The Performance Learning The Performance Learning CenterCenter®®

Empowering Students for a Lifetime of Success

CIS Small Schools Model Promoting Graduation and College Readiness

Rich Firth, Director, Performance Learning Center InitiativeCommunities In Schools of Virginia

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Our Mission

To connect needed community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life.

The nation’s leading community-based organization helping kids stay in school and prepare for life

Works with 3,400 public schools through more than 200 local affiliates, 15 state offices and 49,000

volunteers who donate more than 2.8 million hours of service

Impacts nearly 1.2 million students annually, with access to two million students

About Communities In Schools

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Our Formula for SuccessThe Five CIS Basics

Every child needs and deserves:

– A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult

– A safe place to learn and grow

– A healthy start and a healthy future

– A marketable skill to use upon graduation

– A chance to give back to peers and community

What We Do

The Communities In Schools Network

2 Million Kids

National Office

State Offices

Local Offices

The national, state and local CIS offices work synergistically to serve children and families in 27 states and the District of Columbia.

Measurable Results

80%88%

82% 83% 81%

3.5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

ImprovedAttendance

ImprovedBehavior

ImprovedAchievement

Promotion Rate GraduationRate

Dropout Rate

8

The Performance Learning The Performance Learning CenterCenter®®

Empowering Students for a Lifetime of Success

CIS Small Schools Model Promoting Graduation, College Readiness, and

Workforce Development

Why the Performance Learning Why the Performance Learning Center?Center?

To serve students who are not succeeding in the traditional high school setting, particularly those students who: Are chronically late or absent

Have a lack of interest in school and learning

Demonstrate poor academic achievement (with average or above average ability)

Are unable to cope with structured school environment

Are facing non-academic challenges to success (pregnancy, poverty, lack of health care, etc.)

Are at high risk of dropping out of school

The Most At-Risk Youth

• Only 60% of low-income students can expectto graduate from high school

• Only 1 in 3 low-income students will enroll in college

• Only 1 in 7 low-income students will earn a bachelor’s degree

Educational Policy Improvement Center, 2007

PLC Strategy PLC Strategy “The 4 Rs“The 4 Rs”

Results

Rigorous academics

Relevant instruction

Relationships that motivate

P

RODUCT I VI T Y TIME

The Performance Learning Center meets students at their current academic skill and social development levels, as opposed to where they “should” be. Through the development of healthy relationships and a relevant and rigorous instructional program, students develop academically and socially and are prepared to move to the next level educationally, vocationally and as citizens.

How to GRADUATE

How to THINK

High School Graduation

Credits, NovaNET, End-of-Course Test, High School Graduation Tests

Beyond Graduation

Service Learning, Teamwork, Critical Thinking Skills / Presentation, Project Based Learning (PBL), Senior Project / Dual Enrollment, Internships

PLC STUDENTS’ SUCCESSPLC STUDENTS’ SUCCESS

CIS Performance Learning CenterFramework

High Tech/ High TouchCurriculum

Professional Training

Environment

Self-Managed Performance

Track

Community Engagement

Positive School Climate

Post -Graduation Preparation

Business like environment A clean, neat, well-organized facility Appropriate language Appropriate clothing Emphasis on productivity

An attractive, well-designed, orderly facility that conveys respect for the individual, creates student pride and stimulates

performance

Professional Training

Environment

Individual Development Plan (IDP) 80% Performance minimum level Performance standards on projects, service learning 95% attendance minimum Employability/Career Development Emphasize on college

Student-staff partnership directed towards achieving objectives

Self-ManagedPerformance

Track

Anger management, stress management, decision making, healthy habits and negotiating skills courses Self-image development Goal setting Values clarification Written and oral communication Teamwork

An environment that generates self-confidence, active participation and

productive behavior

Positive School Climate

Self-paced computer curriculum, projects, service learning and internships Project based learning Student responsible for learning Technology skills Learning facilitators Student Advisement

The integration of computer technology and caring adults

High Tech/High

TouchCurriculu

m

Career Development Curriculum Internships/ Job Shadowing College/ Technical School Preparation Post-Graduation Pursuits Continued education, full-time employment or military One year follow-up: “Aftercare” Alumni responsibilities

Plans ready to activate upon graduation

Post-graduationPreparation

City, county and community as classroom Health and human services connections Cultural, artistic and intellectual experiences Service learning and Internships opportunities Mentor connections

Community as a Resource

Community Engagement

PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTER

Student Road Map to Success

C H A R T I N G F O R S U C C E S S

S E R V I C E L E A R N I N G

Referral

Interview/IntakeProcess

IndividualDevelopment

Plan

Instructional Day

Scheduling

Capstone

Graduation

Career/College

Graduation

MentorProgram

College Readiness

L I F E S K I L L S

PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTER

LEA

ACADEMIC COORDINATOR

LEARNING FACILITATOR

LEARNING FACILITATO

R

LEARNING FACILITATOR

LEARNINGFACILITATOR

LEARNING FACILITATO

R

SERVICESCOORDINATOR

CIS LOCALNETWORK AFFILIATE

CIS STATEORGANIZATION

PARENTSVOLUNTEERS/MENTORS

COMMUNITY

ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT

PLC Curriculum

Comprehensive On-line Courseware (NovaNet)

Project-Based Learning

Charting for Success & College Transitions

Service Learning

Internships

Dual Enrollment

Test Preparation

Supplemental Curriculum

(Curriculum Pathways, USATest Prep, Rosetta Stone)

Results

• 91% of PLC students improved their academic average while in the program.

• Average Change: On average, students came to PLC with an average in academic subjects of 68.3 in traditional schools. While at PLC, students averaged 82.5 in academic subjects, an average gain of 15.8 points.

PLC Results2006-2007

Academic ImprovementsAcademic Improvements

Prior Academic Average - 68.3

PLC Academic Average - 82.5

Improvement - 14.2 points

GraduationGraduation

Since the inception during the 2003 school year, 2050 students have graduated from PLCs.

75% of PLC students classified as seniors at the beginning of the year graduated in 2007

DisciplineDiscipline

89.7% of our students have a history of disciplinary problems.Average change: 7.4 suspensions per year prior to enrollment and 1.4 suspensions per year while at the PLC.

Attendance ImprovementAttendance Improvement

Prior Absences - 10.9

PLC Absences - 6.5

Reduction - 4.4

PLC Expansion2007-08

– 29 PLCs in GA– 4 PLCs in NC– 1 PLC in VA– 1 PLC in WA

35 PLCs

3,600 students

2008-09 & 2009-10– 30 PLCs in GA– 8 PLCs in NC– 3 PLCs in VA– 2 PLCs in WA– 3 PLCs in PA– 1 PLC in NJ

47 PLCs

5,000 students

Alternative High School Initiative

What is AHSI? Outcomes• The Alternative High Schools Initiative

(AHSI) represents a network of organizations and schools working with the most at-risk youth

• Over 200 AHSI schools as of September 2007

• All are unique, but share common design elements:

–authentic learning, teaching & performance assessment

–personalized school culture–shared leadership & responsibility–supportive partnerships–a focus on students’ futures

• CIS is one of the models in this network, and CIS learning communities have seen an increase in student school completion rates, a decrease in violence and disruptions, and an increase in attendance and academic achievement

• A handful of grantees in the network—including the Big Picture Company, Maya Angelou and Portland Community College—have schools that have sent more than 70 percent of their students to further learning after high school

The AHSI Network

Big Picture CompanyBlack Alliance for Educational OptionsCommunities In SchoolsDiploma PlusEdVisionsGateway to CollegeGood Shepherd ServicesNational Association of Street Schools National League of CitiesSee Forever Maya AngelouYouthBuild USA

http://www.ahsi.info/index.htm