KEYS COLLEGE AND CAREER PREP
For the student who prefers a smaller setting, controlled autonomy, and college and career planning support, Keys is the place for you. Keys’ focus includes a rigorous curriculum run similarly to a college style, requiring daily work, weekly check-ins, and mandated support to ensure success.
At Keys, you’ll use an AVID approach to learning the necessary and demanding habits for success beyond high school. Students take 3-4, 26-day core courses and electives including 5 one-unit AVID XOPT courses throughout the year.
Students meet in person with their Educational Specialist (Teacher) 1 day per week minimum. Students have access to onsite support 3 days a week and online support is available as well. Keys students are required to take 2 online college courses and have the opportunity to take more including career certification courses in many fields. Some of the certification courses are Forklift operator, Cosmetology, Heath Sciences, and Public Safety.
ARROW
Arrow is a credit recovery option available for students on a case-by-case basis. Students placed on credit recovery must to meet in person with their Educational Specialist (Teacher) 1 day per week minimum.
Students have access to onsite support 3 days a week and online support is available as well. Arrow students are required to take 2 virtual college courses that can be driven by their career pathways. The Arrow team will help guide you to make these choices based on your passions and interests.
MISSION AND VISION
The KEYS mission is to teach our students to learn independently so that they may be successful in college and beyond. The KEYS program fosters independent thinking and moves the student to use the community as his or her classroom, fosters curiosity, collaborates with the student in setting goals and personalizing his or her learning, and empowers the student to make wise choices for his or her future.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING AND GOAL SETTING
It is no secret that everyone learns differently. To meet the needs of the students, school counselors work with students and parents to create a Personalized Academic plan, based on the student’s future plans. When creating a personalized plan, counselors take into consideration a student’s history of grades and credits, post-graduate plans, and the interests of the student. Our program is designed to help students stay on track to meet their individual goals.
Using State testing and our own assessments, our teachers work with students to personalize the assignments to fit the student’s learning styles and abilities. Our teachers also help them learn the required skills, such as writing essays and taking notes, to be successful in their high school courses and prepare them for college. The teachers help their students to set their own short-term and long-term goals and encourage them to complete them. One of the KEYS program goals is to enable our students to complete the required courses to enter a 4-year university after graduation from high school. We encourage dual enrollment or elective community college courses (where available) as soon as students are equipped with the skills that will ensure their success.
Parents are vital to our student’s success. In the KEYS program, parents have access to our online course management systems: Canvas, Moodle, and Jupiter grade book. Parents are encouraged to check their student’s progress and correspond with the teachers if they have any questions or concerns. Parents are encouraged to check their student’s grades and assignments weekly. Regular communication creates a strong link between a parent and the school. The KEYS College and Career Prep program requires effort and commitment from students, parents, and staff in order to achieve educational success.
ACADEMICS
KEYS College and Career Prep have a strong technology base. Each student’s entire course of study can be easily accessed through our online curriculum databases called Canvas or Moodle. Canvas and Moodle store all assignments, worksheets, videos, websites, supplemental readings, and everything necessary for each course. All the KEYS courses are at the A-G level which means that the classes are approved by the UC regents. Our students are issued a Chromebook so they may work where ever they have access to WiFi.
The students form healthy relationships with the teachers and aides who know their individual strengths and weaknesses. These teachers and aides help support the student to be successful. The students also form friendships with other students in the KEYS program, as they come to their weekly meetings, attend mobile science labs, or work on projects together. Some students may take one or two classes in the core subjects at the local academy to help them be more successful or to have more interaction with other students and a single subject specialist. Other students may take courses at the community college or dual enrollment in the areas where it is available.
ACCELERATION OPPORTUNITIES
KEYS College and Career Prep offer a rigorous course of study designed to prepare graduates to access post-secondary and career education options. High school students who want to accelerate their academic plan in order to graduate from high school early will find the flexibility they need in the KEYS program. Students who are successful in these endeavors are typically students who are self-motivated, willing to put in additional effort to accomplish their goals, and have strong foundational knowledge in reading, writing, and high school mathematics. Acceleration plans must be developed and approved in collaboration with the student, teacher, and school counselor.
