Student Readiness

Improving Student Preparation for Education after High School

The experience of HEARRR institutions has validated national findings that the greatest barrier to students' success in postsecondary study is inadequate academic preparation, not access or finances. Factors in this lack of readiness include low student aspirations, insufficient rigor in high school courses, and lack of opportunities to study high level content, among others.

The U.S. Department of Commerce predicts that 80% of new jobs will require postsecondary study, which means that all students need to master the "new core curriculum," which is what used to be called "college prep."

HEARRR institutions work with students, teachers, and administrators to increase the likelihood that students will prepare well, enroll, and succeed in postsecondary education.

Improving Academic Achievement in Local Schools

Activities for Students

  • Groundwater testing and biology research project for middle schools (RVC)
  • Summer research internships for high school students in the Biomedicine department at UI-Rockford
  • The Illinois Council on Economic Education at NIU involves students in the Stock Market Game and other learning activities that help students meet standards in economics and math.
  • Learning Resources Center offers year-round diagnostic testing and tutoring in reading, writing, and mathematics for school students, college students, and community members. (Rockford College)
  • Photo from Bridge Building CompetitionSecond annual Bridge Building Competition had 240 junior and senior participants from 11 high schools. (RVC and NIU)
  • Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering competition (WYSE) invited all district high schools. In 2004 over 150 students participated. (RVC)
  • Annual Math Bowl for area high schools conducted by RVC.
  • Project Lead the Way: model lessons in applied engineering and mathematics (NIU)
  • RVC Shakespearean Festival: discounted tickets for middle school and high school groups (RVC)
  • Juried high school art show (RVC)
  • Rockford College Music Academy Logo Rockford College Music Academy: For pre-school students through senior citizens, instruction in strings, piano, other instruments; chamber groups and orchestras; music theory and appreciation
  • Jazz Festival and workshop for area high schools; support and judges for Rockford Area Youth Symphony Orchestra concerto competition (RVC)
  • Upward Bound programs ($1.8 million federal grant) prepare at-risk high school students for college work. (RVC and NIU)
  • National Youth Sports Camp program, which includes academic instruction for disadvantaged youth, starting in Summer 2005 (RVC)
  • Photo of Child in Whiz Kids programWhiz Kids summer program provides scholarships for disadvantaged elementary and secondary students (RVC)
  • Future Educator Society members tutoring at Nelson Elementary and Jefferson High School and assisting in classrooms (RVC, NIU)

College Credit for High School Students

  • 53 dual credit courses held at eight community high schools with 1,049 students enrolled in 2004 (RVC)
  • 116 students enrolled in "honors credit in escrow" program (RVC)

Activities for Educators

  • RVC and NIU faculty serve on school renewal teams with teachers and administrators in the four Project REAL schools
  • Project REAL workshops for District 205 faculty include Spanish for educators, using technology in the classroom, managing diversity, improving reading through study of history, writing across the curriculum, preparation for state tests, and many other topics. (RVC, NIU)
  • Improving American history instruction ($1 million federal grant) by working with school faculty to enrich the teaching of history and improve reading strategies
  • Technology in the classroom grants ($2.5 million) train teachers in using both desktop and hand-held computers to improve instruction. (NIU)
  • Project PRIDE (federal funding) trains teachers to intervene immediately and effectively when first to third graders have difficulty learning to read. (NIU)

Academic and Career Exploration Opportunities

  • Regional career programs for high school students in partnership with CEANCI (RVC)
  • Engineering/Engineering Technology College and Career Night served 230 high school students and parents, with 11 universities available. (RVC, NIU)
  • Discovering Engineering Week: 19 local engineers visited 7 middle and high schools, 39 classrooms and more than 1000 students. (RVC, NIU)
  • 100 students applied for tech prep internships; 71 were placed with 30 different community organizations. (RVC)
  • Sophomores at six high schools participate in health career education program with three tracks. (RVC)
  • 1,350 middle and high school students attended the RVC Health Career Fair, with hands-on demonstrations and workshops provided by professionals.
  • 90 high school students attended the career exploration series "Investigating Exciting Careers," which focused on non-traditional careers. (RVC)
  • RVC and NIU students mentoring members of the Jefferson High School Future Teachers Club

Leadership

  • Rockford College , through Public Agenda, provides a forum for discussion on improving public education
  • Energetic grant-writing has yielded more than $10 million in federal and corporate funding for school-college-university partnership projects in the last two years.
  • Project REAL ($5 million federal grant) focuses on one goal - raising student achievement. Activities include active partnerships with NIU, RVC, District 205, the four schools, and community groups; on site education courses and classroom clinical experience for students from RVC and NIU; professional development activities for teachers; a new program for training school leaders; and joint research projects to improve teaching practices.