Focus on the Future Newsletter - March 2005

Tips and strategies for classroom teachers from the publishers of the Career Choices curriculum.

Join us for a 2-Day Career Choices Workshop in Santa Barbara, CA
We've set the dates for our 2005 Santa Barbara workshops.

• March 12-13
• April 18-19
• June 27-28

Join us for two great days as we discuss and explore the many benefits of integrating classroom-based comprehensive guidance into your school -- whether as part of your Smaller Learning Communities, Freshman Transition course, or in existing Career/Technical courses.

Visit our web site for details on this dynamic workshop.

New Resource -- Freshman Transition Standards
We've posted the new Course Standards for Freshman Transition Classes on our web site. As you already know, a student's frehsman year is a pivotal time -- and it presents a wonderful opportunity for students to make that all-important connection between education/training and future success. Developed using stated standards from Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, and Maine, along with research finding and input from various experts and authors, this document will help you envision just what a classroom-based comprehensive guidance experience for all 8th or 9th grade students can do to help you successfully launch your freshmen into high school, which in turn will reduce dropout rates and increase post-secondary matriculation.

Review this exciting roadmap to freshman success..

Funding Alert -- Women's Educational Equity Act Program
The Women's Eudcational Equity Act (WEEA) program is currently accepting applications for funding. The program's purpose is "(a)to promote gender equity in education in the United States; (b) to prvide financial assistance to enable educational agencies & institutions to meet the requirements of title IX...& (c) to promote equity in education for women & girls who suffer from multiple forms of discrimination...".

Career Choices received a "Promising Intervention" award from the U.S. Department of Education for the positive impact it's had on gender equity education.

The deadline to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply is April 1, 2005, and the Transmittal of Applications deadline is April 18, 2005.

Gather additional information on this funding opportunity.