“Finding Your Future” A proposal for giving students CHOICES for their future

 Number of CI Students - 18  Number of ASD Students - 14  Number of LD Students  Total Students who could be involved in program: 179 total Students (Not including OHI)

 Reading Levels - Students functioning between a Pre-primer and same-grade level equivalent according to the KTEA-II  CI Student Classes: Pre-primer to English 10  Mathematic Levels - Students functioning between 1st grade to same-grade equivalent according to the KTEA-II  CI Student Classes: 1 st grade to Geometry

One additional teacher (Upper CI) Two teachers Total (One Upper CI/LD/ASD and one Lower CI/LD/ASD) One job coach (Two total Para’s for programs) Pilot with 4-5 Students Using businesses we already have relationship with and gaining more (Post-High Program) = Lots of forms to sign Built-in Transition Course A replacement for MMC classes for CI Students One big CHOICE to make: “Are we maximizing Student Success and Independence in Transition?”

Complete 4 Years of High School MMC DiplomaCollegeWorkforce Certificate of Attendance Referral to Post-High

 Students either receive a Diploma, drop-out, or receive Certificate of Attendance and referral to Post-High School program  Students lack of options create a lack of hope  Speaking to students they feel unprepared for the world after high school.  Students are required to take classes that may not benefit their needs just to satisfy the MMC  Some students will not receive a diploma because they can’t pass one class (Algebra II)

 Diploma  Opportunities for Employment  Feeling of Success  Able to check the box on any job application  Admission to college  Certificate of Attendance  Continuing School through Post-High Program  Unemployed  Collecting SSI Checks  Lost purpose for academics

Diploma CollegeWorkforce Diploma through Personal Curriculum Vocational Program Workforce Certificates of Attendance Post-High Referral Part-time Workforce

 Individualized plan that is done with the IEP and EDP that addresses specifically the students future through current needs.  This allows the student to earn a high school diploma  Can replace pieces of the MMC with personalized plan for diploma

-Currently don’t have any minimum requirements - LCS doesn’t have a model or a baseline for it either

 Creating  Hope with  Occupational and  Individual  Curriculum through  Educational  Supports

CHOICES is a class designed to help students learn and practice job skills. Business owners throughout the Lapeer area participate by providing worksites where on-the-job training can take place. Students learn job related attitudes and skills in the classroom and are then able to practice and use that training on supervised jobsites during their education at the high school. Can replace classes required for MMC Curriculum

Additional enrollment through our unique programEqual opportunities for students of diverse learning abilitiesCreating more CHOICES for our studentsDeveloping future contributors to societyA more favorable view of LCS in the community and ISD

Benefits to Student Clarify career goals Use state ‐ of ‐ the art techniques and equipment Develop professional relationships to broaden employment options Apply classroom theory to a realistic work setting Prepare for full ‐ time employment Typically earn higher wages than non WBL students

Benefits to Employer Contribute to the enrichment of education and community partnerships Connect school ‐ based and work ‐ based training Have access to reliable, motivated, and skilled individuals Screen students for part ‐ time employment and possible removal from the program. Promote communication between school and community Provide source for future workers who have learned first ‐ hand about your business

Benefits to School and District Develop a shared relationship with the business world Make the school more relevant to the needs of the students Encourage greater community support Improve placement and employment rate of graduates Offer the student access to equipment not available at school

 Become expert in developing personal curriculum’s and be able to write them to adhere to Michigan State Laws.  Manage job placements and teach transition skills  LRC, Co-Teach and Academic Support depending on the trimester and needs for the school  A new position will be necessary because caseload will become unmanageable with amount of students in addition to legal knowledge of a personal curriculum

How many students are we able to help with this? - According to our numbers we currently have 178 students in 8- 11th grade with a label of ASD, CI, or LD not including the OHI students - Almont is a smaller district running this program and they currently have 60 students on IEP’s - Using the same ratio we would be able to identify 12 students right off the bat who would be able to receive a diploma through a PC -Of those 12, six would pilot for WBL – CHOICES Experience - Also, in speaking to teacher’s at both Lapeer East and West, there are many students who are just getting by in Algebra II or other classes, who could benefit from a Personal Curriculum

 Ability to schedule with greater ease to ensure LINKS for ALL Students  Allows students to grow and learn on their own without interference from those socially and academically superior  Less time together in groups bigger than 20 students  More individual attention for students who need it most

 Every student is important  Education is a key that opens opportunities for every person  Challenging expectations result in greater achievement and success  A safe, respectful, and positive learning environment  A school culture that nurtures a life-long love of learning  A commitment to continuous improvement  Being in a dynamic organization in a competitive and ever-changing world  Student success requires effort and commitment from themselves, other students, family, school staff, and the entire community  A successful school district is dependent upon qualified and dedicated staff who are valued and supported

Mission Statement Lapeer Community Schools is a dynamic community organization embracing our students with a quality learning environment, developing independent and confident learners for the future Vision Statement Excellence in all we do for our students, our schools and our community through Continuous improvement Diligent effort; and Innovative design CHOICESCHOICES

Why should we pilot the program next year? Over-crowding in the CI classroom due to increased academic rigor from the State of Michigan Give students hope who otherwise see school as a waste of time A great addition to “Lapeer High School” after we have done this on a smaller level first Can we really in good conscience allow another student come through our district and not receive a diploma because of academic difficulty in one area?