A growing body of evidence has revealed a need for greater academic and social support to enable students at all high schools to graduate and enroll in college at much higher rates. AISD has begun to initiate an advisory program for all high schools that will help to improve student support by providing a structure for students to develop better relationships with educators.

The need for an advisory/advocacy system is clearly revealed by data showing significant student disconnect from their campuses. The Campus Climate Survey indicated that nearly 25 percent of all high school students do not have one adult on their campus that they can go to when they have a problem.

AISD's Advisory Program will include advisory periods within the school day that will allow for the development of positive relationships between adults and students. Through this approach, students should feel more engaged and will thus be less prone to act inappropriately. Advisors will have access to relevant student data pertaining to academics, behavior, and attendance for use in the individual and family contacts. This information will give advisors a better understanding of students' personal situations and will help them to work more effectively with those students to resolve difficulties.

Each of the eleven comprehensive high schools will initiate advisory or student/family advocacy for all students in the 2007-08 school year. School-wide advisory is currently in place at three campuses, and three additional schools have implemented advisory for freshmen within freshman academies only. Four schools will implement the First Things First Family Advocacy System in their small learning communities beginning in 2007.

Austin InSiDer - Article on Student Advisory
7.24.07

When many people think back about who made a critical difference in their lives, many remember one special teacher who took an interest in them, steered them to a class or interest that influenced their choice of career, acted as a mentor when they needed someone to care, encouraged them to go to college or stay in school, or engaged them academically by making a class interesting and challenging.

Unfortunately, this experience is usually a random occurrence, based on luck, and we know that many students never develop that special relationship with an adult on their campus. Yet, national research has clearly documented that students "learn best when they have a sense of community and connection, when they feel heard and known, and when they feel safe enough to take risks. Conversely, we consistently hear that the students who are most at risk of dropping out or committing a dangerous act against themselves or their schools are those who are most isolated." ¹ When students feel connected, good outcomes often follow: attendance increases, drop-out rates decrease, graduation rates increase, and academic performance improves.

In high schools with large student populations, both students and parents often feel lost and anonymous with no real connection to their school or to any adult on the campus. Teachers instruct 150 students a day or more may find it difficult to feel accountable for the success of every individual student they teach. "Teachers may know how their students are doing in algebra or history, but not know how the student is doing in school or in life."²

Parents may not know who to call on campus to stay well informed and involved with their students academic performance, to discuss problems that arise, or to get information about college readiness or graduation requirements.

AISD intends to tackle this issue head-on at every high school campus. As one of the foundations of the district's High School Redesign, Student Advisories will become a part of the schedule at every AISD high school beginning in Fall 2007.

The overall purpose of Advisory, or Family Advocacy System as it will be called at some campuses, is to ensure that every student has at least one adult on campus who knows them well and helps them navigate high school successfully and graduate ready for college, career, and life. Advisory will help students adjust to transitions (particularly in 9th grade,), build community among students, and assist with academic advising to help students succeed by giving behind the scene support in a proactive, organized way.

Most adult professionals on each high school campus will become an Advisor to a group of approximately 15 students and ideally continue in that role during the student's four years in high school. Advisors will have access to relevant and timely student data pertaining to schedule, academics and attendance to help students evaluate their progress, set goals, and plan for their future, including helping them become college ready.

Although Advisory may look different on each campus, guiding principles have been established district-wide to ensure quality. Advisory will be held at least one time per week for 30 - 50 minutes at each campus, have pre-defined lesson plans that are grade appropriate, and include on-going professional development for all faculty members.

Advisory is not intended to be homeroom where school announcements are made, nor is it a loose program that teachers make up as they go. High schools have worked diligently over the last year with national consultants who literally "wrote the book on Advisory" to prepare for a successful launch: developing campus teams, writing guiding curriculum and lesson plans, establishing indicators to measure effectiveness, and conducting professional development for teachers. In addition, AISD has committed significant resources of time and funding over the next three years to ensure Advisory fulfills its intended purpose and that teachers are well-prepared.