PARENTAL COMMUNICATION AT HALE HIGH SCHOOLRecruitment and Retention

RECRUITMENT

In 9th grade, create a gateway system (as opposed to gatekeeper system) where every child has a chance to engage in challenging and rigorous courses

Gather preliminary data such as MAP scores and STAAR scores from middle schools of under-identified students Send a personal invitation to each student to

attend a neighborhood meeting on enrollment in pre-AP classes; “Congratulations, you have been identified as a high-achieving student…”

Send a similar letter to each parent

RECRUITMENT (CONT.)

Getting the word out: Go to the under-identified families because they are not likely to come to us

Advertising Perform neighborhood walks Contact and visit local churches with the intent

to recruit their students and invite them to the neighborhood meeting.

Distribute information in government offices, neighborhood markets, and other common gathering places

Perform home visits

RECRUITMENT (CONT.) The Neighborhood Meeting

Hold meetings at schools or churches in the neighborhoods of under-identified families

Provide food—make it a celebration of their potential The purpose of the meeting is to communicate the possibility

of academic success through enrollment in rigorous courses Immerse the families in Pre-AP culture How to enroll Expectations and benefits of courses Your child fits the mold!

Provide an immediate way to enroll in classes at meeting Prove that their child will receive adequate support

Structure of classes (co-teaching model) Materials in native language Necessary translation AVID team members

Education = money

RETENTION

Purpose: Parents want to know that their child is successfully learning and progressing

Solution: We must prove the success through increased dissemination of DATA Mail home personalized assessment reports

Much like i-Stations reports in elementary school Include student’s name, scores, and comparison to

grade-level goals Include a plan to increase student achievement

Make All in Learning assessment scores and standards available to parents

Inform parents of major assessments and the necessary preparation for such