Jackson program to keep students on track for careers

Making students "career and college ready" takes a community of partners. And in the Jackson School District, guidance counselors are intrinsically involving teachers and parents on the student postsecondary path.

The Jackson School Board on Tuesday approved the district's guidance program evaluation, following a review of an expanded array of services in higher education and career development. Prompted by rising expectations from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Gov. Jay Nixon's call to increase the percentage of Missourians with college degrees from 37 percent to 60 percent, the Jackson School District has implemented a multifaceted program to keep students on track.

"The state is really pushing big time the whole career pathways," Jackson High School counselor Melanie Duncan told the board, referring to "career and college ready," the guidance mantra. "We have a plan laid out for six years."

At the initiative's foundation is the advisory program, where teachers serve as advisers for classrooms of 20 students or less. Students receive assistance in setting up individual educational and career plans. With the help of advisers, they map out classes required for graduation, and classes toward their chosen career path. A two-year plan for postsecondary education includes preparation for everything from the work force and military to community college and four-year universities. And students and their advisers take part in an "Advisory Lockdown Week," an intensive primer on planning, where students receive and review their handbooks and complete course enrollment.

The advisory teachers stay with the students for all three years of high school.

"They really get to know those kids," said Brenda Etzold, counselor at Jackson Junior High School. "They can talk realistically about their goals, and they're able to have more personal conversations with the kids."

The program prepares younger students for life after high school, too. The Jackson Junior High Advisory Hour includes time for reading, guided study and tutoring.

Just as critical, the counselors say, is bringing parents into the plan. Advisory teachers meet with students and their parents, and parents are actively involved in the education and career plan.

Beth Emmendorfer, the district's associate superintendent of student services, said the goal of the guidance program is that "anybody in the building can help a student with their plan." Tied to the initiative is the district's goal to maintain a 3 percent or lower dropout rate; the rate was 1.7 percent last year.

Other business

In other business, the board approved pursuing a DESE Vocational-Education Enhancement grant for the 2011-2012 school year. The total grant package, at just under $261,000, would pay for 31 computers, software and equipment for a computer applications/desktop publishing course. The application must be submitted by March 31. DESE is expected to announce grant awards by the end of June, according to Wade Bartels, the district's chief financial officer.

mkittle@semissourian.com

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