Reaching Potential Through Manufacturing: Strategies to Help “At Risk” Students Graduate and Become Career Ready

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Reaching Potential though Manufacturing

Second Presenter's Institution

N/A

Third Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fourth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fifth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Location

Session 2 (Percival)

Strand #1

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Strand #2

Family & Community

Relevance

Academic achievement and leadership: The program is designed to help the most "at risk" students in the Richmond County School System. The program goals are to increase the system's graduation rate in order to better meet the needs of the students and the workforce development needs of the district.

Social and emotional skills/Health: Outside of the support the program gives the students, we have also developed an RPM Family Action Team which serves as the programs own case management team to deal with various social issues. Many of the students in the program have severe, adverse life situations, which hinder them from being successful in school. The Action Team provides much needed wrap around services in many areas to include housing, food and clothing, mental health counseling and well being, and health and nutrition services.

Family and community: the program is a day to day partnership with one of the top companies in Augusta and the United States. It is a win for the school system with helping more students graduate. It is a win for the business by helping with their workforce development needs. It is a win for the community by helping more students and their families with employment opportunities and continued support. And it is a win for Augusta by serving as a model and place where a multitude of organizations come together with the goal of help the communities children become successful.

Brief Program Description

RPM is a partnership between EZ-GO Textron, makers of EZ-GO golf cars, and The Richmond County School System. RPM was replicated following the model developed by Southwire and The Carrol County School System, 12 for Life, in Carrolton, Georgia. Students involved in the program are part time employees of EZ-GO Textron, who go to school for half of the day and make sub assembly parts for EZ-GO golf cars during the other half. The program targets “at risk” students who are in need of intense interventions and support. The goals of the program are to reestablish academic confidence , reengage consistent attendance habits, provide monetary support, develop a good work ethic, and ultimately help the students graduate from high school.

Summary

The inaugural class of 75 students entered the cooperative education program, which combines an instructional day with a four-hour work shift at the RPM manufacturing facility. The students produce subcomponents and subassemblies for products manufactured by Textron Specialized Vehicles, which manufactures vehicles under the E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Textron Off-Road®, TUG™, Douglas™, Jacobsen®, and Artic Cat brands®.

Besides the manufacturing floor, the facility includes classrooms and educational spaces to allow students to make progress toward their high-school diploma, and earn valuable work experience and income from a single facility. Students attend classes either at their home high school, or they take coursework at the RPM facility, depending on their specific needs. Besides traditional academic classes, RPM students also receive training in life skills, job skills, and are provided tutoring resources as needed.

The program draws students from all Richmond County high schools. Students apply for the program, and are selected for participation based upon need and the suitability of the program to help in their specific situation.

Links to program vidoes providing further detail and information:

Student testimonials: https://vimeo.com/atomicstudios/review/188326375/50f10bc74c

Program information video: https://vimeo.com/atomicstudios/review/184752752/ee0a617fcc

Evidence

Graduation rate/Dropout rate:

After the first year of operation 25 students out of the initial cohort of 75 graduated in May of 2017, 12 additional students graduated in July of 2017, and 5 more graduated in December of 2017.

At the end of the second year of operation, an additional 34 students graduated in May and another 22 students graduated in July. The total number of graduates after two years of operation is 98 students.

The impact rate was also calculated for the RPM and for each school. The impact rate is the percentage impact the RPM program had on the school system’s graduation rate as well as the impact the program had on each school’s graduation rate. The impact rate is calculated by subtracting each of the school’s RPM graduates and recalculating the graduation rate without the RPM students. Table 1 shows the graduation rate, the total of students graduated, the 2016 and 2017 graduation rates, the graduation rate without the RPM graduates, and the impact percentage for each school and for the system. Table 2 the impact rate for each school and the system in chart form. Table 3 shows the impact rate for each school from greatest to least impact and the system average.

Attendance rate:

Attendance rate improved from 85% average daily attendance (initial cohort) to 93% average daily attendance at the end of the 2017 school year. The attendance rate for the RPM summer session was 97% average daily attendance. The percentage of students missing 6 or fewer days for the initial cohort of students was 11%. At the end of the first year of the RPM program, the percentage of students missing 6 or less days was 48%. There was a 37% increase in the percentage of students absent 6 or less days.

Student discipline:

There was a 77% decrease in the number of discipline incidents at the end of the first year of operation. The initial cohort of students had 377 discipline incidents the previous year. At the end of the 2016-2017 school year, the students had 87 discipline incidents with the majority of incidents pertaining to work/school attendance policy referrals (TSV assigns points for missing work and for tardiness).

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Moore is the principal of RPM and is responsible for site supervision, staffing, student instruction, operations, public relations and communications for the Reaching Potential through Manufacturing Program for Richmond County School System. Jason began his career in education 21 years ago where he served as a science teacher and coach at Butler High School for 7 years and at Burke County High School for 2 years. He then transitioned into administration where he served as assistant principal of Cross Creek High School for 3 years. He then moved on to serve in roles of Principal of Rollins Elementary for 1 year and then principal of Cross Creek High School for the last 8 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Washington and Jefferson College, his Master’s and Specialist in Educational Leadership from Augusta State University and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University.

Keyword Descriptors

Dropout prevention, At-Risk, Alternative Education, Career Ready, Graduation Rate, Blended Learning, Effective Strategy, Community Partnerships

Presentation Year

2019

Start Date

3-4-2019 1:15 PM

End Date

3-4-2019 2:30 PM

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Mar 4th, 1:15 PM Mar 4th, 2:30 PM

Reaching Potential Through Manufacturing: Strategies to Help “At Risk” Students Graduate and Become Career Ready

Session 2 (Percival)

RPM is a partnership between EZ-GO Textron, makers of EZ-GO golf cars, and The Richmond County School System. RPM was replicated following the model developed by Southwire and The Carrol County School System, 12 for Life, in Carrolton, Georgia. Students involved in the program are part time employees of EZ-GO Textron, who go to school for half of the day and make sub assembly parts for EZ-GO golf cars during the other half. The program targets “at risk” students who are in need of intense interventions and support. The goals of the program are to reestablish academic confidence , reengage consistent attendance habits, provide monetary support, develop a good work ethic, and ultimately help the students graduate from high school.