Current problem in Missouri

7 out of 10 students graduate without completing the courses needed to succeed in college or the workplace

26 percent of HS Seniors only meet all 4 ACT college entrance benchmarks- English, reading, math and science49 percent will require remedial courses

Communication and applied math skills are lacking among high school graduates entering the workforce

The economic recession saw 16-24 year olds with the highest rate of unemployment- 37% unemployment rate

Skills Gap….

By the end of the decade, we will face a shortage of 12 million qualified workers for the fastest-growing sectors of the job market.

Businesses cannot find enough qualified workers to fill positions:

59 percent report “poor basic employment skills”

26 percent report “inadequate math skills”

32 percent report “poor reading and writing scores”

Show-Me Scholars is a low-cost, high-impact strategy to motivate students to complete a more rigorous set of high school courses to better prepare them for college or the workplace.

Show-Me Scholars is community based -- it brings local business leaders into classrooms, where they work with educators to motivate students to complete rigorous course work starting in eighth grade and continuing through high school.

Show-Me Scholars can align with other community programs and be a bridge to developing additional service and career programs i.e. mentoring, job shadowing and internships.

A Solution:

The State Scholars program is a national program and currently delivered in 21 states. (Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia)

Show-Me Scholars is aligned with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Comprehensive Guidance & Counseling Program.

The State Scholars Initiative

Students who take the Scholars coursework are more qualified, have a greater chance of immediate success and are more likely to secure scholarships than students that do not take as rigorous course load.

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholars core course of study

COURSES CREDITS

English (English I, English II, English III, English IV) 4

Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and 1 higher level math or CTE equivalent) 4

Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics or 1 higher level with a lab) 3

Social Sciences 3 (Options can include- Psychology and Sociology)

Economics / Finance .5

Languages other than English 2

TOTAL 16.5

Show Up 95% Attendance

Help others and yourself50 hours of community service- (20 hours may be fulfilled by either an internship, apprenticeship or job shadowing experience)

Stay on a straight path No out of School Suspensions

Stay focused Maintain C Average

Scholars Work Ethic

• Students that complete a more rigorous course of study scored an average of 2.6 points higher on the ACT and 102 points higher on the SAT.

• Adults with just a high school diploma are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor’s degree.

• Adults with just a high school diploma earn $6,000 less per year than those

with an associate’s degree, and nearly $20,000 less per year than those with

a bachelor’s degree.

• Course work is a more accurate predictor of student success than grades, test scores, or class rank, especially among minority students.

Explain impact of education

Presentations by business leaders throughout high school

Reinforcement by peers that serve as ambassadors of the program

Preferential summer job opportunities

Discount cards from area merchants

Show-Me Scholars t-shirts, jump drives, etc…

“On-track” events and award ceremonies

“On-track” recognition in local newspapers and other media

Provide support and recognition

Graduation medallions and honor cords

Gold seal on high school diploma

Recognition at special award ceremony

Recognition in graduation program

Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

Preferential employment opportunities

Recognition in local newspapers and other media

Honoring success

Simple - It is easily replicated from district to district.

Low cost- It uses existing resources. The real expense is business leaders’ time and commitment.

Effective- It puts business leaders with life experience in direct contact with employees of tomorrow.

Positive- It enables a culture of achievement.

Proven- The State Scholars Initiative has gone live in more than 450 communities nationwide.

Show-Me Scholars is a realistic solution because:

What makes this program different?

• It brings all stakeholders together in one effort -- business leaders, educators, students and parents.

• It is community based, but with state and federal support systems.

• It reaches students, communities and parents through traditional and non-traditional means.

• It is data-driven and attached to an overall reform effort to establish more rigor in high school.

Arkansas, one of the earliest State Scholars states, graduates completed higher level courses increased in over a 10-year period (1990-2000):

Geometry from 60% to 88%

Algebra II from 48% to 71%

Chemistry from 33% to 66%

Physics from 13% to 33%

Data reports success

…And the percentage of high school graduates going directly into higher education increased from 48 percent to 59 percent during that same period.

Show-Me Scholars Example Districts

Hickman Mills C-1 District

Rockwood School District

Mexico School District

Houston School District

Center School District

Rolla School District

How do you get involved?

Engage key stakeholders

Local school districts, local chambers, business leaders and professionals

Commitment

Set plan into action

Gain and maintain momentum

See tangible results

Become a Show-Me Scholar

today…

Become a Success tomorrow!

Contact Information

Brian Crouse VP of Education

Missouri Chamber Education Foundation428 East Capitol Ave.

Jefferson City, MO Bcrouse@mochamber.com

573-634-3511

www.ShowMeScholars.com

The work reported herein was supported under State Scholars Initiative, PR/Award Number (V051U050006), as administered by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department

of Education.

However, the contents do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education or the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume

endorsement by the Federal Government.

A program of