The School For Human Rights
About the Practice
We started our College and Career Initiative last year. We have always done things on a small scale, but the last two years we have made an effort to include all students. They hear about college and career readiness in all of their classes. We talk about it at school meetings and PDs. Everyone is involved. The Guidance Counselors, the Social Worker and the Parent Coordinator, the Administrators and the teachers attend external PD relating to college readiness. This year we had a great turnout for career day. Students participated in job shadowing through the NY Urban League, Big Brother, Big Sister, The boys and Girls Club and visited successful businesses. The following activities have been planned for students: Princeton Blairstown, Career Day, Movie Day/The Great Debaters, 9th grade Luncheon, 10th grade Luncheon, Adelphi University, Boys Empowerment Day with NY Urban League, Suny Maritime, COSEBOC Conference in Mississippi, Washington DC overnight (Howard University, Georgetown University, Great Adventure and City College).
The agenda always focuses on leadership skills and career and college readiness.
Target Population/Total Students:
Grades 9 and 10, 80 students in total.
Challenges:
- Parent Engagement
- We don’t have 100% student participation in enrichment activities.
- The inability of students to articulate their opinions or participate in forums.
How did school overcome challenges?
- We hold alternating meetings, i.e. am, pm and on Saturdays to make it more accessible for parents to attend. In addition, we send correspondence via email, letters and phone calls/messages.
- We increased the student voice and the number of students on the ESI program. We are also actively working through the youth development component so the students take more responsibility.
- We engaged a vendor Changing Perspectives Theater and offered the students a public speaking class in the 9th and 10th grade.
How will you continue to sustain this practice?
The lead teachers were trained by Ms. Michelle Knight and they will relay the key information to the Inquiry Team. The school will support college trips within the 5 boroughs. All staff will continue to support College and Career Readiness in their classes.