California State University Middle School Counselor Conference KEEPING IT REAL: CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES Wednesday April 16, 2008

Academic Excellence and College Access for ALL Students HISTORY The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act established the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) to enhance the college-going rates of low-income students. Enabling legislation stipulates that colleges and universities should partner with middle schools “to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.” Nationwide, this middle school reform program has served over 2.3 million students in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories in its first six-year grant cycle.

“To develop and sustain the organizational capacity of middle schools to prepare all students for high school and higher education through a statewide network of support for the adults who influence middle school students, specifically their counselors, faculty, school leaders and families. As a result of this expanded capacity, a higher proportion of students, particularly from backgrounds and communities that have not historically pursued a college education, will enroll and succeed in higher education.” PROGRAM GOAL

GEAR UP IN CALIFORNIA Since 1999, the State program and the 68 partnership projects have impacted over 1/3 of the 1200 middle schools in California, with the State grant serving over 233,000 students in 229 schools in 88 school districts. The state model is designed to create a sustainable college-going culture by working with whole schools through the adults that have the greatest impact in student life and experience: principals, teachers, counselors, families and community members.

Resources for Middle Grades Counselors and Families “The greatest barrier to learning is not what students know but what teachers, counselors and families believe.” ~ Wade Nobles

PROGRAM RESOURCESPROGRAM RESOURCES Counseling Institute: One-day workshops to encourage counseling staff in their role as college advocates and to provide resources to promote academic planning for all students (March 2008) The complete pocket guide for California Colleges & Universities: accessible inventory of all California Higher Education institutions. Over 33,000 distributed statewide. More information visit: GEAR UP “Kids On Campus: A Journey that Changes Lives”. Over 3,500 distributed statewide. DVD available in May 2008 in English and Spanish.

Hosted by castategearup.org Customized for Audience Menu Pages Short and Detailed Answers Links to websites and partners Flexible site navigation to match users need

The Resources and Materials Clearinghouse: a single source from which information, materials and resources can be accessed to support middle grades educators in meaningful conversations about college and career planning. Available in three formats: CD version, College Corner kiosk and at the GEAR UP website

Ideas for Using the GEAR UP Clearinghouse For Educators Access current information and frequently asked questions about college preparation Assist students in college and financial aid exploration activities Demonstrate educator support resources on-line Explore and identify on-line student support resources for a variety of topics Research lesson plans, activities, and instructional methods utilized by other educators around the world

Ideas for Using the GEAR UP Clearinghouse For Families Provide answers to grade-specific frequently asked questions Show families how to assist students in exploring colleges and financial aid opportunities Familiarize families with computers and demonstrate the importance of technology Encourage families to explore and utilize resources available on-line Teach families how to use and navigate the school website

New in the Fifth Edition of the Clearinghouse: Updated website for easier access to specific information Updated content and Professional Development Calendar ‘Customizable’ materials for individual school logos Now Available on Home Page: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions PowerPoint presentations in English and Spanish Curriculum lesson plans …COMING IN JUNE 2008

The official website for college and career planning in California Developed in collaboration with: California Community Colleges (CCC) California State University (CSU) University of California (UC) Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) California Department of Education (CDE) 218 public and private universities are represented californiacolleges.edu is FREE to all users

Access resources specifically designed for families and educators from the bottom of the home page. Use California’s FREE online source for college and career planning – CaliforniaColleges.edu

Download a training manual to familiarize yourself CaliforniaColleges.edu Print out the Career Exploration worksheet to use with your students. Order materials for your students and their families. A-G course planning charts in 5 languages and the entire College: Making It Happen publications in English and Spanish.

Counselor and Family Resources For new and engaging lesson plans to use with students: check the Educator Tools and Resource page at californiacolleges.edu in the coming months For easy to understand information for families about the California ScholarShare program check the “Finance” section in May 2008

“In California, the achievement gap is defined as the disparity between white students and other ethnic groups as well as between English learners and native English speakers; socioeconomically disadvantaged and non disadvantaged; and students with disabilities…” ~State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell Family Services to address the achievement gap: FAMILY INITIATIVES PROJECT PARENT INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION

The ELEVATION of a Nation Begins in the Homes of Its People. ~ African Proverb

FAMILY INITIATIVES PROJECT Keeping It Real… Brings together families, schools and communities as equal partners in the education process. Family gatherings provide information, resources and tools to support families as advocates for their students. Services based on recommendations from GEAR UP school leadership teams and the unique contributions of each school community. Facilitators and volunteers are recruited from within the school community whenever possible, and are trained by California GEAR UP.

PROJECT TOPICS Five Week Sessions: Understanding the Middle School Years Family Dynamics and Positive Communication How to Motivate Your Student Academically How the School System Functions The Road to The University/Family Celebration

Family University FAMILY UNIVERSITY: A Weekend Family Gathering Project Topics: Understanding the Middle School Years and Positive Communication Steps to follow and available resources to attend college Families make a difference Celebration and Next steps

MAKING THE CONNECTION A continuous process of schools building relationships with families Why It Works…

How To Promote a FIP Family Gathering PROMOTING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: CREATE THE BUZZ… Principal invitation to families Additional postcard to African American families Phone calls to families Principal automated calls to all families Principal invites feeder schools Counselors invite targeted families Students invite families for extra credit Club advisors and organizations invite member’s families (AVID, athletic clubs, band, after school programs, etc.) Student involvement (create and distribute posters and flyers) Promote FIP at other school events (sports games, open house) Signage-Banner, Marquee Announcements (Newsletter, calendar, website)

IDEAS FOR REACHING FAMILIES REACHING ALL FAMILIES… “It Takes a Village”… 1.MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY to support family gatherings 2.MAKE THE CONNECTION: Address family survival needs and Community Challenges 3.PROVIDE INCENTIVES: Meals, door prizes, childcare and transportation 4.TAKE IT TO THE STREETS: Community-based organizations, businesses (Local newsletters, announcements, flyers, posters, booth sign-ups) 5.MAKE IT PERSONAL: Phone calls and Home visits 6.SPREAD THE WORD: PSAs, newspaper, program broadcast, TV, Radio, Recruit DJ to “Adopt the Cause”

Attract and Motivate Families: Be Creative!! Address real problems and issues Incorporate open-ended questions and learning activities Understand the basic attributes of school performance Support the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of ALL students

The ELEVATION of a Nation Begins in the Homes of Its People. ~ African Proverb The future and strength of our economy, democracy and society as a whole depends on our ability to educate EVERY CHILD WELL and to prepare them to take control of our society. KEEP IT REAL…..

Parent Institute for Quality Education

MISSION To bring schools, To bring schools, parents, and business community together as equal partners in the education of every child partners in the education of every child Illustration: S Guevara.

VISION A community in which parents and teachers collaborate to transform each child’s educational environment, both at home and at school, so that all children can achieve their greatest academic potential. Illustration: S Guevara.

PHILOSOPHY  All parents love their children and want a better future for them  Every child can learn and deserves the opportunity to attend and complete a college education  Parents and teachers need to work together to ensure the educational success of every child  For children, learning is a natural process that parents and teachers facilitate.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS  Nine-Week Program Elementary School Level Elementary School Level Middle School Level Middle School Level High School Level High School Level  Follow-Up Program  Teacher Workshop  Family Financial Literacy

Planning Session 6 Core Weekly Classes PIQE Nine-Week Program Principal’s Dialogue Parents’ Graduation!

Middle School Curriculum The Road to College How the School System Functions in Middle/High School Adolescence: A Time of Change and Growth Positive Communication Enhances Self- Esteem How to Motivate Teenagers to Read. Obstacles that Get in the Way of Success in School

Connecting parents to the child Connecting the parent to the school & university community Connecting parents to the decision making school committees Conducting action research by parents to impact policy Electing parents to Boards of Education Parent Institute’s FIVE Step Model for Parent Empowerment

CSU - PIQE Agreement CSU - PIQE Agreement  On Feb. 7, 2006, PIQE signed a historic agreement with the California State University (CSU) system  CSU Chancellor pledged $575,000 for 3 years  Nine-Week classes implemented in 15 schools in each of the 23 campus regions  Each child of a PIQE graduate will receive a “college identification card”

COLLEGE ADMISSION CERTIFICATE Presented to: _____________________________________________ For the successful completion of the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) nine-week Parent Involvement Program by their parent(s), the child(ren) listed below is/are conditionally admitted to one of the California State University’s campuses upon graduation from high school and upon meeting the admissions requirements of the California State University. _______________________________________________ This _______ day of __________________, 2007 __________________________________________________________________ Charles B. Reed, ChancellorCSU Campus PresidentDavid Valladolid, President California State University PIQE

Results Results More than 400,000 parent graduates in California since October 1987 from 1,500 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. The PIQE Program has been taught in 16 languages by facilitators from each of the different communities…

Illustrations: S Guevara. Book: “MI HIJA, MI HIJO, EL AGUILA, LA PALOMA” Author: Ana Castillo; Dutton Books, New York. Elaborated by: David Valladolid David Valladolid Emilia Alvarez 2006