FAMILY CONNECTION-COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Professional Chair: Darris Means, Assistant Professor, College of Education, UGA
Neighborhood Leader Co-Chair:
Staff facilitator: Delene Porter, President & C.E.O., Athens Area Community Foundation
Meeting schedule: To be determined
Meeting location: Room 201, ELC Building 2, 440 Dearing Extension, Athens
Contact: 706-369-9732, info@fc-cis.org, www.fc-cis.org
Description: Public agencies, private entities, neighborhood leaders and others work together for successful post-secondary education (including college, technical school, on-the-job training, coaching, etc.) and work success. We identify gaps, develop and implement plans, leverage resources, and integrate services so that our high school graduates, and parents of our children and youth, achieve success.
Outcome goals: Improved post-secondary educational success for students, effective workforce for employers, and economic stability for families.
Examples of accomplishments: There have been dramatic increases in dual enrollment, largely from the partnership of Athens Technical College operating the Athens Community Career Academy for the School District. UGA (led by its Office of Service Learning) and Clarke County School District have established Experience UGA, with field trips to campus for all grades every year. The School District has established a position to support first-generation students going to post-secondary education, and UGA’s Office of Higher Education has placed a College Advising Corps member at Clarke Central High School. Space is provided for a College & Career Success office (not staffed). The Great Promise Partnership has come to Athens and three manufacturers are employing CCSD high school students with that (more than 50 expected as of fall 2015). Athens-Clarke County is now a Certified Entrepreneur Friendly Community, and REAL Edge is implementing entrepreneur programs in the schools. The Chamber of Commerce has established an Education Committee which has initiated several projects in partnership with the schools. Resources were obtained to establish Road Trip Nation. State resources to use business incentives for child care providers are coming to the community through the Early Education Empowerment Zone designation achieved by the Early Care & Learning Strategic Action Team.
Examples of new/developing initiatives: The partners continue to build on the above and initiate other projects. The Post-Secondary & Career Strategic Action Team has not met recently and so has not itself initiated new projects. Several individuals have expressed interest in reconvening the Team.
Examples of solutions for needs as identified by the SAT and the current status of the solution
Solution Status
| College and Career Success Office:1. establish physical location2. staff office | 1. Accomplished 2.CCSD created a college encouragement position, and the UGA Institute of Higher Education has a College Advising Corps member at Clarke Central. (Neither is housed in the College & Career Success office.) |
| Teachers as advisors | In place |
| Dual enrollment | CCSD and Athens Technical College collaborationfor Athens Community Career Academyhas dramatically expanded dual enrollment |
| Adopt-a-class (Middle School) | Was in place, currently dormant |
| School to career program | In place |
| Work-based learning program | Great Promise Partnership in place with 3 manufacturers and more than 50 jobs in August 2015 |
| Youth Apprenticeship Program | |
| Junior Youth Apprenticeship | In place |
| Expand Scholarship opportunities; Local Scholarship Programs Roundtable (AACF) | More CCSD students are receiving college scholarships |
| Neighborhood leaders as college ambassadors by Athens Technical College | NLs received training as college ambassadors but not currently implemented |
| College and career day in the neighborhoods | College & career days are held in schools, and one is planned at the Career Academy in early 2015 |
| Keeping in touch with college students | Not being done formally |
| College readiness workshop with 8th graders at CMS | Workshops held in this and other schools |
| Job Shadowing for 8th graders | Not in place |
| Internship Opportunities for 11th and 12th graders | Some in place |
| Structure to share information about Dual Enrollment opportunities in PN | Implemented county-wide, with dramatic increases in dual enrollment (especially among minority groups) |
| Implement Road Trip Nation | Implemented on trial basis with AT&T Foundation grant to the RTN organization |
| Field trips to UGA for CCSD students | Experience UGA is in place and all CCSD grades are participating this year |
| Certified Work Ready Community of Excellence | ACC was deemed ineligible but the programs were put in place |
| Certified Entrepreneur Friendly Community | ACC obtained this designation |
| Establish comprehensive re-entry program for offenders | ACC did not receive this funding which all other regions in Georgia have |