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Parents can be the most enthusiastic and involved voice in their child’s high school career – a built in cheerleader. Your encouragement is an essential ingredient for your child as they get set to achieve their academic goals.
Parental involvement is a critical component of the Massachusetts State Scholars Initiative. This support will help to instill pride and interest in schooling, increase academic achievement, and enhance a sense of educational community and commitment.
You hold the key to your child’s scholastic success as a Massachusetts State Scholar! Talk to your child about the wonderful possibilities that being a Scholar offers. Work with school counselors and teachers to help your child meet Massachusetts State Scholars Core Course of Study requirements.
Help them understand a brand new – and demanding - world they will soon be a part of and encourage them to take advantage of tools and resources at their fingertips right now that will help them make positive contributions their future.
Visit our LINKS Page for some helpful websites and more information about getting involved in your child's education. Making a family commitment to the Massachusetts State Scholars Initiative will ensure that your child – your most important investment - is successful in high school and prepared for the challenges they will face in the future.
Why should your child become a Massachusetts State Scholar?
- Advanced Academic Skills – Completing the Massachusetts State Scholars Core Course of Study required by the State Scholars Initiative offers your child the chance to acquire advanced academic skills and to develop sound decision-making and critical-thinking skills. In short, this is the best way to prepare for college or the workforce depending on the road your child decides to take. Completing the Core Course of Study in high school reduces the likelihood of needing costly remedial courses and opens opportunities for future advancement in college and career.
- Positive Influence – The State Scholars Initiative is based on a long-term study of high school students that found “the intensity and quality of one’s secondary school curriculum was the strongest influence not merely on college entrance, but more importantly, on bachelor’s degree completion.” http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/toolboxrevisit/index.html
A complete copy of this study, The Toolbox Revisited by Clifford Adelman, is available at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/toolboxrevisit/toolbox.pdf
- Financial Aid – Your child could qualify for a variety of financial aid options and scholarships in addition to federal tuition grant money.
The Student Incentives section of this website provides information about opportunities and incentives that are available to State Scholars in high schools across the state. Recent legislation established financial aid for students who can demonstrate they completed a rigorous course of study in high school. Please read the following update from Inside Higher Ed (May, 2006), on new financial aid programs at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/05/03/smart
- Research – Additional research conducted by the U.S. Department of Education found that students who complete rigorous academic courses like the State Scholars Core Course of Study enjoy on average a 13.1 percent wage advantage nine years after graduation, an effect that occurred regardless of whether the student attended college or not. (Zucker and Dawson, NCES 2001-168, table 21)
How Can Parents Support State Scholars?
- Talk to your child about your expectations and your confidence in your student’s ability to meet the standards set by the Massachusetts State Scholars Core Course of Study. Support them as they pursue this rigorous high school curriculum.
- Engage your student's teachers, counselor and principal in conversations about more rigorous courses and how these maximize opportunities for success after graduation. Support the State Scholars Initiative at your school.
- Join forces with other parents, business owners and community members to develop innovative and supportive ways to keep students motivated and encouraged to complete their State Scholars course requirements.
- Share news about the State Scholars Initiative with your colleagues, employees and business associates. Engage your local business organizations in supporting this innovative and successful program at your school. Spread the word!
- Provide ongoing incentives for State Scholar students through discounts on goods or services, internships, scholarships and other valued benefits for aiming high and working hard to achieve the goal of completing the State Scholars requirements.
- Become a State Scholars volunteer and talk with students about the importance of the decisions they make and the work they do to pave the way for future success.
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