VOYCE is working with CPS to implement and develop an evaluation framework for student-led initiatives at partner high schools to improve graduation rates. These efforts will debut initially as pilot projects and include:
VOYCE Leadership Teams
VOYCE leadership teams are being developed at each partner school as a vehicle for ongoing student voice on core teaching and learning issues. The leadership teams will be student-led in collaboration with adults from the community-based organizations involved in VOYCE as well as teachers and other adult allies within the school. The VOYCE leadership teams will represent the school’s diversity, and will not be limited to students with high GPAs.
Freshman Orientation Retreats
Freshman orientation retreats will be offered three times throughout the course of the school year to struggling freshman students who have been identified through the Freshman Watch list, or through referrals by teachers, principals, or other students. The goals of the retreat are to build a broader and deeper system of peer-to-peer support for incoming ninth-graders at risk of dropping out, to provide the mentoring, and information needed to set a productive tone for academic and social success, for struggling students to build the relationships with teachers, counselors, community members, upperclassmen, and each other that will support them through all four years of high school, and to develop the next wave of student leaders at VOYCE schools.
Approximately 60 students per pilot school will participate, for a total of 480 students across the 8 schools. There will be three retreats held throughout the school year: one overnight retreat before the school year, one day-long retreat in February/March, and one overnight retreat in May/June. A planning process for these retreats will be launched on the 13th to develop the specific content and format for these retreats.
Personalized 4-Year Graduation Plans
A key component of the freshman retreats is the development of personalized 4-year graduation plans. Struggling students that participate in the retreats will receive one-on-one counseling from teachers, counselors, and upperclassmen. The goals of the personalized 4-year graduation plans are to set up high expectations for graduation, college and careers, develop a support system for meeting those expectations, to create a college-going culture in the schools, and for students to set goals and expectations and a plan for meeting those goals.
Curriculum Reform
Having a more relevant curriculum was a key element of the students’ recommendations to ensure that students are engaged in school. Starting with High School Transformation Schools, VOYCE will be holding focus groups of students in partnership to review curriculum and text books, and provide concrete feedback as to how to make those materials more relevant to students’ lives.
Based on their research, VOYCE considers relevance to include 3 key components: connecting to student’s culture and real life issues that they face, and making the connection that high school is a stepping stone to college and future careers. Additionally, CPS will be working with VOYCE to have students meet with curriculum vendors to provide this feedback.
Professional Development
VOYCE recognizes that teachers must be able to connect with students in order to deliver a relevant curriculum effectively. As a result, VOYCE is working at the 8 pilot schools to develop community orientations for teachers that will build the knowledge and understanding that teachers have of the communities in which they work. These community orientations will be designed by students and will be part of the professional development that teachers receive.
Additional information:
Participatory Action Research | Findings | Solutions | Publications | Download the Report (PDF)