A Partnership for Success

Willow International (future: Clovis Community College)

AndClovis West High School

Problem #1:

• More than 70% of the students who apply to community college require remedial help before they can be successful in college-level classes. – Most cannot read at a college level– Most cannot write at a college level– Most do not have basic skills that will allow

success.

Problem #2

• Students who come to community college fail or drop out at an alarming rate.

Problem #2 examples

• In business and in college, certain behaviors are expected: – Show up on time and maintain a schedule– Do work without constant reminders– Meet deadlines– Ask for help when needed– Be resourceful, but utilize the people resources

available (tutors, teachers, librarians) without prompting

– Be aware that failure is an option.

Problem summary

• The students arrive without the basic tools required for success: – basic grammar, punctuation, and usage; – critical thinking and analytical skills; – reading and retention skills; – self-sufficiency skills; – professional behaviors.

• How could we change this?

Aligning curriculum

• We at the college level align our curriculum to the UC system’s curriculum

• So why not align the high school’s curriculum to ours? (and consequently to the UC standards?)

Building backwards to move forward

• Curriculum alignment began with the English 1A standards. If 1A is the goal, then what are the steps we need to take to reach that goal? – More writing at an academically sound level– More emphasis on basic writing (grammar, etc.)– More focus on complicated texts and ideas– More attention to professional behaviors.The alignment also had to take into account the required California Common Core Curriculum.

The Curriculum and Behaviors – Steps toward success

• The resulting 12th grade curriculum is rigorous:– students are writing many research-based essays

during each semester, – they are reading college-level texts, – they are focusing on basics, – and the expected behaviors are based on

professional standards.

The results

• Clovis West High School has always been an excellent school with an excellent teaching staff.

• But last year (2013), 84% of their high school seniors went to college.

• Last year, 58% of the non-AP students were qualified for English 1A upon graduation.

And this year?

• By February of this year, only a little over half way through the instructional year, – 64.5% of non-AP students at Clovis West had

already qualified for English 1A. – We expect the total to be well over 70% of non-AP

students ready for college success.

• In short, students’ college dreams are becoming reality – and that’s our dream, too.