Diploma Plus believes in personalized learning as a systematic strategy to creating equitable education conditions, access, and outcomes that enable under-served youth to complete high school college and career-ready. Through our on site training and virtual technologies, Diploma Plus provides educators and youth service providers with resources and strategies that equip them to develop competency-based and standards-aligned curriculum, instruction and assessments that are focused on increasing students’ knowledge, skills and understandings.
This model combines high expectations for every student, a rigorous competency-based and standards-aligned approach, a small personalized learning environment, opportunities to make real-world connections, and pathways to becoming successful adults. The model utilizes effective student-centered instructional practices, makes strategic use of technology to enhance teaching and learning, provides tools and systems to create sustainable alternative high schools, and effectively uses data to improve instruction.
Structure:
The DP model doesn’t have age-based grades. Instead it has three phases – Foundation, Presentation, and Presentation Plus. The Foundation phase is focused on getting students’ skills up to 10th grade level, as many start with gaps in skills as far back as 4th or 5th grade levels. The Presentation Phase is focused on helping students build up a portfolio of the work emphasizing performance tasks and assessments. Students in the Presentation Plus Phase participate in internships, college courses, and community action projects in order to support their successful transition to life after high school.
High School - Grade 9
Students are introduced to the rigors of A-G courses. An individual Graduation Plan is developed together with students, parents, and counselor.
During each semester, students will review their graduation plans with their counselor. Foundation Phase students will engage in rigorous inter-curricular project-based learning, and receive a solid foundation in academics that will help prepare them for post-secondary options.
Introductions to College and Career planning during this phase will allow students to focus on the big picture of their college and/or career plans as they move on to the Presentation Phase.
High school - Grades 10 & 11
The Presentation Phase builds on academic content and skill attainment. Content is richer and more rigorous as students conduct college and career assessments
Grade 10.
Academic achievement during this phase is crucial as colleges look closely at a student’s academic achievements in this phase. Individual Graduation Plans are reviewed to ensure that students stay on track with all A-G requirements.
Students will take assessments to further learn about their academic and career strengths. Students will be given the opportunity enroll in an after-school community college course.
Grade 11
Students must pass the CAHSEE and take the PSAT.
Academic content is richer and more rigorous as students conduct purposeful college and career “Shadowing” projects.
Students will take the PSAT in the fall semester and other assessments to further learn about their academic and career strengths. Students will enroll in a community college course.
High School - Grade 12
During the PLUS phase, students continue to build on content and skills from previous phases, while finalizing their final portfolio presentation.
Students shift their focus to in- depth specific college and/or career exploration projects by participating in an Internship, and completing a college course or career technical training course of study. Students will have met the A-G requirements by the end of the Plus Phase, opening the doors to the CSU, UC and private university systems.
Students will take the SAT or ACT to continue to assess their academic and content growth and have the opportunity to apply to universities.
All students are enrolled in a Success Seminar course to further personalize their education and prepare them for their Formal Portfolio Presentations /Exhibitions.
Developed to support competency-based and personalized learning programs, Diploma Plus’ connected learning environment and learning management system, DPNET, delivers open online course content, tools, and resources; expands youth development; and creates the conditions for anywhere/anytime learning, enabling students, teachers, and families to foster knowledge, skills and dispositions for lifelong learning and productive contributions to today’s changing world.
Our school provides curriculum, instruction and assessments focused on knowledge, skills and understandings that are competency-based and standards-aligned. Students advance at their own pace, and are promoted or graduated according to their abilities in core competencies rather than seat time, age, or credits.
Under the DP model, the Four Essentials for success are
Our school provides curriculum, instruction and assessments focused on knowledge, skills and understandings that are competency-based and standards-aligned. Students advance at their own pace, and are promoted or graduated according to their abilities in core competencies rather than seat time, age, or credits.
Our schools promote equity to create and sustain a school climate that explores, respects, and responds to school norms that nurture diversity built on positive relationships among students, staff, parents/families and community.
Our model involves a multi-year sequence of career and college exploration and civic engagement activities that focus on students’ futures through awareness, exposure, and preparation opportunities.
Our model involves a multi-year sequence of career and college exploration and civic engagement activities that focus on students’ futures through awareness, exposure, and preparation opportunities.
