1. SoRo School and Personalized Learning 6-20-14 Mary Waterman mwaterman@soroschool.orgmwaterman@soroschool.org On June 6, 2013 Governor Peter Shumlin signed the Flexible Pathways bill What does this mean for So.Royalton School? Thanks VT Agency of Education for this opportunity!

2. Reflections of Our Path Two committees simultaneously met – PLP-Advisory and Work Based Learning – WBL comparatively easy, 8 Gold Standards Our program aligned well Overwhelmed by self-assessment, esp. with guidance in transition and Principal departing midstream. Red Flag realization Revise and prioritize in an ‘Emergency Mode’

3. Divide, Conquer, and Produce Committee: 1 person gather data and share back… – Also present to school board – Also gather student data – Also communicate to public—parents—business – Make recommendations what to do!?! – End school year whole committee work 2-days – Recommend: focus on an area: ‘Practice’ eye on ‘Academic Standards’…. Role: ‘Plant Seeds’ ‘Take Root=Success’ Create Ownership Committee: 1 person gather data and share back… – Also present to school board – Also gather student data – Also communicate to public—parents—business – Make recommendations what to do!?! – End school year whole committee work 2-days – Recommend: focus on an area: ‘Practice’ eye on ‘Academic Standards’…. Role: ‘Plant Seeds’ ‘Take Root=Success’ Create Ownership

4. School Board: all components presented – dialog primarily money and policy examples – ie) Dual Enrollment VT vs. a NY example NY: Advanced Studies at Genesee Community College (20+ yrs. in western NY)… HS teachers at 50 schools: each school hosts 3-10 dual enrolled courses. Cost: If students want credits = $50 per credit hour (most =$150). Schools pay $0, Counties add some $. GCC site: http://www.genesee.edu/ace/advanced/?HSCode=HALE http://www.genesee.edu/ace/advanced/?HSCode=HALE Student Survey (grades 6-12) – Interesting responses around college questions: Location preferences for college courses, 68% indicated a combination of local & campus; transportation issues 5% have taken college courses; 61% intend to in the future Who, where, …what

5. More of the student survey More of the student survey: 41% complete interest inventory while 55% have done 1+ job shadow; Nearly 1/3 don’t request homework help; 50% think PLP’s will help them--11% are excited about the idea. Communicate to public—parents—business – newsletter, newspaper, direct Real examples, data, technology applications... – Thanks to many schools and agencies for practical pieces. – Utilized Google Docs for meetings, cooperatively write. ETC.

6. SoRo Advisory and PLPs Product of past two PLP work days… Developed new Advisory system, wrote early phases of a handbook, strategies, priorities and started lesson plans. Supporting PLP What does research show? *Improve student motivation and engagement; Improve students’ understanding of postsecondary options and long-term planning. *Improve school-family communication and foster family involvement in academic and career planning. *Increase student awareness of their individual strengths and weaknesses. Source: Many VT Schoos, Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, June 2011 Policy Brief - Student Learning Plans: Supporting Every Student’s Transition to College and Career. - Next phase: buy-in and participation from other teachers, students, parents, community… - Identified some next steps. - Next phase: buy-in and participation from other teachers, students, parents, community… - Identified some next steps.