Project Prevail
Project Prevail is a comprehensive effort to increase the number of students graduating from Fort Worth high schools fully prepared for post-secondary education or gainful employment. We will use what works, and we will call upon students, parents and the larger community to support this initiative.
The District has reviewed the literature and best practices, conducted an audit of existing programs and services and prepared a report and recommendations for action. Already, human and financial resources are being identified and redirected to accomplish this goal.
It is time to engage the larger community. The actions outlined here are a starting point—for discussion, for development and for implementation. High school graduation for all of our students is much more than a worthy goal. The individual, community and societal consequences of an interrupted education are both tragic and costly. Working together, we can prevail.
Find out:
What Businesses Can Do
- Support business practices that encourage school success and completion
- Make school enrollment a condition of employment for teens
- Provide incentives for school performance and attendance
- Limit employee student work schedules to 10:00 p.m. on school nights
- Request to see report cards, progress notes, etc.
- Allow adult employees to attend school/teacher conferences without penalty
- Participate in outreach efforts such as neighborhood walks and phone banks/telethons to recover dropouts
- Establish, solicit for and award college scholarships
- Establish college trust funds and match contributions
- Establish internships and other school-to-work opportunities
What Parents Can Do
- Insist that your child is in school all day, every day, on time—with homework and materials in hand
- Monitor homework and grades
- Read and respond to progress reports, failure notices and report cards
- Ensure your child attends middle and high school (6th/9th grades) summer Transition Camps
- Insist on a rigorous schedule of classes
- Communicate with teachers and administrators
- Visit schools and volunteer
- Insist on the Recommended Graduation Plan
- Review and sign child’s Academic Learning Plan every year
- Participate in parent classes offered at school
- Schedule at least one conference a year
- Inquire how to access and apply for scholarship money
- Sign up your child for PSAT and SAT testing
- Ensure your child takes an SAT preparation class
- Be an active member of the PTA/PTO or other parent/school groups
- Refuse to sign permission forms to withdraw students from school unless moving to a new location; refuse to allow your child to drop out
What Students Can Do
- Attend school every day, arrive on time and have homework and materials in hand
- Actively participate in class and ask questions
- Develop goals as part of your high school Academic Learning Plan and discuss them with your parents
- Take rigorous courses to prepare for college
- Be responsible for your own learning through:
- Monitoring your own test results
- Attending tutorials
- Joining a study group
- Asking for help when needed
- Participate in extra-curricular activities
- Inquire how to access and apply for scholarship money
- Sign up for PSAT and SAT testing and take an SAT preparation class
- Study/read every day, whether or not there are homework assignments
- Find at least one adult, other than a parent, who will support your success in school
- Say “no” to drug, alcohol and tobacco use
- Stay healthy through proper eating and exercise
What Higher Education Can Do
- Waive tuition and fees for students taking dual credit courses
- Increase number of needs-based scholarships and work-study opportunities
- Provide students:
- College student mentoring programs
- Life-skills/college readiness retreats
- Leadership development training
- Develop strategies to engage parents
- Sponsor campus “VIP” tours to acquaint parents with college
- Provide freshman transition camps and support student groups, particularly for ethnic minorities
- Give priority to the Fort Worth ISD for student-teacher and intern placements to better equip future teachers for the challenges and benefits of teaching in the urban environment
- Require pre-service teachers to teach in Fort Worth ISD
- Attend career fairs, career days and college nights
- Collaborate with the Fort Worth ISD in teacher and administrator preparation programs
What Schools Can Do
- Establish District-wide focus and organization for school completion initiatives
- Redirect human and financial resources to support the initiatives
- Establish protocols for early identification, support for and tracking of “at risk” students
- Expand prevention and intervention counseling and support services at all levels
- Expand initiatives that support students’ pursuit of post-secondary education: AVID, AccuPlacer testing, financial support for SAT preparation, PSAT administration, etc.
- Implement peer study groups
- Annually review and discuss individual test data with every student
- Provide summer Transition Camps (6th/9th grades)
- Expand school completion opportunities at the District and campus level (i.e. Success HS, AdvancedPath or alternative schools)
- Implement alternative learning opportunities with flexible schedules and expanded hours
- Actively engage all stakeholder groups: parents, students and families, businesses, social service agencies, higher education and faith-based organizations
- Evaluate programs and services for outcomes and impact
- Conduct annual transcript audits to monitor students for on-time graduation
- Insist on annual Parent/Student/School review of the high school Academic Learning Plan
What the Faith Community Can Do
- Locate and register all students within attendance boundaries
- Support students and parents in school success, character development and church attendance
- Provide homework help/tutorials at the place of worship
- Host school events and community forums to support educational initiatives
- Announce school events and key dates to include open house, report card dates, testing dates, etc.
- Celebrate academic and school accomplishments at church events and in newsletters
- Develop community-service and work opportunities that provide financial support for college
- Establish scholarship fund for aspiring youth members
- Assist with school clothing and supplies
- Set annual and long-term goals for increasing youth attendance at worship service
What Social Services Can Do
- Expand campus-level and Family Resource Center collaborations and services
- Expand medical/health services through the Family Resource Centers and campusbased clinics
- Include information about educational requirements and opportunities during service delivery
- Sponsor back-to-school events that include provision of school clothing and supplies
- Collaborate with schools to make educational outcomes a part of the agency’s service plan
- Consider on-site tutorial and homework support
Working together, we can prevail.