Interview with Mr. Poon - Head of OFC

I had an interview with Mr. Poon, the head of the Opportunity for Change Program.  I asked him the same questions I asked the OFC Guidance Counselor.

These are his responses:

1. How many students are in OFC?

Currently there are 40 students but we can have up to 48 students.

2. What are some of the reason these students are selected into the
program? What is/are the missions/goals of this program?

The main reasons students come to OFC are attendence and homework
production.  Often my kids have trouble getting to class and doing
homework on a consistent basis.The mission of the program is to support
students who have not been succesful in the mainstream of the High School
to graduate and to prepare them for life after BHS.  That often means
preparing kids to apply to college, but it can also mean post-secondary
programs or work.

3. What are the average GPA's of the students?

I don't know.  We don't track that.

4. What are the average SAT and ACT scores for OFC students?

Same.

5. What colleges are OFC students applying to and getting accepted to?

Our students often apply to local community colleges.  Some other students
go to UMASS Boston or UMass Dartmouth.  We currently have students at
Northeastern and UMass Amhearst.

6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum on?

OFC students take electives in the mainstream during A and B block.  Then
they come to OFC and take one major class (English, Social Studies,
Science, Math) at a time for a two week period.  The students have two
long blocks during the day separated by breaks, lunch, Arts Class, and
Health and Fitness.

7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough in school work and
homework outside of school?

Yes.  I think the fact of the matter is that the students in OFC weren't
doing much work in the mainstream so we attempt to provide them with
enough material so that they are at once challenged and they can complete
it.  We provide time within the day to begin homework and some finish
while others take work home.

8. Overall, do you feel that this program prepares these students for life
beyond high-school?

That's a hard question.  I'd like to think that we do, but we also
struggle inculcate our students with all of the habits they will need to
be succesful after OFC.  Many of the reasons why they came to OFC in the
first place, whether they be personal habits or home issues, usually still
exist when they leave.  That said, I have absolute clarity that without
OFC, many if not most of our students would not graduate and they would be
even less prepared had they not earned a BHS diploma with our help.

9. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?

OFC students go into a variety of positions.  I have been in contact with
kids who have gone into health related fields as well as early education.
Some of our former students are doing odd jobs.  We have former students
that have gone into the military.

10. Anything else you'd like to add that proves the effectiveness of the

OFC program?

Over the last four years we have graduated over 40 students.  Of that
group, all applied and were accepted to some post-secondary program.  We
don't have data on how many have matriculated or finished their schooling.
 I would suspect that most have attended some college,but few have
finished at this time.  In terms of the effectiveness of OFC, I would
direct you to speak with some of our students and graduates.  Ask them
where they would be without OFC.  In some ways it is difficult to quantify
success through numbers although I am proud of our numbers.  I think the
stories of the kids that have survived through to graduation do a better
job of explaining what OFC is and who we are.