1. Texas GEAR UP Promising Practice This program has been recognized as a Texas GEAR UP Promising Practice by the Texas Education Agency and Texas GEAR UP. The model is featured in the 2009 "Mentors, Mindsets & Role Models" toolkit designed to assist schools, districts, and community groups in their efforts to create or expand mentoring opportunities. All print materials are the property of the featured mentor programs and are not endorsed by the Texas Education Agency. The programs have generously donated their resources to help foster program replication and implementation. Materials are for informational purposes only. www.texasgearup.com Mentors, Mindsets & Role Models PARENT-TO-PARENT MENTORING Region One ESC GEAR UP Project University of Texas-Pan American GEAR UP Project Edinburg, Texas

2. A Region One and Texas A & M Partnership THE COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM Reaching Out to First-Generation Parents and Students

3. Overview The Rio Grande Valley Region One GEAR UP Texas A & M College Station College Achievement Program (CAP) Questions

4. Rio Grande Valley Four counties along the Texas-Mexico border. Population of almost 1 million. State’s fastest growing region. 87.4 % Hispanic. 40 % under 19 years of age, 60 % under 35.

5. Rio Grande Valley Over 30 % of households below the poverty level. 10% make less than $10,000 a year. 48 % do not have a high school diploma. More than 50 % of ninth graders don’t reach 12th grade. 12.6 % have a college education.

6. College Achievement Program Developed by Region One Education Service Center and Texas A&M University to create a college readiness and parental support system for underrepresented students.

7. Region One GEAR UP Guiding Assumptions All students can learn, and the school system controls the variables to impact that learning All students must have equitable access to a quality, college preparatory curriculum Students that falter need guidance, direction and support, and the school must meet these needs Parents and educators inherently want to help students succeed, and given proper access to appropriate information, will make good decisions regarding children’s futures Implementation of new strategies requires time and support; and on-going development requires systemic approaches

8. Systemic Leadership Initiative  The implementation of a leadership alignment initiative is central to the purpose of Region One GEAR UP  Aimed at improving student achievement at the systemic level  Designed to build capacity of school personnel in the systemic practices that contribute to students preparing and succeeding in college

9. Managing Change Resource Allocation Communications Access to Knowledge Board, Superintendent Principal, Staff Students Individual Group Students Staff Systems Thinking Structure Culture Climate Support Services Parents Community Businesses Colleges/Universities Curriculum Instruction Assessment Schooling Practices Instructional Programs Problem Solving & Decision Making Staffing Staff Development Community Of Learners School Excellence Model © 2008 Institute for School Excellence Ellen M. Gonzalez Ph. D. & Roberto R. Zamora Ph. D.

10. Individual Group Students Staff Community Of Learners School Excellence Model © 2008 Institute for School Excellence Ellen M. Gonzalez Ph. D. & Roberto R. Zamora Ph. D.

11. Parents Community Businesses Colleges/Universities Community Of Learners School Excellence Model © 2008 Institute for School Excellence Ellen M. Gonzalez Ph. D. & Roberto R. Zamora Ph. D.

12. College Achievement Program CAP provides the Region One ESC “Advisory Programs” to students during classroom activities and reinforces lessons learned by providing parents with related topics from the Abriendo Puertas “Curriculum”. Together, these two components ensure that lessons acquired by students in classroom instruction are then strengthened by the much needed influence of a parental support system, which has proven to be a challenge for many, if not most educational support initiatives.

13. College Achievement Program This program: Unites a state flagship university and one of the largest GEAR UP programs in the nation. Over 20 years of research, experience and expertise within the Texas Hispanic community. Built on a 5 year collaborative model with proven sustainability.

14. College Achievement Program CAP brings together research and staff expertise to establish the program’s foundation, while allowing you the flexibility to customize certain aspects to fit your needs. We combine training at your location, video, on-site visits, and an informative Web site to ensure your success.

15. Contact Information Tina Atkins Region One GEAR UP tatkins@esc1.net Office: 956-984-6220 Hector F. Aldape The “Abriendo Puertas” Initiative hfaldape@tamu.edu Office: 956-383-3711