Project SOAR Project SOAR IIII

““Successful Options for Academic Successful Options for Academic Readiness”Readiness”

Project SOAR II is a GEAR-UP Initiative funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education

California State University East Bay California State University East Bay FoundationFoundation

SummarySummary Project SOAR II is the second 6 year cycle Project SOAR II is the second 6 year cycle

of a US Department of Education GEAR-UP of a US Department of Education GEAR-UP grant.grant.

Cycle I began with the 7th Grade Class of Cycle I began with the 7th Grade Class of 1999.1999.

The Class of 2005 (Cycle I) had the The Class of 2005 (Cycle I) had the highest OUSD graduation rate in 10 years.highest OUSD graduation rate in 10 years.

Cycle II began with the 7Cycle II began with the 7thth Grade cohort of Grade cohort of 2005; on track to graduate in 2011.2005; on track to graduate in 2011.

The Cycle II cohort are currently 10The Cycle II cohort are currently 10thth Graders.Graders.

Familiar faces from the last cohort- Familiar faces from the last cohort- Class of 2005!Class of 2005!

Project SOAR students today:Project SOAR students today:

Project SOAR students today:Project SOAR students today:

GEAR-UPGEAR-UP GEAR-UP: Gaining Early Awareness and GEAR-UP: Gaining Early Awareness and

Readiness for Undergraduate ProgramsReadiness for Undergraduate Programs A US Department of Education grant A US Department of Education grant

supporting high-school retention and college supporting high-school retention and college readiness in Title I schools, through long readiness in Title I schools, through long range, cohort-based programsrange, cohort-based programs

Funding for GEAR-UP began in 1998 under Funding for GEAR-UP began in 1998 under the leadership of President Bill Clinton.the leadership of President Bill Clinton.

Project SOAR II is the only GEAR-UP program Project SOAR II is the only GEAR-UP program serving students in the Oakland Unified serving students in the Oakland Unified School District.School District.

Project GoalsProject Goals

Supporting low-income Supporting low-income youth to become aware youth to become aware of the importance of of the importance of preparing early for preparing early for collegecollege

Is intended to support Is intended to support systemic change at the systemic change at the secondary and post secondary and post secondary levels that secondary levels that over time will increase over time will increase the number of low-the number of low-income youth to attend income youth to attend and succeed in collegeand succeed in college

Insert picture of students

Description of Project Description of Project SOAR IISOAR II

Year 4 of a 6-year project begun Year 4 of a 6-year project begun in 2005in 2005

Target Group:Target Group: Cohort of 7Cohort of 7thth graders in 2005-2006 graders in 2005-2006

Current 10Current 10thth graders in 2008-2009 graders in 2008-2009

College Freshman in September, 2011College Freshman in September, 2011

Project SOAR II High Project SOAR II High SchoolsSchools

Castlemont Community Castlemont Community -Business & Information-Business & Information TechnologyTechnology -East Oakland School of the -East Oakland School of the

ArtsArts -Leadership Preparatory -Leadership Preparatory Fremont Federation Fremont Federation -College Prep & Architecture-College Prep & Architecture -Media College Prep-Media College Prep -Mandela-Mandela -Robeson School Visual & -Robeson School Visual &

Performing ArtsPerforming Arts

Life AcademyLife AcademyMcClymonds CommunityMcClymonds Community -Best-Best -Excel-ExcelMet WestMet WestOakland International Oakland International Oakland Technical Oakland Technical Oakland High School Oakland High School Skyline High SchoolSkyline High SchoolYouth Empowerment Youth Empowerment

School (YESSchool (YES))

Project SOAR II & OUSDProject SOAR II & OUSD

Project SOAR II is a federal GEAR-UP Project SOAR II is a federal GEAR-UP Partnership Grant established as a Partnership Grant established as a partnership between: partnership between: 

The local higher education institution (IHE):The local higher education institution (IHE):•     Cal State University East Bay Foundation  Cal State University East Bay Foundation  

The local education agency (LEA):The local education agency (LEA):• Oakland Unified School District Oakland Unified School District

Project SOAR II & OUSDProject SOAR II & OUSD

GEAR – UP Partnership Grants mandate a GEAR – UP Partnership Grants mandate a dollar-for-dollar, annual documentation of dollar-for-dollar, annual documentation of non-federal contributions, or “Match”.  non-federal contributions, or “Match”. 

The “Match” contributions can take the form The “Match” contributions can take the form of in-kind, time/effort costs, cash, resources of in-kind, time/effort costs, cash, resources and supplies, or service contributions. and supplies, or service contributions. 

Project SOAR II must document a “Match” Project SOAR II must document a “Match” of 2.8 million dollars annually.of 2.8 million dollars annually.

Project SOAR IIProject SOAR II“Successful Options for Academic Readiness”

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Academic Strand

Parent Strand

Partnership Strand

Systemic Strand

data driven

data driven

data driven

data driven

Project StrandsProject Strands

AcademicAcademic

SystemicSystemic

Parent EducationParent Education

Community PartnershipsCommunity Partnerships

Academic StrandAcademic Strand

Academic Support and Academic Support and EnhancementEnhancement

Tutorial (in school and extended day)Tutorial (in school and extended day)

Counseling (one on one student support)Counseling (one on one student support)

• Individual Student Plan (ISP)Individual Student Plan (ISP)

• Student Intervention Plan (SIP)Student Intervention Plan (SIP)

Academic StrandAcademic Strand College Preparation / Career ExplorationCollege Preparation / Career Exploration

College Visitations / Job ShadowingCollege Visitations / Job Shadowing

Career Exploration FaireCareer Exploration Faire

TechnologyTechnology

Take-Home Computer ProgramTake-Home Computer Program

1010thth Grade Summer Program – Summer 2009 Grade Summer Program – Summer 2009

Partnership between Project SOAR & OUSDPartnership between Project SOAR & OUSD

Academic Enrichment / Early College AccessAcademic Enrichment / Early College Access

Targeted Intervention / CAHSEETargeted Intervention / CAHSEE

Systemic StrandSystemic Strand Promotion of a Data-Driven SystemPromotion of a Data-Driven System

Build capacity to track and report student progressBuild capacity to track and report student progress Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Use of student data to inform professional Use of student data to inform professional development needs.development needs.

Build leadership capacityBuild leadership capacity Comprehensive Planning at Each School Comprehensive Planning at Each School

SiteSite Coordination of Program and Partner Coordination of Program and Partner

ServicesServices Vertical Articulation of cohort 7Vertical Articulation of cohort 7thth to 12 to 12thth

gradesgrades Sharing of “best-practices” for promoting Sharing of “best-practices” for promoting

college-going culturecollege-going culture

Parent StrandParent Strand

Parent Liaison team provides outreach Parent Liaison team provides outreach supportsupport

Increase parent involvement at all SOAR Increase parent involvement at all SOAR sitessites

Increase parent awareness of college Increase parent awareness of college access requirementsaccess requirements

Provide parents with the tools/resources Provide parents with the tools/resources needed for academic planningneeded for academic planning

Partnership StrandPartnership Strand

Increase resources to support cohort through:Increase resources to support cohort through:•ScholarshipsScholarships•MentoringMentoring•Take-Home Computer ProgramTake-Home Computer Program•Sponsoring Activities and EventsSponsoring Activities and Events•Teacher Training in Content AreasTeacher Training in Content Areas•Counselor TrainingCounselor Training•Summer ProgramsSummer Programs•Access to local Partner FacilitiesAccess to local Partner Facilities

Focus Areas for Year 4 (10Focus Areas for Year 4 (10thth Grade)Grade)

PSAT Preparation and PSAT Preparation and ParticipationParticipation

CAHSEE Preparation and CAHSEE Preparation and Proficiency Levels ( Scores > Proficiency Levels ( Scores > 380! )380! )

Local College VisitsLocal College Visits Awareness and fulfillment of A-G Awareness and fulfillment of A-G

RequirementsRequirements