Whatever It Takes for Student Success

Ken Kaser

University of Houston

Conrad Hilton College

Strategies to Increase Student Involvement and

Ownership at School

Key Players for Student Success

Students Parents Administrators Teachers Business Leaders

Sparking Student Interest In School

Opportunities Accomplishments Rewards Teamwork Leadership Friendships Networking Success

Advantages Gained from Student Involvement

At risk students take greater interest in school.

Students take greater ownership and pride in the school.

Greater student involvement lowers the dropout rate.

Classroom accomplishment is related to extra-curricular activities

Greater student involvement in the school results in better national test scores.

Advantages Gained from Student Involvement

Students become actively involved in community service.– Adopt Assisted Care Centers– Teach Younger Students

Strategies for Success on State and National Assessment Tests

– Take Responsibility in the Community

How to Increase Student Involvement in School Organizations

Send out mass mailings to students and their parents before school starts to let them know about all of the opportunities that student organizations and sports have to offer.

Emphasize the opportunity for scholarships, leadership, and healthy competition.

Involving Parents in the Process

Encourage all parents to get involved.

Send letters to parents in English and Spanish to attend Parents’ Back to School Night.

Involving Parents in the Process

Compliment parents for positive involvement in their child’s education.

Ask a diverse group of parents to help with student organization events.

Send positive letters to parents.

Ask parents to help with chaperone needs.

Involving Parents in the Process

Call parents to get acquainted and to encourage them to attend awards banquets and other student events.

Encourage students to attend meetings with their parents to act as interpreters for parents who speak a different language.

Involving Parents in the Process

Hold a Health Fair on Back to School Night and during other events that parents attend at school.

Give door prizes from grocery stores and other local merchants to increase parent interest in attending meetings at school.

Involving Parents in the Process

Create a comfortable environment at school for parents.

Involve a more diverse segment of the parent population, especially cultures that tend to be shy.

Meet with parents before student competitions to inform them about conferences and to give them opportunities to participate more in the process.

Why Administrators Should Be Interested Test Scores Go Up Dropout Rate Goes

Down Student Achievement

Increases Attendance Goes Up School Reputation is

Strengthened in the Community, State, and Nation

Positive publicity for the school

Need to Get all Teachers Involved

Student success depends on the participation of all teachers.

Teachers must work as a team, supporting all student organizations.

Student ownership in the school depends upon the leadership of teachers.

The Business Community is a Vital Link Business leaders

want strong schools to attract more people and business to the community.

Sale of real estate depends upon good schools.

How to Get the Business Community Involved in the School Business leaders

participate in school career days.

Business leaders act as Coop and Internship Worksites for Students.

Business leaders act as mentors to students.

How to Get the Business Community Involved in the School Business leaders serve on

advisory boards for different disciplines in the school.

Businesses act as Coop and Internship Worksites for Students.

Business leaders act as mentors for students

How to Get the Business Community Involved in the School Business leaders are

great speakers for the classroom.

Business leaders offer students new, exciting opportunities.– Academy of Finance– Internships with

Professional Sports Teams

How to Get the Business Community Involved in the School Business leaders are good

judges for competitive events (DECA, FBLA, BPA)

Business leaders offer professional conferences to broaden the perspective for teachers and students.

The professional network between business leaders, students, teachers, and administrators is awesome!

Publicize the Good Things Happening at School.

Publish good news stories and pictures of students in the city and local newspaper for the neighborhood.

Use the marquee in front of the school to make important announcements about meetings and accomplishments.

Publish good news stories and pictures of students in the school newspaper.

Publicize the Good Things Happening at School.

Take time to make positive announcements on the PA at school.

E-mail faculty and administrators good news stories about students.

Hold awards ceremonies/banquets and invite family, friends, and the school community.

Publish good news on the school district, individual school and related business partner websites.

Positive End Results of Greater Student Involvement in Organizations at School

Higher Test Scores Greater Student

Accountability (UIL Rules) Student Ownership of

School Greater Student

Commitment Higher Graduation Rates

for At Risk Students

Positive End Results of Greater Student Involvement in Organizations at School

Better Attendance at School

Accountability Less Likelihood of

Involvement in Destructive Activities

Students Become Serious About Their Future Education and Careers

Positive End Results of Greater Student Involvement in Organizations at School

School becomes a tight-knit community.

Departments within the school work together using an interdisciplinary approach.

The business community and parents take a greater interest in school.

School becomes a stronger force in the community.

Real estate values increase. Students take ownership in

their community.

Positive End Results of Greater Student Involvement in Organizations at School

A greater percentage of at-risk students graduate and make plans for their futures.

More parents take an active role in the school community.

Greater pride is instilled in the school community. The business community reaps rewards from a

successful, active school. A strong school community that actively engages

all students results in less crime and more student success

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