All About Chicago Talent Development Charter High School Presentation to AIM High Mentors

Goals of Presentation / Provide information about our students / Learn about school curriculum, strategy and supports / Dialogue about best use of mentors / Provide information about our students / Learn about school curriculum, strategy and supports / Dialogue about best use of mentors

School Transformation Model Chicago Talent is part of Diplomas Now, an innovative school turnaround model that unites three experienced non-profit organizations – City Year, Communities In Schools, Center for Talent Development – to work with the nation’s most challenged middle and high schools to deliver the right interventions to the right students at the right time. Chicago Talent is part of Diplomas Now, an innovative school turnaround model that unites three experienced non-profit organizations – City Year, Communities In Schools, Center for Talent Development – to work with the nation’s most challenged middle and high schools to deliver the right interventions to the right students at the right time.

What is Diplomas Now? / Diplomas Now video Diplomas Now video / Diplomas Now video Diplomas Now video

Typical Student / Average Explore Score (2009 freshmen): 12.6 / School Attendance Rates: 87% daily attendance (as reported at end of 1 st Quarter) / On average, our students come to us 2 years behind in math and reading / Average Explore Score (2009 freshmen): 12.6 / School Attendance Rates: 87% daily attendance (as reported at end of 1 st Quarter) / On average, our students come to us 2 years behind in math and reading

Typical Chicago Talent Student (cont’d) / % Free/Reduced Lunch: 98% / Average household income: $22,426 / Common neighborhoods where students reside: West Garfield Park, Austin, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale / % Free/Reduced Lunch: 98% / Average household income: $22,426 / Common neighborhoods where students reside: West Garfield Park, Austin, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale

School Requirements / Requirements to matriculate to next grade: must pass 7 of 8 courses / Chicago Talent has more stringent credit requirements than Chicago Public Schools / Requirements to matriculate to next grade: must pass 7 of 8 courses / Chicago Talent has more stringent credit requirements than Chicago Public Schools

School Curriculum / 4 90-minute classes per day / Double dose of math and reading during first three years / Focus on media and technology / 4 90-minute classes per day / Double dose of math and reading during first three years / Focus on media and technology

Academic Support / City Year Corps Members offer after-school tutoring 4 days a week / Teachers are available for individual help during weekly office hours / City Year Corps Members offer after-school tutoring 4 days a week / Teachers are available for individual help during weekly office hours

College Readiness / Career Jump summer programming / What’s Next Illinois / College Unit of Freshmen Seminar / Career Jump summer programming / What’s Next Illinois / College Unit of Freshmen Seminar

Social Emotional Support / School-wide strategies / Keep the Peace / Morning Meetings / Case Management and group services are provided by Communities In Schools (CIS) / CIS manages partnerships with community organizations to provide additional services (i.e. pregnant & parenting teens) / School-wide strategies / Keep the Peace / Morning Meetings / Case Management and group services are provided by Communities In Schools (CIS) / CIS manages partnerships with community organizations to provide additional services (i.e. pregnant & parenting teens)

Keep the Peace strategy

Challenges Facing Students / Violence in Schools/Communities/Homes / Lacking a true understanding of what it takes to academically, socially, and financially get into and out of college / Lack of intrinsic motivation to do well in school (this is the $20 million question!) / Violence in Schools/Communities/Homes / Lacking a true understanding of what it takes to academically, socially, and financially get into and out of college / Lack of intrinsic motivation to do well in school (this is the $20 million question!)

Our Vision of Mentors’ Roles / How can the mentors help the students be successful? / Social networks / Access to cultural institutions / College “lens” / Instilling a middle class orientation to school and college / How can the mentors help the students be successful? / Social networks / Access to cultural institutions / College “lens” / Instilling a middle class orientation to school and college

Where mentors might be needed most ACADEMIC / Helping your student be on top of their homework, providing homework help / Encouraging 3.0+ GPAs / Showing students benefit of working hard, staying focused and keeping grades up / Get your mentees to read for fun ACADEMIC / Helping your student be on top of their homework, providing homework help / Encouraging 3.0+ GPAs / Showing students benefit of working hard, staying focused and keeping grades up / Get your mentees to read for fun

Where mentors might be needed most (cont’d) SOCIAL EMOTIONAL / Listening to your students and asking them questions / Sharing things about your lives / Working with them on social and professional skills / Taking them to cultural events of their liking (and expose them to new things) SOCIAL EMOTIONAL / Listening to your students and asking them questions / Sharing things about your lives / Working with them on social and professional skills / Taking them to cultural events of their liking (and expose them to new things)

Where mentors might be needed most (cont’d) COLLEGE SUPPORT / Talk to them about college, inquire about their interests and provide opportunities to explore these interests (i.e. events around the city) / Start identifying colleges early (arrange local tours for them) / Help your student stay on top of applications and financial aid processes and deadlines / Offer to write your student a recommendation COLLEGE SUPPORT / Talk to them about college, inquire about their interests and provide opportunities to explore these interests (i.e. events around the city) / Start identifying colleges early (arrange local tours for them) / Help your student stay on top of applications and financial aid processes and deadlines / Offer to write your student a recommendation

Contact Info / AIM High Program Associate / Rayne Bozeman / Companies That Care Program Associate / Lauren Clennon / College Counselor / Frank Pesce / Communities In Schools / Paul Fagen, LCSW / AIM High Program Associate / Rayne Bozeman / Companies That Care Program Associate / Lauren Clennon / College Counselor / Frank Pesce / Communities In Schools / Paul Fagen, LCSW

Next Steps