Success Plans For High School Completion Promising Best Practices for Re-engagement

Joan Gauthier All in For Youth Project Manager Retired Principal, Calgary Catholic School District Who are we? What do we know anyway? Tim Main AIFY School Liaison Retired Principal, Calgary Board of Education Heather Innes AIFY School Liaison, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Manager, Learning & Engagement, Campaign & Resource Development

Administrators, teachers, counsellors… anyone working to reconnect youth to school We will discuss students who:  WANT to return to school  Are contemplating a return to school  Need a little “nudge”  Who need HOPE Who is this presentation for?

Why is United Way here today? Low 3-year high school completion rates 3000 Calgary youth don’t complete each year Low transition to post secondary education Social problems in YYC – beyond the usual scope or conventional approaches. Need for skilled workers in Alberta The issue resonates with Calgarians

Introducing “All In For Youth”

By 2017, we will: – Reduce Calgary’s high school dropout rate by 50% – Connect 3000 Calgary youth to positive adults Our Goals

First strategy; launched in 2012 Invited hundreds of youth to return to school Barriers to successful return Food Financial Hardship Problems with attendance Lack of Positive Adults in their Lives Lack of family support Negative Peer influence Mental Health Issues The Call Back Strategy

Tackling the issue through Partnerships Partners CBE and CSSD YMCA Calgary Big Brothers Big Sisters Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary Youth Employment Centre Jr Achievement Burns Memorial Fund Bow Valley College Calgary Youth Justice Society And more… Strategies Free after school math tutoring “mPower” Mentoring program Success Coaches embedded in schools Career Talks (out of the box) World of Choices – career mentoring for girls High school bursaries The Detour Program In the Lead – mentoring …and more

Call Backs = System Change – PARTNERSHIP between CBE and CSSD – Calls (texts) made in August and December – Students directed to shared storefront Resource Centre: Encore CBE* – Calls made by experienced staff (not volunteers) – Success Plan for re-entry developed – Goal: All city school websites Call Backs CBE - EncoreCSSD - Return To School

Students who are a few credits short!!! The Students! What are their Options – Unique to every student and every scenario

Students who have been suspended/expelled – need to know when, where and HOW to return… – What is the plan going to be? The Students

Sometimes students need a break! But is there a Plan in Place to Return When students leave…

Students with Special Needs ELL or ESL students – Do we have the resources in place that can help Students with Learning Limitations – Career Counseling and Introductions – Post Secondary Programs Students with Family or Individual Needs – Government or Not for Profit Agencies and Partnerships – FNMI Students – Where / How can we best provide support Students

Exit Plan /backtoschool/StudentsParents.aspx

Resources EXIT Information 1.Full Name and common Alias or name used 2.Accurate address and phone numbers and an or text! 3.Alberta Ed. Number and Transcript in order to advise them correctly if they are to elect to re-engage 4.Leaving Date 1.Reason for leaving the school 2.Agencies that could help were they recommended or provided 5.You need to know who they are and what they might be interested in 1.List any strengths or interests that might be useful when trying to connect with him/her 6.Are they welcome back or a recommendation as to where the appropriate or better fit would be. 1.Were the contact numbers for adult education or others provided

Sneeze cards Websites CBE and CSSD Success Packages Goal – every school’s website… Additional Resources

Working Groups – Northern Alberta – Edmonton – Central Alberta – Calgary – Southern Alberta Working Session

Because it is IMPORTANT! WHY?

You are on the front lines… Your thoughts and questions will make returning to school easier for Alberta’s youth. Questions / Sharing Session / Questions Questions?