WAVE Blog

Here is a cool resource- check out the school graduation rates in your district
http://apps.arcwebservices.com/edweekv3/default.jsp

Education leaders in two states that have engaged in significant commitments to address the graduation challenge share their thoughts on how state and federal partners can work together to ensure that every student has the opportunity to graduate high school ready for career and college. Speakers include Cheryl Almeida and Adria Steinberg, Jobs for the Future (MA); Barbara Knaggs, Associate Commissioner for State Initiatives, Texas Education Agency (TX); and James Witty, Alternative Education Coordinator, Tennessee Department of Education and Executive Secretary of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Alternative Education (TN). (Forum)

http://www.aypf.org/forumbriefs/2009/fb041709.htm

Rethinking Professional Development: Comprehensive Approaches to Ensuring Effective Teaching
http://www.aypf.org/forumbriefs/2009/fb062609.htm

The Means to Grow Up: The Role of Apprenticeship in Preparing All Youth for College and Career Success:
http://www.aypf.org/forumbriefs/2009/fb071709.htm

A previous post, “What’s Your Theory,” reminds educators and youth workers to articulate their theory for working with youth, use that theory as a unifying theme for making decisions about their program design and implementation, and modify the theory as practical experience and evaluations provide new insights. Though revising an established theory in the aftermath of new evaluation is logical, it is surprising how often that information goes unexplored and effectively ignored.  Many may resist revising initially; there are both psychological and practical barriers that must be overcome. Who of us actively welcomes the additional investment of time, energy, and funding that reshaping or redesigning a program or idea requires? To learn that a driving theory did not provide the outcome you were hoping for can be extremely disappointing and often humbling.

Ultimately, however, it is critical to remember that evaluation and revision are what determine the strength of a theory; it directly influences how successful your work can and will be. Do not be afraid to make changes. As R. Buckminster Fuller points out in his article “Mistake Mystique” (http://www.waveinc.org/blog/Mistake_Mistique.pdf), we are too hard, as a culture, on mistake makers. He correctly identifies the positive consequences of making mistakes, recognizing the ways in which paying attention to and learning from “mistakes” provide the material of evolution, allowing us to think and act more efficiently in regard to our vision and goals. As programmers, advocates, or administrators we must decide whether we are committed to a theory, or to a vision. At WAVE Inc, we are committed to a vision, evident in our adoption of multiple varying theories informed by our mistakes. By remaining open minded and subscribing to a number of different ideas, we maintain a diverse set of problem solving tools, thereby minimizing the negative impact of unexpected outcomes.

Have you ever had to seriously revise a well intentioned theory that proved unsuccessful?

What are they ways you coped with the practical and psychological barriers?

How did revising your theory change your practice, and eventually change the outcome?

Don’t be blinded to a theory that, after valid research, appears counterintuitive or contrary to what you expected. The feedback mechanisms you put in place to maintain an exchange between practice and theory are essential elements that allow for growth and sustainability.

When Reverend Dunstan Matuta contacted Larry Brown at WAVE earlier this year, he was single-minded and resolute.

Young men and women in some of the poorest Tanzanian villages needed opportunities to learn and demonstrate academic, interpersonal, and leadership skills that will eventually help them put an end to poverty and injustice in their communities.  Reverend Mutata was determined to find a way to provide it. More »

A valuable new resource is now available for communities and organizations working to reduce high school dropout rates.

Grad Nation, a first-of-its-kind research-based guidebook and toolkit commissioned by America’s Promise Alliance, of which WAVE is a member, offers solutions and tools all communities and sectors can use to engage and support young people through high school—preparing them for college, work, and life.  WAVE is included in the guidebook for its research-proven dropout prevention and recovery program approaches, staff training, curriculum, and technical assistance. More »

Program Rescues School Dropouts, Restoring Teens’ Education and Employment Prospects, According to New Study

WAVE’s Board of Directors announced a new report that provides compelling evidence of WAVE’s positive effect on the life trajectories of youth in crisis. More »

Through a United Way grant, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is helping former welfare recipients now working in health care move farther away from poverty.

From WBIR in Knoxville, TN: UT WAVE — which stands for Work Achievement Values Education — received a $200,000 Community Impact Venture grant this fall to administer a program called Learn to Earn. Knox County provided another $64,000 for Learn to Earn.

More »

Effective dropout prevention interventions have a clear, well-articulated “theory” that guides everyone
involved. (It’s principle #1 in WAVE’s list of “Eleven Key Elements of Effective Dropout Prevention” provided in a previous post).

So what does that mean? More »

As good citizens of the business, government,  and nonprofit sectors partner in unprecedented ways to examine the dropout epidemic and garner support for collaborative interventions, the question left to be answered is: “Exactly how will our nation achieve the goal of solving the crisis?”

More »

Have you ever heard someone say that once a kid reaches teenage years, there’s nothing you can do for them? …That if they aren’t already overcoming whatever difficult circumstances they face and are on track for college and a good career, they are a lost cause?

More »

If you could dramatically improve the lives of over 600,000 teens in crisis, would you?

We are asking you to join us in a special opportunity. You can help to save one of our nation’s most valuable and effective interventions for youth who are struggling to find success in school, careers, and life. Please read on and you will see why the steps we ask you to take are more urgent now than they ever will be.

More »

Effective youth development programs give young people opportunities to learn and practice leadership. Good educators and youth professionals know that leadership is not reserved for the captain of the high school cheerleading squad or the debate team. Just think about the leadership skills required to run a gang. More »

By Larry Brown — President – -WAVE, Inc.

It seems to be inherent in human nature that when things go wrong, we look for people to blame. Yet, everyone desires to do a good job, have a fulfilling family and social life, be respected, and make a meaningful contribution to the world around them. The problem is almost always the system, rather than the people. More »

WAVE has just released its newly revised WAVE In Schools - Level 1 curriculum, aimed at preventing students from dropping out and preparing them for success in school, careers, and life.

The 132 lessons in WAVE In Schools – Level 1 are designed to be delivered in a group setting of up to 25 students. Each lesson was written and reviewed by experts, including classroom teachers, and focuses on More »

Most statistics show that I am destined to become a gang member, a high school drop out, or a criminal. But I am not any of those things. I am a great student, a leader in my community, a NAVY ROTC cadet, a son who provides financially for his family, a great employee, an intern, and a future educator.

I represent the small group of Latino students who will NOT be dropping out of school. More »

By Larry Brown — President – -WAVE, Inc.

At sixteen, Temo, from a migrant farm working family and a gang member,decided to drop out of school. Instead, he was encouraged to join a leadership program at his high school. At seventeen, Janice, a single mother from New Orleans, did drop out of school. Like Temo, she found a program, but this one for out of school youth. With adult support, respect, and an opportunity to put skills acquired on the street to work in a positive venue, they excelled. Twelve years later Temo is an elementary school principal and advisor to educators on how increase graduation rates and Janice and is a teacher. They could be the rule rather than the exception in schools across the nation.

Tuesday’s report by America’s Promise Alliance about the hemorrhaging of students from schools before achieving a diploma is More »

By J. Tyler — Senior Vice President — WAVE, Inc.

Sound research from the fields of education and youth development demonstrates that helping students transition from middle school to high school makes a big difference in whether a student eventually graduates. America’s Promise Alliance’s 15 in 5 Campaign, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s publication of The Silent Epidemic, hoist the issue and stoke national outrage. But we must turn that outrage into action – and thankfully, effective innovations are available that more schools can begin today.

One way a middle school can make a difference immediately is to More »

A new strategic campaign called Invest In Opportunity is setting WAVE’s course for serving more students at risk of dropping out of school.

The Honorable John E. “Buck” Chapoton chairs the initiative with a committee of business, education, and government leaders. Corporate partners AIG, Capital One, Schering-Plough, General Dynamics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the Entertainment Software Association have already made lead investments. More »

WAVE is honored to partner with Midtown Community Court in New York City, which is part of The Center for Court Innovation.

The Court works with local residents, businesses, social service providers and other government agencies to forge creative, collaborative solutions to neighborhood problems. It houses an array of non-traditional programs, including More »