1. Welcome to Tara High School’s “Jumping into Jumpstart” General Session
“One Diploma, Many Roads”
Welcome to Tara High School’s “Jumping into Jumpstart” General Session

2. What is Jumpstart? History
Jumpstart was created as an effort to produce more industry-ready students. Despite the TOPS scholarship opportunity, a large percentage of students attend two year colleges or technical schools.
Jumpstart’s Career Option was designed to better ready that percentage of students for lucrative careers as industry professionals.
IN OTHER WORDS, schools were catering to those going to four-year universities but there wasn’t much preparation for students without that interest.

3. Jumpstart Goals
Move from THREE diplomas (Basic Core, LA Core Four, and Career) to ONE DIPLOMA with two tracks.
Form ONE coordinated system that combines high school coursework, the requirements of technical college, AND the needs of industry employers.
Connect students high school experiences to the real-world. Students can leave high school with credentials that lead to academic AND/OR career success.

4. Preparation
Jumpstart’s Career Option is aimed at preparing students for high- wage jobs.

5. Who does this affect?
Students that entered high school for the FIRST time as Freshman in and after are “Jumpstart” students.
Students must decide no later than the end of their sophomore year, which option they will pursue, Jumpstart: TOPS U or Jumpstart: Career.
Students choose their own graduation criteria by deciding which option or pathway they will follow.

6. YOU CHOOSE HOW YOU GRADUATE
If you struggled through Algebra I (D or Below OR a FAIR on the EOC), you may not want to take Geometry or Algebra II. With Jumpstart: Career, you don’t have to. You can still graduate with the same diploma but by choosing a different route.
If your GPA is below a 2.5 and you can’t qualify for TOPS scholarship OR you are planning to attend a school like BRCC first and then transfer to a four-year (Or NOT), Jumpstart: Career is for you.
If you want to earn introductory credentials for jobs before leaving high school, Jumpstart: Career is for you.

7. YOU CHOOSE HOW YOU GRADUATE
If you want to go to a four-year university immediately after high school, TOPS U is designed to get you there with courses like Algebra II, Advanced Math, English III, Chemistry, and English IV.
If your GPA is higher than a 2.5 and you have a strong ACT or PLAN score, TOPS U is for you.
Can I still take Industry courses with TOPS U? ABSOLUTELY. You just have be sure to satisfy the core requirements and your electives are yours to choose.
Let’s take a look at your transcripts to see what might be an option.

8. Jumpstart: TOPS U

9. Jumpstart: TOPS U

10. Jumpstart: Career

11. Jumpstart: Career

12. Other Notable Facts
Extracurricular/Traditional Non-Industry Electives Jumpstart: Career students can still be in the marching band, art, choir, etc. despite the fact that it does not appear on the prescription of courses. We offer 32 credits so students have opportunities to follow hobbies as well as requirements. Testing Requirements for Graduation Jumpstart: Career students will have additional tests to take and pass (credentialing) before graduating in addition to the tradition tests, which include 3 End-of-Course Tests and ACT or ACT Work Keys.

13. You Control Your Future
Students must either OPT-IN to Jumpstart: Career OR ACKNOWLEDGE Jumpstart: TOPS U.
Look at the classes you have had success in or have not. Only you can determine what you are truly capable or even interested in working towards. Either way, a diploma is in the future.

14. If you choose to OPT-IN

16. QUESTIONS?? THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE GENERAL SESSION!!!
Stick around for door prize drawings.