1 Oct 2002
Middle School Presentations Give Students Glimpse of Life After High School
DALLAS– While too young to get a driver's license, eighth grade students in the Dallas Independent School District are not just passengers when it comes to mapping their graduation degree plans.
This year all 11,238 eighth graders are getting their introduction to the Texas Scholars Program through presentations hosted by local businesses at all 28 DISD middle schools. The presentations started Sept. 30 and continues through Oct. 9.
By participating in the Texas Scholars Program, these students are learning that they are old enough to be the driving force behind meeting the challenge of the state's two highest graduation plans: the Recommended High School Program and the Distinguished Achievement High School Program.
The more rigorous courses under the recommended and distinguished plans provide high school graduates with the knowledge and skills that equip them for college or any higher learning institution, said Judy Bobbitt, DISD Texas Scholars Program liaison.
A joint venture between DISD and the Greater Dallas Chamber, the district starts emphasizing the impact of completing the more rigorous graduation plans before students get to their freshman year; and with the help of counselors, teachers and parents, students are supported and encouraged to stay focused on the advanced degree plans throughout their four years in high school.
For the middle schools, business volunteers from 22 companies and organizations have been trained to make ip>It's Your Life, Take Charge presentations to the students. During the presentations, students will be engaged through dialogue about goal setting; the U.S. job market as it compares to other countries; the U.S. and Japan education systems; and global competition. The students also will receive a quick lesson in managing a budget based on a monthly salary of $2,000.
The objective of the presentations is to encourage middle school students to take the courses that prepare them to compete in the high technology, global economy awaiting them in the workforce.
Representatives from JP Morgan and Optimance have selected Edward H. Cary Middle School to partner. Also, the volunteers plan to donate calculators to all Cary Middle School eighth graders and their teachers. During the course of the day, the 470 eighth graders will have the opportunity to participate in a presentation by 23 business volunteers. The school is located at 3978 Killion Drive.
Cary Middle School counselor Gregory Robins said the business community reinforces the message that educators communicate as they advise students daily on their choices of classes.
"Our students respond well to the business volunteers," he said. "It is a good and productive partnership when educators and the business community unite to challenge students to set high expectations for their education and themselves."
Endorsed by the State Board of Education, Texas Scholars Program has been a statewide initiative since 1993. As of August 2002, the program has been implemented in about 308 Texas school districts. This is Dallas' third year to participate in the program.
To graduate as Texas Scholars, students must complete at least the Recommended High School Program. The program requires students to take on level and advanced courses in math, science, social studies and language arts, including foreign languages.
"When seniors walk off the stage at graduation, they will enter a world that is globally competitive," said Bobbitt. "That is not the moment for them to realize the courses they took in high school only prepared them to pass the exit exam. Fortunately, such a scenario does not have to be a reality for the Dallas schoolchildren. The district's Texas Scholars Program begins teaching middle school students how their early choices about education matter.
All DISD's ninth graders enter high school on at least the recommended plan. Students who graduate under the program or the distinguished plan become Texas Scholars, receiving special recognition at their high school graduation ceremony.
"Texas Scholars graduates have a better chance to get accepted in a recognized college or university; they have increased their scholarship opportunities; and they are eligible to apply for funds for college tuition and fees," Bobbitt said. "Other benefits associated with the honor and accomplishment include improved decision-making and critical thinking skills and better grade point averages in college as well as higher test scores."
Robins said the research indicates that students taking more challenging courses in high school are successful in college and later on in life.
"The advanced plans produce better educated students," he said. "After four years of college, these students are more marketable, creating a better pool of applicants for the business community. The Texas Scholars students get the opportunity to be considered for those well-paying jobs which afford them a higher style of living." For more information about the schedule of the Texas Scholars Program presentations in DISD middle schools, contact Judy Bobbitt at (972) 925-3505.
A list of businesses and organizations participating in the presentations throughout the district follows.
ACS
Ajilon
Beck
Business Control SystemsDART
Dallas County Community College District
Deloitte & Touche
DYLA
Greater Dallas Chamber
JP Morgan
Kinkos
Marsh
Oncor
Optimance
re:think, inc
Rotary Club
Southern Methodist University
Southwest Airlines
State Farm Insurance Companies
Texas Instruments
TMAC
Valtech Technologies