A PARENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE READINESS PART 2: MIDDLE SCHOOL Mike Horton, AVID Administrator Riverside County Office of Education

Topics  Welcome  “College preparedness” versus “College readiness”  The four dimensions of college readiness  The middle school’s role in college readiness

Middle Schools There are six major things that middle schools can do in order to ready students well for college: 1)Help English Learners get out of ELD by the end of 8 th grade 2)Compete Algebra 1 in 8 th grade 3)Create a 4-year high school A-G plan 4)If they speak another language academically, encourage them to take the SAT2 in that language 5)Score proficient or advanced on CSTs to get into A-G, Honors, and AP courses in high school 6)Enroll in AVID

ELD and College Readiness Although the rules are complicated, students are allowed to count one year of ELD toward A-G completion. If a student is not at least CLEDT 3 by the end of 8 th grade, it’s unlikely that they’ll meet A-G. Here’s a link to the complicated rules: ELCR is an AVID program intended to get long-term ELs reclassified before high school. There is a cost associated with ELCR because it is not covered by the state grant.

ELD and College Readiness In high school, sheltered classes may be approved as fulfilling the A-G requirement if it is sufficiently rigorous. The district must submit the course to UC and request approval. Very few do. Here’s a link to a website where one can see which courses are A-G approved for any school: Here’s a list of SDAIE courses that have been approved already:

Math and College 12 th - Calculus 11 th - Pre-Calculus 10 th - Algebra 2/Trigonometry 9 th - Geometry 8 th - ALGEBRA 1 The Middle School’s Role

Math and College RIMS 8 th graders who took Algebra 1: 62.0% RIMS 8 th graders who took, passed Algebra 1 CST: 38.5% RIMS AVID 8 th graders who passed Algebra 1 C or better:70.3%

4-Year Plans Few students are required to complete a 4-year plan Even fewer are followed up on in high school Even fewer are plans to go to college; most are graduation plans Research shows that students who have college plans by 10 th grade are 21% more likely to attend college compared to those completing plans in 12 th grade. Imagine how much higher it is if the plans were made in middle school!

4-Year Plans Let’s review the A-G requirements and write a sample 4-year plan like an 8 th grader would create before registering for high school courses

4-Year Plans Student 1- Failed Algebra 1 in 8 th grade and needs to re-take in 9 th grade. Otherwise, does well in classes. Student 2- AVID in 6 th, 7 th, 8 th and hopes to continue all 4 years of high school. Passed Algebra 1 and wants to take AP Calculus in 12 th grade. Also plays flute and wants to be in Marching Band all 4 years. Student 3- English Learner, CELDT Level 2. With a lot of work, could be reclassified in 2 years. Does well in SDAIE classes, but not ready for mainstream yet. Student 4- Failed 8 th grade ELA and got far below basic on Pre- Algebra. Scheduled to be double-blocked in ELA and Math in 9 th grade.

4-Year Plans Let’s talk about challenges that each student faced...