Youth And Parents :: Thrive :: Securing Regional Growth through Education & Workforce

I’m a kid. Why should I care about taking hard courses in high school?

Because (1) you can’t get a living wage job without postsecondary education or training, and (2) waiting until after high school may be too late. High school diploma standards and college/advanced technical training entrance standards are NOT aligned.

Students who don’t take hard courses such as Algebra II or extra English may likely end up in developmental courses just to qualify for college math or composition. Those avoiding lab science courses like biology may struggle in college, especially for health care majors.

Research on five years of regional high school graduates enrolling in college the following fall shows nearly 40% require developmental courses. They will struggle even if they pursue training through an adult career center, as national research shows high school graduates need a comparable level of readiness in math and reading whether entering college or workforce training. Now that we’ve depressed you, cheer up with by watching some crazy commercials on “tough courses”.

High School Resources

Brochure on the Ohio Career Information System High school, available through your school onsite and online. Using OCIS in high school supports lifelong career planning and promotes career self-reliance.

Knowhow2go Ohio. This site, sponsored by the Ohio College Access Network, provides advice for each year of the high school experience for best preparing for college in an edgy format that youth will enjoy! The advice applies whether planning to enter college or advanced workforce training.

The difference between high school and college. This site spells out the radical differences between high school and college, and the importance of student-faculty interaction for college success.

Early College Options

Ohio College Tech Prep programs offer college-equivalent courses in high schools to qualified students who are interested in technical careers. You prepare for college while developing skills you need for challenging technical careers. Find out how to get involved by clicking on the map.

Seniors to Sophomores. This is a dual enrollment program, which enables academically qualified high school seniors to earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Students who participate in Seniors to Sophomores will be enrolled in college classes on a University System of Ohio campus and will have the opportunity to earn a year's worth of both high school and college credit at no cost to the student. Participating students can avail themselves to online college coursework, provided that option is available to regular college students. Multiple Thrive campuses offer this option.

Advanced Placement . Beginning in 2009, students in Ohio who take a College Board Advanced Placement examination and score at least a '3' are guaranteed college credit upon entering an Ohio Public Institution of Higher Education. The exact number of credits and how those credits will apply towards a degree at an institution vary from test to test and institution to institution, but they will count towards the general education curriculum when possible.

Post Secondary Enrollment Options. The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program was created to enable high school students in grades nine through twelve to earn college and high school graduation credit through the successful completion of college courses. This site allows the user to track historical participation by high school or college. Contact your guidance counselor for information on this program, and consult this brochure for important deadlines.

Middle School

Brochure on the Ohio Career Information System Jr. for middle schoolers, available through your school onsite and online. It supports reading, writing, decision-making, and critical thinking skills while developing self-awareness, career exploration, research, and planning skills.

Knowhow2go Ohio - Middle School. This site gives age-appropriate advice to middle schoolers on how to best use their time preparing for college or advanced training.

Elementary School

Career Exploration for Kids. This career exploration site is tailored to elementary students.

The ACT

Governor Strickland has proposed replacing the Ohio Graduation Test with a comprehensive assessment including the ACT college readiness examination in writing, science, math and language arts. ACT’s COMPASS is the standard assessment instrument for math and English placement in most public Ohio colleges, so it makes sense to become familiar with ACT products.

ACT student site. This site contains key information on test prep, college/career planning, financial aid, student blogs and podcasts. It also contains student-focused on the “pre-ACT” assessments EXPLORE (8^th grade) and PLAN (10^th grade). Most schools in Ashland, Crawford and Richland county universally offer the EXPLORE and PLAN.

ACT parent site. This contains college planning help for parents, including a special page for homeschooling parents.

ACT K-12 educator site. Contains advice on helping students prepare for testing/college/careers, as well as helping schools measure student progress, assess outcomes, improve teaching/learning and strengthen school counseling programs.

Parents and Mentors

Knowhow2go – parents This site gives simple advice to Ohio parents in helping their children plan for postsecondary education or training.

MyChildsFuture.org improves parent access to information and planning resources that relate educational preparation to career goals and expectations. Includes sections for parents of elementary, middle and high school students.

MVParents.com is a resource for parents who want information about raising responsible children and teens. At the heart of MVParents is the strategic work of Search Institute and the 40 Developmental Assets cited in this Web site.

The Family Education Network website was created "empower learners of all ages to reach their full potential." The site is organized by three age groups - your child 0-6, 7-11, and 12-18. Each section includes articles, advice, and a discussion forum.

Other youth resource links

America's Career Resource Network (ACRN) This Web site serves as an online hub for career development professionals, parents, and students who want information on how career development encourages and enhances solid academic achievement.

Youth2Work Have questions about the world of work? Find out about the rules, safety, and health information for teen workers. Check out the resources for career planning, education and training, job listings and information for youth by industry.

YouthRules! Find out what the federal and state rules regarding young workers are so that you can have a safe and rewarding work experience.