk address the needs of these at-risk students. As a result, ALS charter students. As a result, ALS charter schools have positive, not adversarial schools have positive, not adversarial relationships with local school districts.relationships with local school districts.

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Partners in EducationPartners in Education

Our students’ performance is attributed Our students’ performance is attributed directly to our schools, not back to the directly to our schools, not back to the students’ “home” high school.  There is students’ “home” high school.  There is no negative impact on their high school’s no negative impact on their high school’s A++ school grade or FCAT scores. A++ school grade or FCAT scores. 

ALS is the only SACS accredited school ALS is the only SACS accredited school management company addressing management company addressing dropout prevention in the state of dropout prevention in the state of Florida. Only 23% of Florida charter high Florida. Only 23% of Florida charter high schools are SACS accredited. schools are SACS accredited.

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Programs of StudyPrograms of Study

Secondary to postsecondary transition.Secondary to postsecondary transition. Helping students define and pursue Helping students define and pursue

career options through counseling and career options through counseling and curricula.curricula.

Exploring all possibilities, and Exploring all possibilities, and establishing specific transition activities establishing specific transition activities for students prior to graduating.for students prior to graduating.

Maintaining a strong level of support Maintaining a strong level of support with all students after graduation. with all students after graduation.

Addressing all factors that can be Addressing all factors that can be barriers to successful transitioning. barriers to successful transitioning.

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Enrollment and ReferralsEnrollment and Referrals

At enrollment, the typical student is:At enrollment, the typical student is: 17 years old with 12 or less high school 17 years old with 12 or less high school

credits previously earnedcredits previously earned Reading at or below the 8Reading at or below the 8thth grade level grade level Three years behind their 9th grade cohort – Three years behind their 9th grade cohort –

90%+ are over-age for expected grade90%+ are over-age for expected grade Academically unsuccessful – 80+% are at Academically unsuccessful – 80+% are at

FCAT (Florida) Level 1 or 2FCAT (Florida) Level 1 or 2 Requiring special services – 10-20% need Requiring special services – 10-20% need

special education accommodations, 12-20% special education accommodations, 12-20% are English language learners and 8-12% are English language learners and 8-12% are parenting, pregnant or caring for other are parenting, pregnant or caring for other childrenchildren 6

Enrollment and ReferralsEnrollment and Referrals

Students enrolling in the dropout Students enrolling in the dropout prevention/recovery program have already prevention/recovery program have already dropped out or have been identified by dropped out or have been identified by their sending school as being at-risk of their sending school as being at-risk of dropping outdropping out

80+% of students are referred by school 80+% of students are referred by school principals and counselors because they principals and counselors because they had been identified as being at-risk of had been identified as being at-risk of dropping out. dropping out.

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Instruction and AssessmentInstruction and Assessment

All classroom teachers are state certified All classroom teachers are state certified and highly qualified in their subject area or and highly qualified in their subject area or are assigned an out of field waiver per No are assigned an out of field waiver per No Child Left Behind requirements.  Many Child Left Behind requirements.  Many have multiple certifications.have multiple certifications.

The instructional program is rigorous and The instructional program is rigorous and aligned to Florida standards.aligned to Florida standards.

All graduates pass the FCAT (or earn All graduates pass the FCAT (or earn concordant score on ACT or SAT) and earn concordant score on ACT or SAT) and earn a standard Florida diploma that is a standard Florida diploma that is accepted by universities, colleges, training accepted by universities, colleges, training programs and the military services. programs and the military services.

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AccountabilityAccountability

Our contracts with sponsoring school districts Our contracts with sponsoring school districts provide for various levels of accountability. provide for various levels of accountability.

School district authorizers hold the charter School district authorizers hold the charter board and the management company to the board and the management company to the academic and financial performance criteria academic and financial performance criteria stated in the charter application.stated in the charter application.

Our partners include secondary, Our partners include secondary, postsecondary, military, and industry leaders postsecondary, military, and industry leaders and representatives.and representatives.

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AccountabilityAccountability

We guarantee to sponsoring districts that We guarantee to sponsoring districts that our students will complete courses and earn our students will complete courses and earn credits faster than these same students credits faster than these same students progressed at their previous schools. progressed at their previous schools.

In Broward County student’s credit earning In Broward County student’s credit earning rate per semester at their prior school was rate per semester at their prior school was 0.93. In the 2012-13 school year, ALS 0.93. In the 2012-13 school year, ALS Broward schools averaged 2.9 credits per Broward schools averaged 2.9 credits per semester. semester.

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AccountabilityAccountability

The Florida Department of Education The Florida Department of Education evaluates our performance.  evaluates our performance.  

Each of our schools participates in the state Each of our schools participates in the state accountability system that compares accountability system that compares Learning Gains among our enrolled students Learning Gains among our enrolled students to the Learning Gains that these same to the Learning Gains that these same students achieved at their prior schools.  students achieved at their prior schools.  

We participate in the state’s extensive We participate in the state’s extensive standardized testing program.  standardized testing program.  

We are also required to submit annual We are also required to submit annual reports to the state Auditor General that reports to the state Auditor General that demonstrate our fiscal soundness.demonstrate our fiscal soundness.

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Student AchievementStudent Achievement

Achieving academic standards, Achieving academic standards, graduating students from high school graduating students from high school and securing postsecondary options and securing postsecondary options for them. for them.

The credit earning rate in ALS schools is The credit earning rate in ALS schools is typically twice what these same students typically twice what these same students achieved in their prior schools (50% increase). achieved in their prior schools (50% increase).

70.5% of ALS students in 2012 graduated or 70.5% of ALS students in 2012 graduated or are continuing their enrollment. are continuing their enrollment.

60+% of graduates in 2012 went on to attend 60+% of graduates in 2012 went on to attend a two/four-year college, trade or technical a two/four-year college, trade or technical school. school.

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Student AchievementStudent Achievement

ALS schools graduated over 2,200 ALS schools graduated over 2,200 students in the last 4 years. Most of students in the last 4 years. Most of these students would not have these students would not have graduated without enrolling in this graduated without enrolling in this program.program.

In the graduating class of 2012, over In the graduating class of 2012, over 76% of graduates from all schools 76% of graduates from all schools indicated intention to enroll in a 2 or indicated intention to enroll in a 2 or 4 year college or university.4 year college or university.

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Programs of StudyPrograms of Study

All students create an electronic All students create an electronic portfolio that includes career portfolio that includes career inventories (interest, ability, aptitude, inventories (interest, ability, aptitude, work skills) and postsecondary Plans of work skills) and postsecondary Plans of Study utilizing Florida CHOICES and Study utilizing Florida CHOICES and School Connect, in relation to their School Connect, in relation to their college and career searches and plans.college and career searches and plans.

All students graduate with a complete All students graduate with a complete postsecondary transition plan.postsecondary transition plan.

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Career CoachCareer Coach

Each school has a Career Coach who:Each school has a Career Coach who: Works closely with students to teach resume Works closely with students to teach resume

writing, develop job skills and search for writing, develop job skills and search for employmentemployment

Facilitates Executive Internship and Personal, Facilitates Executive Internship and Personal, Career and School Development Skills coursesCareer and School Development Skills courses

Assists students in completing employment, Assists students in completing employment, college, and financial aid applicationscollege, and financial aid applications

Schedules visits to postsecondary institutions for Schedules visits to postsecondary institutions for students and parentsstudents and parents

Coordinates college and career speakers and Coordinates college and career speakers and fairsfairs

Completes a Postsecondary Transition Plan with Completes a Postsecondary Transition Plan with all students regardless of grade levelall students regardless of grade level

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Addressing Barriers to Addressing Barriers to Postsecondary SuccessPostsecondary Success

ALS schools provide extensive ALS schools provide extensive social services support and social services support and postsecondary coaching to postsecondary coaching to studentsstudents. . Each school delivers extensive Each school delivers extensive

community-based support services to a community-based support services to a minimum of 300 students per school minimum of 300 students per school annually to address the obstacles that annually to address the obstacles that prevent academic success. prevent academic success.

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Wrap-Around Student ServicesWrap-Around Student Services

ALS schools provide services under 9 ALS schools provide services under 9 primary service categories:primary service categories: Individual/Family/Group CounselingIndividual/Family/Group Counseling Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention Case ManagementCase Management Child careChild care Health and MedicalHealth and Medical Postsecondary PreparationPostsecondary Preparation Employment Assistance/Training/Career Employment Assistance/Training/Career

Development & PlanningDevelopment & Planning Job Opportunities, Internships & Job Opportunities, Internships &

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships MentoringMentoring

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Additional ServicesAdditional Services

Graduating SeniorsGraduating Seniors EXIT InterviewEXIT Interview Postsecondary Transition PlanPostsecondary Transition Plan

Academic InterventionsAcademic Interventions Individual/group supportIndividual/group support State assessment preparationState assessment preparation Other servicesOther services

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Student Services DepartmentStudent Services Department

A Family Support Specialist coordinates A Family Support Specialist coordinates social services, conducts an initial social services, conducts an initial assessment of each student and ensures assessment of each student and ensures that students receive the services that are that students receive the services that are needed to remove barriers to success. needed to remove barriers to success.

A Career Coach advises students on post-A Career Coach advises students on post-secondary options and how to achieve secondary options and how to achieve their preferred choice after graduation.their preferred choice after graduation.

Community Agencies & ProvidersCommunity Agencies & Providers University Bachelor and Graduate Level University Bachelor and Graduate Level

Interns in Social Work, Mental Health Interns in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Teacher Education Counseling, or Teacher Education Programs. Programs. 19

It’s Working!It’s Working!

The contracts for the three schools The contracts for the three schools in Broward, one school in in Broward, one school in Hillsborough, two schools in Lee Hillsborough, two schools in Lee and three schools in Orange and three schools in Orange Counties were due to expire at the Counties were due to expire at the end of the 2012-13 school year. All end of the 2012-13 school year. All of the schools were renewed for of the schools were renewed for terms from 5 to 15 years, and each terms from 5 to 15 years, and each school district board unanimously school district board unanimously voted to renew the contracts. voted to renew the contracts.

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Our AlumniOur Alumni

ALS schools continue to serve ALS schools continue to serve students after graduation.students after graduation.

Alumni provide additional support Alumni provide additional support and facilitate presentations to and facilitate presentations to current students. current students.

Program of Study development and Program of Study development and school support is ongoing for all ALS school support is ongoing for all ALS students.students.

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THANK YOU for your THANK YOU for your PARTNERSHIP!PARTNERSHIP!

Jan SpivakJan SpivakDirector of Student Services & Director of Student Services & College and Career ReadinessCollege and Career ReadinessAccelerated Learning SolutionsAccelerated Learning Solutionsjan.spivak@als-education.com

786-510-3691786-510-3691

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