P ARENTAL C OMMUNICATION AT H ALE H IGH S CHOOL Recruitment and Retention

R ECRUITMENT In 9 th grade, create a gateway system (as opposed to gatekeeper system) where every child has a chance to engage in challenging and rigorous courses Gather preliminary data such as MAP scores and STAAR scores from middle schools of under- identified students Send a personal invitation to each student to attend a neighborhood meeting on enrollment in pre-AP classes; “Congratulations, you have been identified as a high-achieving student…” Send a similar letter to each parent

R ECRUITMENT ( CONT.) Getting the word out: Go to the under-identified families because they are not likely to come to us Advertising Perform neighborhood walks Contact and visit local churches with the intent to recruit their students and invite them to the neighborhood meeting. Distribute information in government offices, neighborhood markets, and other common gathering places Perform home visits

R ECRUITMENT ( CONT.) The Neighborhood Meeting Hold meetings at schools or churches in the neighborhoods of under-identified families Provide food—make it a celebration of their potential The purpose of the meeting is to communicate the possibility of academic success through enrollment in rigorous courses Immerse the families in Pre-AP culture How to enroll Expectations and benefits of courses Your child fits the mold! Provide an immediate way to enroll in classes at meeting Prove that their child will receive adequate support Structure of classes (co-teaching model) Materials in native language Necessary translation AVID team members Education = money

R ETENTION Purpose: Parents want to know that their child is successfully learning and progressing Solution: We must prove the success through increased dissemination of DATA Mail home personalized assessment reports Much like i-Stations reports in elementary school Include student’s name, scores, and comparison to grade- level goals Include a plan to increase student achievement Make All in Learning assessment scores and standards available to parents Inform parents of major assessments and the necessary preparation for such