Partnership Members:

Start a Program

The New Hampshire Scholars program has 3 key components beginning in the 8th grade:
   

8th Grade Presentations 8th Grade

Incentives and academic rewards to stay on track   Grades 9-11

Senior Recognition event(s)   Grade 12

Introductory Presentation to the Community

Once the community/school district decides to implement the program, the New Hampshire Scholars State Director and/or members of the staff will work collaboratively with the district implementation director to assist in hosting a meeting to introduce New Hampshire Scholars to all key constituents in the community.

The first step in launching a local New Hampshire Scholars program is to bring together business people and educators in a meeting to introduce the New Hampshire Scholars Initiative.  Key individuals from the education and business sectors attend the introductory meeting. They should hold positions of influence in the community and commit to the program for the long term. New Hampshire Scholars can provide you with a list of suggested attendees by title.

Typical Meeting Agenda

	Duration
Introductions	15 minutes
New Hampshire Scholars Program Overview	30 minutes
Synopsis of student presentation for business/education attendees	15 minutes
Questions and Answers	15 minutes

Some communities have included refreshments or a luncheon.  A sign-in sheet often is helpful in following up with attendees.

Media Outreach

Good media coverage (local newspaper, TV, and radio) can be of tremendous help in getting the momentum going and sustaining it.

Committee Structure and Organization

Establishing The Steering Committee

A New Hampshire Scholars program requires ongoing leadership. Several successful Scholars programs report it was helpful to establish a Steering Committee to oversee key aspects of the program: student presentations; follow-up activities in high school and at graduation; budgeting; communications; and measurement. Though not required, a 50/50 split between education and business representatives is recommended. Co-chairs are recommended for the steering committee, with one chair coming from the business community and one chair coming from the education community.

Membership might include school district staff, high school, middle school, and counseling staff, and postsecondary personnel, as well as community liaisons. Look to business chief executive officers and civic organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce, Junior League, and PTA/PTO for community representation.

Successful committees begin meeting several months prior to the first round of student presentation dates (dependent on timing of student course selection).

An example of a simple committee structure follows:

 
Make Presentations to Staff and Parents

Once the key officials understand and support the program, it is important to make sure that all administrators and teachers are familiar with the program as well.  Be sure to cover the details of the planned implementation, as well as expectations for everyone involved.  Provide principals and counselors with the tools they need to share the program with the staff on their individual campuses.

Informed parents are key allies in keeping students on course through high school. There are several options for informing parents. The best way is to formally present the program in much the same way as the administrators and staff were informed.  PTA meetings, college nights, and open houses provide excellent opportunities for these presentations. Sending printed information directly to the home (such as a brochure) via students can also be effective.

For more information about starting a New Hampshire Scholars program in your school district please contact us.