Modeled after The George Washington University's Freshman Transition Initiative, the Santa Barbara community has come together to create an innovative adaptation, the Dual Enrollment Freshman Transition Project (DEFT). Following the recommendations in IES Practice Guide for Dropout Prevention, this whole- school redesign model meets the six research-based recommendations for programs supporting school completion.

DEFT is designed to introduce strategies beginning in the 9th grade year and continuing beyond high school and into college as noted in the What Works Clearinghouse Comparison Chart of Course and Dropout Recommendations. This is a strong high school to college transition program geared to improve college preparation of high school students and to improve the success rates of incoming college students. The DEFT employs a 10-year educational plan that guiding students through high school, on to postsecondary education and training, and into the workforce.

How at-risk students benefit from dual enrollment

The Postsecondary Achievement of Participants in Dual Enrollment: An Analysis of Student Outcomes in Two States

With over 3,000 high school students per year completing college credit courses, Santa Barbara City College has one of the largest community college-based dual enrollment programs in the country. Co-Founder of the Get Focused...Stay Focused!® Initiative, Dr. Diane Hollems, shares how they work with Santa Barbara area schools to offer a dual enrollment course for all high school freshmen at two high schools. The 3 unit dual enrollment course is based on the Course Standards for Freshman Transition Classes from The George Washington University's Freshman Transition Initiative. From this video you'll learn the process for developing this course from an administrative standpoint and explore strategies for how you can partner with your local community college so every student can enter college with online 10-year plan and 3 units of college credit.

Presenters: Diane Hollems, Co-Founder, Get Focused...Stay Focused!® Initiative and Lauren Wintermeyer, Co-Founder, Get Focused...Stay Focused!® Initiative

A partnership between Santa Barbara City College, Carpinteria High School, the Irvine Foundation, and Academic Innovations is allowing every freshman student at Carpinteria High School the opportunity to earn college credit through a class using the Career Choices curriculum. This video includes highlights of how the program was implemented,and provides supplemental lessons for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Presenter: Erin Hansen, Dual Enrollment Teacher, Carpinteria High School, Carpinteria, CA