Blazing New Trails - Connexions

174 CRITICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Huntsville, Tyler Junior College in Tyler, and University of Texas at Tyler. Students
have also had the opportunity to hear a panel discussion with former students who are
enrolled in postsecondary institutions.
Outreach to parents. There have been increased numbers of parent meetings and
personal communication with parents and guardians concerning college entrance
requirements, testing, and financial aid. Parents’ and families’ knowledge regarding
postsecondary education and financial aid was enhanced through a GEAR UP newsletter
entitled Turning Points that was mailed to all GEAR UP parents quarterly. This locally
produced newsletter was printed in Spanish and English and featured pertinent articles
regarding postsecondary education and financial aid for college. In addition a Road to College
Checklist for 11 th and 12 th grade students was developed and mailed to all students’ homes.
Through the partnership with Top Ladies of Distinction for a College Readiness program,
information was further shared with parents. Students and parents participated in Showcase
Saturday at the partner university including a special morning institute designed especially for
the GEAR UP students and parents. A video on dual credit courses that was prepared by the
partner community college was another way that information was shared with parents during
parent meetings.
In addition, individual partner schools each developed local initiatives to share
information with parents. For example, one partner school provided the magazine Next Steps:
Your Life After High School to all GEAR UP students. The campus hosted a financial aid
workshop for parents this year and a FAFSA completion night for parents and students.
Information was provided to students in history class to take home to parents for discussion of
steps in preparing for postsecondary education.
Another campus participated in the College Fair, hosted a scholarship and financial aid
workshop, and had many students and parents participating in Showcase Saturday. Still
another partner campus offered a financial aid night with representatives of the partner
community college as presenters. They used their phone call-out system to encourage
attendance. Parents were informed of a grant whereby the dual credit courses would not cost
the student anything, and a student could graduate with up to 18 college credit hours. One
partner campus mailed a monthly newsletter to parents. Discussions of college always
included topics, such as, how to finance college. Messages were sent through a Blackboard
computer system to parents of scholarship meetings and other pertinent college preparation
meetings. Also, on the school website, dates of parent meetings were posted and dates of
visits of college representatives. One partner school’s GO Center was instrumental in
providing information about college and financial aid to parents. Parent nights for all parents
as well as targeted parent meetings, such as, Hispanic Parent College Night, where the
program was presented in Spanish have been primary ways that information has also been
shared. One parent commented that in working with the counselors on preparation for college,
“They have become almost part of our family as they have worked with our child.”
Community College representatives have provided information about financial aid, and
university professors have explained steps in preparing for college to parents and students. A
GEAR UP coordinator explained, “If parents are not able to attend a meeting, we mail the
parents materials about the meeting.” The school leaders also communicated with parents
through phone calls and in the community in order to share important information about
preparation for college with them.