<p>Reading the above posts makes me think that something needs to happen far earlier than HS graduation in terms of introducing the idea that college is a possiblity for anyone with motivation, regardless of background. So they know what choices they’re making, should there be any idea of babies on the way! (Amazing story, curmudgeon)The parents need to hear this as well, from some far earlier point. 8th grade? Even sooner? </p>
<p>Here in Wisconsin there is a much publicized program in the offing to guarantee a state college space to any 8th grader willing to sign the Wisc. Covenant, promising to stay out of trouble, do community service work, take college prep classes and maintain a B average. Low income students would be assisted with financial aid (as now). </p>
<p>I’d think the greatest value would be in getting kids thinking about college as a distinct possiblity early in the process.</p>
<p>Garland, absolutely agree that there are different challenges for these kids. But I think the support system IS in place – the h.s. guidance office. Of course, it is likely grossly understaffed, but it’s the best place from which to launch these kids. Maybe mandatory meetings with every family as their kids begin freshman year. A generic “This is what your kid can accomplish IF you take these steps” kind of presentation. If the student/counselor ratio were reasonable, the counselors could be more involved in the kids’ progresss throughout h.s. & help sugest wise paths before changes were too late. I wouldn’t add another level of bureaucracy. I’d beef up the resouces already in place. Corporate mentoring programs should be encouraged, too.</p>
<p>Plenty of scholarship $$ goes unclaimed. If it were matched up with needy kids, many would have great opportunities, despite their troubled backgrounds.</p>
<p>Edit === Great Lakes: Somehow I missed your post. Agree with the proactive approach. Get the message out early that you CAN accomplish this IF you take these steps.</p>
<p>‘if the student/counselor ratio were reasonable’ A big if. In our schools, the ratio is going up and up, to reduce cutting class options and class size.</p>
<p>See, unfortunately, that just is NOT going to happen… Whatever these kids accomplish, it is largely in spite of their parent, not because of them.</p>
<p>I work with these kids - a relatively high functioning group of them (GPAs 3.0 and up) - and most of them have no idea who their guidance counselor is.</p>
<p>What I see are store fronts in these neighborhoods that house a not-for-profit whose job it is solely to help these kids through the college application process. A place for “like minded” kids to hang out, use the internet, do their homework, browse college catalogs. A place to gather kids and take them on college visits. We need a way to snag the top performers in these schools and give them a big push. There are some programs now that are similar - but they suffer from very uneven funding, confusing missions, overlapping services, and lack of visibility. </p>
<p>(And, curmudgeon’s story is typical, we lose some of these promising kids to pregnancies and other problems. Some of them even drop out of school because they can’t handle the bad enviornments at them.)</p>