Education Has The Power To Change Everything

1. Education Has The Power To Change Everything

2. How do you BREAK the Cycle of Poverty?

6. CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY

9. Dr. H. Jack Geiger in the cotton fields of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, 1968

10. The Vision

11. Community Succession The children of the community will become the doctors, nurses, social workers, community health workers and administrators of the Health Centre.

12. Getting Started… Focus Groups: • Kids: Grads, Drop-Outs, In-School • Parents: In First Languages • Agency/School Staffs • Research Data from School Board by community • Best Practices from successful Programs

13. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

14. BACKGROUND INFORMATION cont’d

15. HIGH SCHOOL IS A CRUCIAL MINIMUM TO SECURING EMPLOYMENT AND INCREASINGLY NOT ENOUGH

16. Employment Growth by Educational Attainment, Ontario, 1990-2007(2)

17. Studies show that dropouts … • tend to be unemployed or earning lower wages, thus paying little or no taxes • tend to experience higher rates of poverty, thus drawing most from social assistance • tend to commit more crime and threaten the safety of our neighbourhoods, thus putting greater strains on our justice system • tend to have higher incidents of illness, drug-use, and teenage pregnancy, thus putting greater strains on our health care system

18. How big is the problem? Provincial averages:20-30% 30% Low income communities:30-50% 50% Immigrant, Aboriginal and single parent families:50-70% 70%

19. Teens can thrive… • caring relationships • engaged intellectually • peer support • sense of community • an expanding network of adults

20. “Neighbourhoods with stronger social supports and greater stability appear to have better outcomes for children even controlling for other factors in children's background”. Levin “Students at Risk: A Review of the Research” (2004; pp. 30)

22. The Solution Student/Parent Contract ACADEMIC SUPPORT Volunteers provide after-school tutoring in core academic subjects SOCIAL SUPPORT Volunteers run group mentoring activities to help students with social skills, problem solving and career planning FINANCIAL SUPPORT Scholarships and other financial supports provide incentives and help reduce barriers to school completion 1-TO-1 MENTORING & SUPPORT Staff provide 1-on-1 support to help students succeed in school, at home, and in the community COMMUNITY READINESS Continual program improvement through research and program evaluation Pathways collectively “wraps” students from low-income communities with comprehensive multi-year supports proven to be critical in helping them stay in school and make the transition into healthy, successful and contributing adults.

23. The Solution K - 8 Grades 9 - 12 Post Secondary Registration Tutoring in core academic subjects Group mentoring Career mentoring & internships 1-to-1 mentoring and support Financial assistance (bus tickets, lunch vouchers, etc.) Scholarships Volunteer participation in Pathways Pathways Alumni Network

24. Key Risk Factors (Ferguson, HSC; 2005)

25. Tutoring & Academic Support

27. Tutoring/Academic Support Compulsory; Twice a week based on Marks; Gr. 9 60%; Gr.10 65%; Gr.11/12 70% Grades 9-12+; English, French, Math, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences Study Skills, Organizational Skills Literacy/Numeracy, ESL; 1:1 for Special Ed; Computer Lab 250 Volunteer Tutors recruited for subjects and for diversity

30. Why Mentoring & Social Support

32. Why Mentoring/Social Support Social, rather than Academic, Development Breaking down isolation Positive peer relationships Skills development: communication, problem- solving, group dynamics and team building Talent or Interest Development Broadening opportunities to experience different futures

34. Forms of Mentoring Group Mentoring: Grades 9&10 Every Other Week; ½ activities designed by Pathways; other ½ by groups Activities such as: trips, cooking, skating, discussions, etc. Specialty Mentoring: Older Youth Talent, Interest or Skills Development Small Group or Individual Periodic Reflection: How has it helped you move forward? What have you learned that will help you withnext steps?

35. Forms of Mentoring - Continued Career Mentoring – Preparing for Success After High School College/University Applications/Decisions/Support OYAP, Apprenticeship, Employment Career “Mondays” – by field/area Visits to Campuses/workplaces Individual and/or small group mentors in particular field Financial Literacy Summer paid internships

36. Financial $upports

38. Why do we have financial supports? Current support – because poverty is a defining characteristic of families and of the communities; because specific financial barriers were identified which made school attendance a challenge. $90/month TTC, Lunch vouchers. Scholarships/bursaries – because financial barriers to post-secondary participation were identified and are real. $1000/year to $4000 max. ($500 in Quebec) Both forms establish Pathways as credibly addressing real challenges, as able and willing to support the families, of making higher expectations real.

41. Student Parent Support Workers

43. Pathways aims to change communities, not schools or families Role is to support students, not change teachers or parents. To change communities, need to include all the kids neither “creaming” nor “targeting”; students not homogeneous Success requires support for all years of high school Constant adult presence normal aolescent development adults other than parents Self-esteem follows achievement; achievement follows expectations and support, mediated by “discipline”

44. Kids from poverty are “normal”, not stereotypes and not to be “pathologized” Need a range of adults since we don’t know when any given student will need what kind/intensity of support or from whom Intervening in the “space between” systems The systems themselves need to be understood Connections need knowledge of both kids and institutions Success (especially for those from poverty) requires paying attention/being present, communicating clear message about expectations, providing concrete support, etc. Intentionally, different staff backgrounds, not one professional culture.

46. Our Results?

48. Pathways to Education Canada and Program Replication • Created 2006 from “demand” and “moral obligation” • Independent Foundation • Mission: Purpose/Functions Organization • Transferring knowledge • Ensuring Program Quality and Outcomes • Supporting communities

49. The Results 57% Average reduction in academically at-risk students in Ontario after 1st year in program. 79% Average reduction in dropout rates for program participants across first 5 cohorts in Regent Park. 87% Average student participation rates across all sites. Pre Pathways Current PrePathways Current Source: Pathways to Education Canada program reports as of July 2010

50. The Results Pathways graduates experience attrition rates that are significantly lower than the national average. 400% Average increase in student participation in post secondary education. College Attrition Rates University Attrition Rates Current Pathways Pre Pathways National Avg. National Avg. Pathways Source: Pathways to Education Canada program reports as of July 2010 Source: Statistics Canada / Pathways program results as at July 2010 Unlocking the Unlimited Potential of Youth