SAN BENITO — For the San Benito school district, early academic planning is critical.
School officials say it encourages and instills long-term success among students.
It also helps parents and educators align students with their long-term academic goals.
To jump-start student’s exposure to college and future careers, the district has utilized the help of an online program.
That program is called Naviance.
Students enrolled in the eighth through 12th grades are taking advantage of the program, designed to help them plan their future.
Naviance, a college and career readiness software provider that partners with high schools and other K-12 institutions, provides students with college planning and career assessment tools.
Naviance is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life.
Students are using it to keep track of their college plans, transcripts, resumes, portfolios and applications.
While using Naviance, the students can research universities and look into their career options.
“Students are researching universities, looking at career options, exploring their academic strengths, learning about the application process, and are generating a portfolio that contains their resume, test scores, transcripts, college essays, and reference letters,” said Theresa Servellon, the district’s Director of Secondary Education.
“The exposure and preparation that this program is providing our students is invaluable.”
In career exploration, more than 90 percent of the eighth graders from all three middle schools combined have utilized this tool the most.
Naviance helps school counselors in tracking the progress of individual students and allows those using the program to communicate and collaborate with students and families, or create reports on their entire student population.
In the summer, Naviance will include more tasks for juniors and seniors such as registering for SAT, ACT, TSI and FAFSA. Graduating seniors will be asked to complete a graduation survey.
Studies show that parent involvement in a student’s education can be one of the biggest factors affecting success during and after high school. And while critically important, schools often struggle to get parents involved.
San Benito is trying to change that.
What’s the status?
• Strengths explorer survey for 8th grade: 548 completed
• Resume builder: 297 created by seniors
• Implemented lessons in grades sixth through 12th.
• 30,384 student logins from September through April
• 875 college applications submitted by seniors as of April 5
• Parent login link posted on district website
Information Box: What is Naviance? Naviance is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life.
