WISD's WAY program helping at-risk students work toward high school diploma, officials say
Note: Shanen Woods' name has been corrected
After joining the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s Widening Advancements for Youth (WAY) program, Woods, of Ypsilanti, said she believes she’s on her way to making her life better than it could have been before she joined the program.
“It’s taken me to get my own high school diploma,” she said, after being asked where the WAY program was taking her. “After I get it, I’ll go to college and make something out of my life to support me and my children.”
Allexis Ford works on a WAY project earlier this school year.
Photo courtesy of the WISD
Sarena Shivers, interim assistant superintendent of school services for the WISD, said the program has 234 students — 70 of which were considered to have dropped out of school before entering the program.
When speaking to the Ypsilanti school board on Monday, Shivers said students have earned an average of 1.3 credits toward graduation since the beginning of the year. While that may not sound like a lot, Shivers said it speaks to the program’s progress.
“We have some students in the program who have been in high school for three years and have zero credits, or two or three credits,” she said, adding some students in the program will graduate this year because of their work in the program.
Shivers said leaders are evaluating the first year, which will help them decide how to shape the program for the next few years.
Among the goals for the next school year were to add sites around the county, possibly in local libraries, where students in the program can go to work on their projects. Project choices, which can be in subjects like photography or cosmetology, are at the discretion of the student, who is called a researcher and must find a cross-discipline interest area and use technology to work on his or her project.
Projects are available to be worked on at any time, including holidays.
Shivers said WAY leaders are hoping to enroll an additional 180-200 students in the next school year. The wait list currently has about 150 students, she said.
“We’re working to get the profile of a student that’s successful in the program,” Shivers said. “What does that student look like and what do they need to be successful.”
Sean Fountain, one of two team leaders in the program, said letting students choose the projects guarantees they'll be interested in the subject matter.
Jessica Horste, another team leader, gave examples of how both students and mentors in the program have handled various situations, such as working through projects until the early morning hours or working on holidays.
She said grading in the program is always done in a upbeat manner, highlighting what the student did well and where he or she can grow.
“It’s always done in a positive light,” Horste said. “You want them to feel good about what they’ve done and tell them how they can expand to do better. The researchers (the WAY program word for students) can talk to who grades them directly.”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.
On the degree vs. diploma issue, the headline reflects the more commonly used word. Thanks.
ironyinthesky2
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
1.3 credits/student reflects the program's success? Did the Ypsi School board actually buy this assessment? "Since the beginning of the year" means over a semester of effort. Regular high school students are expected to earn 3 credits/semester, so the WAY students aren't even accomplishing half the norm. Wow. Maybe it's just me, but this looks like a clear case of dragging people off the street and creating jobs for the adults involved in the program. WAY gets the state funding for each student whether the student succeeds or not, and it sure looks like most are not succeeding. I'm guessing there are several that have earned several credits, so the 1.3 average would mean many are accomplishing almost nothing. I hope the state really investigates this and other programs like it. Our $$$ should go to programs that work.
Bob
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
d2ina2 -That particular article is a point of frustration to me. Michigan uses the ACT as their 11th grade assessment tool. Most other states do not require students take it, therefore it is taken by mostly college prep students and the results appear to be better. Also, most high schools are not advertised as "college prep", rather they are "comprehensive", meaning students can also focus on vocational or other career areas.
d2ina2
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
Ironinthesky2 - The question is how do you define "programs that work?" I'd argue that any school district that markets itself as comprehensive "college prep" should able to have at least 60% of its students test at college level on the ACT. Sadly, no district in this county is even at 50% with A2 at 42%. click on for more info: <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20110222/NEWS06/110221036/Database-How-college-ready-students-Michigan-high-schools-" rel='nofollow'>http://www.freep.com/article/20110222/NEWS06/110221036/Database-How-college-ready-students-Michigan-high-schools-</a>
d2ina2
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 12:04 p.m.
DonBee - It is my opinion that we should consider SEE programs, such as WAY and the IB, to consolidate educational programming at a county level and by doing so allow local school boards to eliminate district programs that are expensive and out dated in their design. So, I believe we are in agreement on this point.
Adele
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
High school degree? Degree? No, it's called a diploma. A degree is a level of academic achievement one attains by acquiring knowledge in a given field. A high school diploma just means you've met the minimum academic requirements to be a productive member of society.
xmo
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 3:08 p.m.
So, How much does this cost? Its great to help people but with a limited budget we need to get the most for our dollars spent. My guess, is that this program takes away money from the regular students in order to help these students who have problems. Please prove me wrong and provide some facts not a bunch of emotion garbage! The report needs to work for Fox News: Report the facts and let us decide!
DonBee
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
d2ina2 - You did not address my comments. Is this a duplication of programs and can we afford to have the same program at 2 levels of county education establishment? Yes, I agree it is up to AAPS's board to decide whether to close the existing programs. As to cost both the school formerly known as "Stone" and Roberto Clemente are well above the foundation grant in cost to run the program, much of it in overhead for the small number of students served.
d2ina2
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
I will respond to DonBee's and XMO's comments: The WAY Program is a designated as a Shared Educational Entity, or SEE. Other examples of the SEE programs are the Early College Alliance @ Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw International High School (International Baccalaureate, online fall 2011). These programs are by default county-wide consolidation programs and school districts through local school board action decide to become participating members. Whether or not AAPS elects to shutter Roberto Clemente or Stone School is up to the school boards to decided, not the WISD. The cost of these programs is approximately 100% of the foundation allowance (the ECA @ EMU is actually less). However, the cost of educating a traditional high school student is approximately 115-120% of the foundation allowance (school districts save revenue on elementary and middle school students), and thus all three of these programs are operating "below cost." No money whatsoever is being taken away from any student, it is simply being shifted to the entity that is educating the student. Regarding XMO's comments. The ECA @ EMU is the most efficient use of "dual use" money in the state of Michigan. ECA students who are members of (Milan, Lincoln, Ypsilanti, Willow Run, Whitmore Lake, Ann Arbor and Chelsea) can participate while in high school and earn up to 60 college credits from EMU to NO COST to the student or parent. That is $1 state dollar going to two institutions, plus academic rigor, plus college graduates. School districts such as Ann Arbor and the WISD are trying to innovate, save money and be responsive to meeting the needs of all students which in some cases is about credit recover and completing a diploma, but at least through WAY they have a chance to do so. Sadly, XMO's comments are exactly what he/she said they were, a guess and a bad, poorly informed one at that.
Marshall Applewhite
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Since when did someone receive a degree upon graduating from High School?
DonBee
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 2 p.m.
We really need the program, don't get me wrong. But do we need to duplicate services at multiple levels? So does this mean that AAPS can close Roberto Clemente and the school formerly known as Stone? I don't see why we have these programs at two levels of government in the county. If the WISD is going to offer this kind of a program, would it not be wise to consolidate to a single program county wide?