 |
|
Middle and High school principals, guidance counselors, and teachers play an essential role in the Massachusetts State Scholars Initiative. In addition to supporting the State Scholar students throughout their high school careers, they must ensure that these teenagers remain on track to complete the rigorous Core Course of Study and acquire the skills they will need to succeed in college and career.
"In Massachusetts, where the economy requires educated workers to fuel its biotechnology, health care, communications, and defense industries, young people must complete some kind of postsecondary credential in order to enter and advance in any of these sectors. More than 60 percent of the 300,000 new jobs that will be created by 2010 will require at least an Associate’s degree."
High Standards and High Graduation Rates: Moving Forward on a Dual Agenda in Massachusetts (Achieve, Inc. and Jobs for the Future, April 2007)
In order to successfully engage students in the State Scholars Initiative, all school personnel must understand the challenges their graduates will face in an increasingly mobile and global workforce. It is up to the school principal to convey his or her own commitment to the State Scholars Initiative as well as the importance of raising student aspirations and challenging students to take the most rigorous curriculum they can manage in order to create the greatest opportunities for their future.
Each school designates a State Scholars Coordinator who will be the point of contact for faculty, business volunteers and others working to implement the State Scholars Initiative. These Coordinators work closely with other staff to encourage students to commit to being a State Scholar; track enrolled State Scholars through the four years of high school and offer the support and resources they need to succeed. Coordinators develop activities to motivate and recognize these students and work with the State Director and business volunteers to develop incentives to keep State Scholars on course and demonstrate the value of hard work.
Guidance counselors play a critical role in encouraging ninth and tenth grade students to enroll in the rigorous State Scholars Core Course of Study. Counselors advise students on the importance of preparing for the future and help them access academic resources when these are needed. Guidance counselors also support faculty and parents who are working with State Scholars and help business volunteers focus their tutoring, mentoring and internship efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
Teachers are the key resource that Massachusetts State Scholars rely upon to achieve academic success. By reinforcing that their students’ future success in the workplace or in post-secondary education is closely tied to the rigorous coursework they take in high school, teachers can motivate and inspire State Scholars to aim high. Teachers must understand the required courses and activities for State Scholars, as well as any additional expectations of your specific school. Teachers can be great role models for all the students in the class and acquaint them with the opportunities to achieve their full potential!
During the 2006-2007 academic year, five high schools participated in a pilot State Scholars Initiative program.
 Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School
 The Assabet Valley school district includes the towns of Berlin, Hudson, Maynard, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough and the city of Marlborough. Assabet students complete exploratory experiences in a variety of areas, after which they choose a technical program in which to specialize. Time in school is divided between the technical programs and a rigorous academic schedule. Assabet is a dynamic and supportive school system that prepares students to meet the challenges of the future by providing a rigorous and relevant education in a safe and secure environment resulting in academic, career and technical proficiency. Assabet believes that education is shaped by society to satisfy certain needs, both general and specific, current and anticipated, and should be a composite of vocational, technical, and academic courses.
Burlington High School
 Burlington High School is located in northeastern Massachusetts 10 miles north of Boston on Route 95. The residential population of Burlington is approximately 23,000, but the workday population increases to over 100,000. Burlington High School has 995 students in grades 9-12. Ninety-three percent of Burlington High students continue their education after graduation. Burlington High School students perform well on the MCAS tests with 100% of the Class of 2006 passing both the English Language Arts and Math tests and approximately 82% of the students performing at the proficient or advanced levels on both tests. The mission of Burlington High School is to prepare students for lifelong learning and responsible citizenship by offering a challenging, relevant curriculum and varied activities in a safe environment. In recent years, Burlington High students have been recognized on a national level as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship, Siemen Westinghouse, and Intel competitions among others.
Chicopee High School
 The mission of Chicopee High School is to provide an environment that empowers students to achieve excellence through a rigorous academic program that promotes critical thinking and responsible citizenship. This will be accomplished in a respectful, safe and diverse environment that gives equal opportunity for all. Chicopee, one of the oldest communities in Western Massachusetts, has been the home of Westover Air Force Base since 1940. At present it is the largest Air Force Reserve Base in the United States. The Chicopee School District has 7,800 students in pre K-12 educated in 1 early childhood Center, 9 Elementary Schools, 2 Middle Schools, 1 Alternative School and 2 High Schools – both of which participate in the State Scholars Initiative.
Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Chicopee Comprehensive High School is a community of educators, students, administrators, parents, and support staff that provides a supportive and safe environment essential for learning. Chicopee Comprehensive ensures that all students have opportunities to contribute in a democratic school society. Academic, career, and technical courses are taught at a rigorous level to assure that students are prepared for college or their post-secondary learning. The curriculum requires that students question, solve problems, analyze, synthesize, research, and construct knowledge. Co-curricular activities and opportunities for community involvement are also provided, since what students learn in school lays the foundation for life-long learning.
North High School
 North High School is a family of learners committed to excellence. North provides its diverse population of learners with a challenging curriculum in a safe and supportive atmosphere. The school, parent and community partnership encourages high student achievement and provides all students with the opportunity to become informed, productive and responsible citizens. The North High School student takes full responsibility for his/her behavior and learning, understands and demonstrates a sense of community which provides the basis for good citizenship, makes decisions consistent with personal physical fitness and a healthy life style, knows career options and academic requirements needed for employment and economic dependence, reads and listens to a variety of materials with an understanding of audience, purpose and meaning, communicates ideas and information using a variety of formats, speaks clearly and effectively so the audience understands the meaning, computes and analyzes data to solve a variety of mathematical and scientific questions, understands and uses technology for a range of purposes and uses problem solving skills to meet both academic and social challenges.
For more information, to volunteer, or to offer student incentives, please contact the State Scholars Initiative at state_scholars@mbae.org
|
