Freshman Transition Initiative

Promoting self-sufficiency in the 8th and 9th grade
with a 10-year career and life plan

The Freshman Transition Initiative was founded in 2004 by Dr. Rebecca Dedmond as a grassroots effort to address the critical need for a classroom-based, comprehensive guidance effort, in either the 8th or 9th grade, to stem the rising tide of dropouts (both high school and college). Working with some of the top experts in the field and the best state standards, she developed the Course Standards for Freshman Transition Classes. Realizing that institutional change required focused leadership and systems, the 10-Step Plan was developed and featured in a November 2005 article in the National Association of Secondary School Principals Principal Leadership magazine.