Grow, Prepare, Succeed Communications Toolkit

Materials in this toolkit are designed to support the high school improvement initiatives that high schools are implementing and plan to continue including: increased graduation requirements, increased rigor in coursework, better relationships between school staff and students and community, and better planning tools to help students prepare for success beyond high school.

The primary target audience for these materials is students and their parents. The secondary audience is members of the community, with a focus on businesses. The goals for the marketing and public relations materials are based on research we have reviewed or conducted over the past 18 months. With consistent implementation, these communications should help:

• Change perception among students and parents about what skills are needed to prepare students for work and life.
• Motivate students to be more purposeful and improve their course-taking to prepare them for work and life.
• Build community support and partnerships to support high school and student improvement efforts.

Key Marketing and Public Relations Components

The DE will provide marketing and public relations materials for high schools throughout the 2006-07 school year to help you work with your local board and other education leaders to communicate key messages to key audiences. Materials will include:

• A "Grow, Prepare, Succeed" (GPS) package of branding logos to help build awareness among students and parents about the need to take strong coursework and actively plan for the future.

• Key messages for inclusion in your district newsletters or community newspapers that will build on each other throughout the year:

First Quarter -- DREAM IT (raise your expectations)
Second Quarter -- PLAN IT (use your planning tools)
Third Quarter -- LEARN IT (focus on coursework)
Fourth Quarter -- DO IT (stay the course)

GPS First Quarter Materials - Theme -- DREAM IT

To help high school students move from passion to profession

For School Leaders
Intro Memo to School Leaders from Judy Jeffrey
How to Use this Toolkit
Table of Contents Q1
Key Messages and Calendar
How to Build Public Will

For Parents
Principal's Letter to Parents
Parent Tip Sheet - Dream Big
Program Insert (large)
Program Insert (small)
Program Insert (blank)

For Students
Student Tip Sheet, Dream Big
Student Video Project Flyer
Student Video Project Information Sheet
Poster, Dream Big (small)
Poster, Dream Big (large)
Postcard, Dream Big (small)
Postcard, Dream Big (large)

For School Staff
Memo about Program
Memo about High Expectations

For Community
Community Conversation Manual
Community Conversation Example
Powerpoint Presentation- "Dream It"

Additional materials scheduled to be posted in late Spring

For School Leaders

For Parents

For Students
Q4 Poster -- DO IT
Q4 Postcard -- DO IT

For School Staff

For Community

GPS Brand Logos

  GPS Communication Toolkit Logos. Click to download zip file.

Guidelines for Community Partnerships

How to Build Community Partnerships

Planning Template for Partnerships

Sample Annual Plan for Community Partnerships