Program Goal
To establish a program that enhances communication among the student-athlete, classroom teachers, academic coaches, athletic coaches, and the parent/guardian that will promote success by the student-athletes in the classroom first, and in the athletic arena. Tackling grade-point averages is a top priority, and the goal is for all of the Pathway To Manhood student athletes to have a GPA above 2.5.
Pathway To Manhood is proposing an athletic study table for the 2018-19 school year. The two-hour sessions will be in the school library where students have access to books, computers, tutors and teachers. Grades will be checked about every three weeks.
In a program conducted in Omaha, research shows that students who participate in study tables increase their grade-point averages; and the more study-table sessions students attend, the bigger the grade increase. Studies also claim those who attend the sessions the most had significantly less suspensions compared to the previous school year. Researchers also found that eighty-six percent of student athletes have a GPA above 2.0.
The study also found that student athletes were able to raise their grades faster than other students, which may be tied to the success of tutoring. The report suggests the program’s success is related to regular grade checks and increased interactions between students and school staff.
Activities for our proposed study table will include peer mentoring, training in leadership, financial literacy, life skills, and healthy living. Various strategies will be implemented to achieve the desired outcome of increasing high school graduation rates, higher education attendance, knowledge of life and educational skills, and discipline to insure successful transitions to higher education.
Much has been proclaimed about the need for more S.T.E.M. “programs” in our schools. The acronym S.T.E.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The logic is simple: the wave of future economic prosperity lies in a workforce that is well-versed in rising job markets like science, technology, engineering and math. These initiatives are a wonderful start into the exploration of these four areas of study; thus, there has been an increased investment in S.T.E.M. initiatives in schools. Having this background information in place will allow us to demonstrate our positioning of the tutoring program.
We have spoken with a number of potential partners to enhance the academic achievement opportunities for AHS students who participate in athletics. These partners include Alton High School, Lewis and Clark Community College, and the Boys & Girls Club of Alton, along with the assistance of private donors, desiring to partner together.
Our tutors will be talented volunteers with college degrees; and it is our hope to secure many state certified teachers. However, most importantly, they will all have a passion for education. We believe that ALL students can learn, achieve, and experience success! We will help our students believe in their own success by building their self-confidence and academic achievements.
Our purpose is three-fold:
- Enhance the academic achievement opportunities for AHS students (primarily ninth grade students) who participate in athletics; and follow them throughout their high school careers
- Help incoming freshman student-athletes with the transition from middle school to high school
- Emphasize assisting 9th grade student-athletes, but open the program to student-athletes at all grade levels who are interested.
ACADEMIC COACHES
Student athletes are familiar with the institution of “Coaches” they work with and report to, in their respective sports. Our Tutors will be referred to as “Academic Coaches,” and will provide the same encouragement, discipline, direction, focus, and expectations that their athletic counterparts maintain.
Student-athletes will be assigned to academic coaches who will conduct after school tutoring sessions for a minimum of two hours per week during the student-athlete’s sports season. (Additionally, it will be highly recommended that student-athletes continue to attend tutoring sessions throughout the school year, two hours per week out of season.)
It is our hope that the Athletic Director, Alton High School Freshman Principal, and Lead Teacher will provide direction for the selection of academic coaches assigned to the program. Ninth grade student-athletes will then be assigned to specific academic coaches.
Academic and athletic coaches will have an initial meeting with student-athletes and review rules and responsibilities that will help ensure the student-athlete’s academic success.
The academic coaches will provide assistance to student-athletes in all of the following areas:
- Study skills
- Organizational and time management skills
- Test-taking, ACT, and note-taking strategies
- Provide small group tutoring sessions
- Monitor academic progress
- Post high school opportunities and challenges
- Help students achieve academic success during their experiences in high school
- Assist them as they prepare for their post high school educational and athletic careers.
- Explain college/university academic requirements
- Review rules and regulations of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
[As a Note: CoreCourseGPA.com is a tool which enables counselors, parents, student-athletes and coaches to track a student-athlete’s progress towards meeting NCAA Eligibility Center requirements for Division I and II; and will be utilized by our program to ensure that our student athletes have the opportunity to continue in scholarship sponsored athletics post high school.]