We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective only when we begin with the end in mind. —Steven Covey

Dear Educator,

When I read Habit 2 in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey told us to remove distractions and plan to spend some time on this chapter because it would change our lives. I thought, "How pompous. I've read a dozen books on goal setting, and not one of them has changed my life."

After I read the chapter, I had to agree with Covey. I made some personal changes in my life as a result of reading his book. They were lifelong changes, not just something different that I did for a while. Covey's quote on goal setting challenged me to more than a finished product; it helped me see the future in terms of my personal beliefs and values.

This is that "wonderful, terrible" time of year on our school campuses when we must take stock. We measure our accomplishments and bring closure to one school year while we plan another one. We celebrate our successes; we grieve our failures; we seek new direction to make sure that next year brings us closer to our true goals–those which match our beliefs and values.

Read our Feature Article to discover SCORE's commitment to belief-based systemic change...that kind of reform that enables students to produce creative, high-quality work that matches their personal beliefs and values. Plan to attend our Summer Institute to personalize your belief-based site plan...to "begin with the end in mind."

May you live to achieve your real goals. May you end this year with pride in your accomplishments as they are reflected in student achievement. May your plans for next year make sure every student succeeds.

Sharon Marshall Lockett, Director
SCORE... For College and Career
sharon@score-ed.com

Begin With The End In Mind

SCORE is a systemic change program offering staff development, curricular and support materials, and technical assistance to schools in the midst of reform.

At the heart of school reform is change. We face exciting opportunities and grave challenges. We can, and we will, bring about powerful learning for every student. But we won't do it with "business as usual." We must change. We must change the way we see students. We must change the way we see ourselves. We must change the way we think about our profession. We must change the way we practice collaboration.

1. For students to be eligible for their chosen college or career by the time they graduate from high school, they must participate in a rigorous academic studies leading to appropriate content mastery.
2. If students are to be successful in these studies, they need to learn effective study skills.
3. If students are to be successfully placed in a rigorous academic core curriculum, they will need academic support outside the traditional classroom.
4. If high-risk students are to be successful in this curriculum, teachers must use whole-brain, state-of-the-art, multiple modality teaching techniques.
5. If students are to be successful, they must recognize those elements in their lives which keep them in the downward spiral of failure; they must be provided with the means and/or tools to remove these negative elements from their lives. These negative factors include, but are not limited to, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, grief, loss, violence, gang involvement, or poor attendance.
6. High-risk students, in order to be successful academically, need support from multiple sources: family, community, peers, and educators.

If any of these elements is missing from a program, the end result will be diminished. When these elements support one another toward a common goal, the results in student achievement are dramatic.

Truly accelerating students involves planned change. In order to bring about this change, we need to examine expectations, school climate, and school culture on our campuses. Questions about student success and failure must be asked and answered, honestly. Planned change begins with the organizational chart.

Organizational charts deal with the responsibilities of the individuals in the organization as they strive to meet the common goal and enact a set of common values. SCORE’s organizational, too, chart deals with responsibility for meeting a common goal. Shown as an inverted pyramid, it is the responsibility of administrators to lift their hands in support of teachers. It is the responsibility of teachers to lift their hands in support of parents, students, and partners. It is the responsibility of parents, students, and partners to join in the cause of powerful learning in a rich curriculum for everyone.

Do you need help meeting these goals? See Upcoming Workshops for SCORE's "Fast Track" to success.

SCORE periodically offers centralized workshops...or SCORE can come to you! If you have more than 10 staff members to train, fill in the information on our contact form and we will send you a Training Options flyer, personalized to your site.

Attend the Summer Institute: July 26 –August 2, 2006

Get on the Fast Track to student success! Learn all of SCORE's effective strategies at once. Bring your family on a working vacation in Southern California, half way between the beaches and Disneyland. Register for all 6 days before June 1 for a 20% discount!

You receive 1) one each of all of SCORE's publications (worth $1,000), including the newly-revised Accelerating High-Risk Youth: A Leader's Guide, featured below; 2) six exciting, interactive days of in-service; 3) continental breakfast and lunch each day. Register now to receive our Early Bird Special Price.

SCORE 101: Adoption Workshop: July 26–28, 2006

Use SCORE to plan your reform with your site restructuring team.

• Re-think the way you do business with a focus on “What Works” for reaching high-risk students.
• Discover SCORE’s proven strategies for creating systemic change.
• Develop a customized program to accelerate the achievement of high-risk youth.
• Receive curricular materials to assure successful implementation.
• Leave with an Action Plan tailored to your site.

SCORE has helped us to focus the many facets of our educational program to provide a more concerted effort toward higher student achievement. Classroom teachers are enthusiastic!
I am glad I found another way to touch the life of a child and help them develop into a great individual. All children can and will learn–no exceptions!
I can’t wait to go back to school and get started. I’m leaving the workshop with a “do-able” plan and look forward to the upcoming technical assistance.

We can come to you! Tell us what you need at http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm

Study Skills: July 31–August 1, 2006

Train your entire faculty! You will gain skills and resources to:

• Increase student retention
• Improve reading speed and comprehension
• Identify learning preferences
• Enhance student interest level
• Help students listen and ask effective questions
• Teach effective memory techniques
• Improve test scores

I left thinking I had a wonderful few days. I got home and realized it had been a life-changing experience!
It’s very exciting to think about the students using these ideas not only for better grades, but for life experiences.
SCORE is a tool I can and will use. Thank you.
SCORE is great. I already see a difference in my students.
Well done in a productive balance.

We can come to you. Tell us what you need at http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm

Crisis, Grief, and Loss...and How to Help Your Students Through It: August 2, 2006

Grief is a fact of our students' lives (not to mention our own!).

When they are grieving, the way they learn changes. That means we need to reach them differently.

Attend this SCORE workshop to learn:

• How to read the subtle signs of a student in crisis
  (you already recognize their "not-so-subtle" messages!)
• What to do about it, both in and out of the classroom
  (you may gain validation and ammunition!)
• Where to go to find help
  (help for them is also help for you...your job will be so much easier!)
• How to change your teaching content and methodology to accommodate crises
  (and we teachers are always looking for a new strategy!)
  

Do you have a student in mind? They're invited! Listen to what students say:

I learned that grief will not go away, and when you go through depression do something.
I learned to be responsible and make good decisions.
This week I know not to take my anger out on someone else and not to argue so much.
I think you should go over this every year because it can help other people like it helped me.
I think that if it wasn’t for me, my friend would’ve joined his mother on the other side.
(Student participant one year after training)

We can come to you! Tell us what you need at http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm.

Accelerating High-Risk Youth: A Leader's Guide

SCORE works with school teams to establish, enhance, or overhaul academic support programs including study skills, tutorials, teacher advisory programs, motivational programs, after school programs, parent
partnerships, and guidance activities. SCORE improves student behavior and attitude, accelerates student academic performance, and increases college and career eligibility rates, especially for high-risk students.

SCORE works! It received recognition by the United States Department of Education as a model program and is a member of the National Diffusion Network (NDN).

This booklet shares SCORE's vision and keys to success. Every administrator will want a copy.

One hundred two (102) text pages describe how a school can shape a culture that rewards achievement – even among the high-risk student population!

Section I deals with The Vision: recommendations and strategies for creating a school culture of student success

* High Expectations
* Partnerships
* School Climate
* School Culture
* Putting It All Together

Section II deals with The Program: designing effective support structures to ensure that every student succeeds

* Guidance Services
* Academic Support Services
* Motivational Activities
* Parent Support Programs
* Putting It All Together

Focus: K-12 Restructuring Teams

SCORE Celebrates 25 Years of Improving Student Achievement!

SCORE is a comprehensive systemic change program, validated for effectiveness by the United States Department of Education. SCORE provides in-services, technical assistance, and field-tested materials, all proven to result in increased student achievement. To request specific information related to your site, visit: http://www.score-ed.com/contact.htm

• SCORE is not a "packaged program;" rather, school teams design a custom implementation that meets the SCORE success criteria and allows local ownership.
• SCORE is successful in helping language minority and Title I students achieve university eligibility by the time they graduate from high school.
• SCORE empowers students through a variety of strategies, enabling them to adapt learning to their strengths and their teacher's presentation style.
• SCORE's Study Skills curriculum is unequalled, and should be made available to all students. SCORE's primary focus is grades 6–10, but it has been adapted to meet the needs of both older and younger students.
• SCORE's Guidance Curriculum, available only through the SCORE 101 workshop, empowers schools to meet accreditation criteria and empowers students to take personal responsibility for their learning.

What do Others Say?

While school reform is a hot topic of conversation, many educators have not implemented practical programs that can help students live up to their full potential. I strongly recommend SCORE for your school. This is too good a program not to give it to everyone!

Maeva K. Hutter
Title 1 Coordinator
Willard Intermediate School

I can't say enough about how SCORE has positively impacted our Indian Education program. The SCORE program builds pride back into our students by helping them see good points, bring out their strengths, and talk about what they do well while they achieve success in school. Students have recently commented that they wish all their classes were taught like the SCORE class, "school wouldn't be boring." This is the most comprehensive model of student assistance that I have ever used. Yokoke, thank you to the SCORE staff for all of the support that we receive in helping our American Indian students realize their dreams.

Michael Folsom. M. S.
Counselor, Indian Education
Huntington Beach Union High School District

The SCORE staff, eager to support you in your quest to improve academic performance, is always as near as your mouse click, fax, or phone number:

Educational Innovations/SCORE
30100 Town Center Drive
Suite O, PMB 379
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
http://www.score-ed.com

949-363-6764 Voice/Fax

sharon@score-ed.com