Think! Nebraska Scholars

Key Components: Increase the college and workforce readiness of all Nebraska high school graduates by:

• - Increasing rigor & relevance in courses of study for all students
• - Increasing the number of students who receive associate’s and bachelor’s degrees or complete rigorous apprenticeship requirements
• - Decreasing the drop-out rate
• - Increasing literacy, math, science, and employability skills
• - Increasing student ability to apply knowledge to real world situations
• - Addressing student’s individual strengths/interests
• - Combing academic/career education & dual credit classes
• - Providing opportunities for students to qualify for the Academic Competitiveness Grants

Suggested Course of Study for Think! Nebraska Scholars Program:

• - Four years of English, three years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics), three years of science including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry or physics, three years of social studies, and one year of a language other than English.
• - A minimum of nine college credit hours transferable to a Nebraska postsecondary institution.  Credit hours may be linked to core academic and/or career education classes.
• - A minimum of 2 semesters of career education coursework.
• Think! Nebraska scholars must receive employability certification. (Certification is based on skills related to the Foundation and Knowledge Skills that are core to the Nebraska Career Education Model)
• - Think! Nebraska scholars must complete 320 hours of job shadowing and/or internship experience by graduation from high school. 100 hours of total must be spent in one career area.
• - Each participating student must have a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) that provides a map for achieving minimum requirements and will support a successful transition from secondary to postsecondary and career opportunities.  The PLP will be completed by the 8th grade year, implemented in 9th grade and renewed annually through high school. - Personal Learning Plans will follow students through at least grade 14. (Note grade 14 can include associates degree and/or professional certification)

Goal 1: Increase effectiveness of Think! Nebraska Scholars by enhancing program components and applications:
Strategies:

• - Define what it means to be a “State Scholar” and identify benefits of this designation
• - Create rigorous and relevant course of study that provides more than one path to becoming a Think! Nebraska Scholar and prepares students for entry into postsecondary education and the world of work.
• - Establish Personal Learning Plans for each student as a core component of the Think! Nebraska Scholars program
• - Develop and Implement financial incentive program to encourage participation.
• -- Scholarships – state and local level
• -- Tuition reduction at Nebraska institutions
• -- Tuition and college loan reimbursement by employers
• -- Hiring bonuses for scholars
• - Develop recognition program for scholars – suggestions include
• -- Graduation recognition (medals, certificates, official designation on diploma)
• -- Governor’s certificate of scholarship
• -- Recognition in local news media
• -- Recognition on FutureForce Website

Goal 2:  Create a sustainability plan for Think! Nebraska Scholars
Strategies:

• - Promote the Think! Nebraska Scholars Program to middle & high school students
• - Coordinate efforts with other initiatives such as P-16 and EducationQuest
• - Provide opportunities for business to financially support Think! Nebraska Scholars
• - Seek out endowments and foundations, on local and state levels, that have missions which support education and student achievement.
• - Seek state support by developing a funding proposal for the Nebraska Legislature, endorsed and presented by business partners.

Goal 3: Coordinate with Partnerships in Innovation to create a professional development program for secondary and postsecondary instructors.
Strategies:
Professional development program will provide training in:

• - Student engagement strategies
• - Problem/project/application based education
• - Developing challenging and relevant course work
• - Develop course work with direct application to the business world