Preparing All Students for Success After High School

Gen Ed Marketing Letter Frustrated girl

The Common Thread Among Students

Regardless of their plans for post-high school education or employment, all students face uncertainty about their transition to adult life.

 

One way to help students overcome those fears is to better prepare them for the future by identifying their strengths and teaching them the necessary life and employment skills they need to succeed.

 

Due to factors like increasing academic requirements, many students receive limited preparation as they transition adult life which compounds their anxiety.

What Happens to the Students Who Don't Fit the “College Prep” Mold?

In many cases, students' who don't want to go to college, can't go to college, or shouldn't go to college become disenfranchised and frustrated with the traditional approach to education.  The consequences of this unfortunate reality include:

  • Each year an estimate 800,000 students fail to graduate high school in the United States
  • Approximately 75% of crimes are committed by high school dropouts
  • 55% of students surveyed reported feeling less than positive about their college and career readiness
  • About 30% of college students dropout and are 4 x's more likely to default on their student loans
  • Only 29% of surveyed employers felt schools prepare students for employment (Achieve 2015)
frustrated-woman-at-computer1

Educators Are Now Facing Several Difficult Challenges

Educators care about the future of their students and do their best to prepare them to be happy and successful, but they also face significant challenges to accomplishing this goal including:

  • Increasing academic requirements
  • Many students with diverse and unique challenges
  • Limited instruction time to also focus on important life and employment skills
  • Struggling to find a program that is adaptable, meets the needs of their students, and is easy to implement

In order to help teachers to prepare their students for life after school, Ten Sigma created the Starting Line program.

Starting Line Gen Ed Group of Students

The Starting Line Program Prepares All Students for Adult Life

The Starting Line program is unique because it can be used to guide all students through the important steps of identifying post-high school goals and learning the necessary skills in order to make a successful transition to adult life.  The program consists of two student workbooks called Foundations and Fast Track.  The workbooks can be used separately or in succession as a complete curriculum to prepare students for post-school life. Here is a quick summary about the Starting Line program:

Starting Line Foundations Gen Ed webpage
  • Foundations – is designed for students in middle school or early high school (can be a 1 to 2 year program)
  • Available in printed workbooks or editable pdf format
  • Each student requires their own workbook or pdf license
  • Foundations and Fast Track can be implemented as a stand-alone program or consecutively as a complete adult preparation program
  • Students are guided to learn important vocabulary to prepare them for adult life while also completing assessments and activities related life and employment skills
  • Students explore their strengths, interests, needs, and options for the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living
  • Students apply what they learn in the program and are guided to create an initial set of post-high school goals
Starting Line Fast Track Gen Ed webpage
  • Fast Track – is designed for students in high schools, alternative schools, home schools, and corrections programs (can be a 1 to 3 year program)
  • Available in printed workbooks or editable pdf format
  • Each student requires their own workbook or pdf license
  • Foundations and Fast Track can be implemented as a stand-alone program or consecutively as a complete adult preparation program
  • Students explore their strengths, interests, and needs for the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living
  • Students take ownership of their future by identifying goals for employment, education/training, and independent living and developing a timeline for reaching them
  • Students are guided to complete important tasks and learn the necessary skills to prepare for their transition to adult life
  • Students manage their timeline and progress towards reaching their goals

In each workbook, students are guided through a series of assessments, activities, and tasks for (1) employment, (2) education/training, and (3) independent living.  After completing the workbooks, students are better prepared and have the necessary skills and knowledge, which results in a more positive and productive transition to adult life.

Below, you can download a free program overview and order workbooks or licenses.

Starting Line Gen Ed Foundations Overview PDF White
Starting Line Gen Ed Fast Track Overview PDF White

 – > Each PDF Contains Example Scenarios for Implementing the Starting Line Program < –

How to Implement the Starting Line Program

Ideally, students are best served by beginning with the Foundations workbook as an introduction to the important vocabulary and concepts related to key areas of adult life.   Then, we recommend following up with the Fast Track workbook as a comprehensive program to identify and achieve their goals for their transition to adult life. 

 

Remember that these workbooks can be implemented as “stand alone” programs or used in a holistic approach to preparing students for their transition to adult life that covers numerous years.

Starting Line Foundations info

For districts, teachers, or parents looking for an “adult preparation” program middle school and/or early high school students, Starting Line Foundations is a perfect solution.

Implementing the Foundations program is easy.  Purchase one consumable Foundations workbook or pdf license for each student who will participate in the program.

Starting Line Fast Track info

For high schools, alternative schools, parents, or corrections programs looking to implement a comprehensive “adult prep” curriculum, the Starting Line Fast Track is a perfect solution.

 

Implementing the Fast Track program is easy.  Purchase one consumable Fast Track workbook or pdf license for each student who will participate in the program.