Exploring Opportunities for First Generation and ESOL Students Plano East Senior High School Counselors

 Strategies that work for first- generation and low-income students are likely to be successful for the general population as well. However, the reverse is not true. -Thayer, 2000

ur.pisd.edu

 Designed and maintained by the Plano Independent School District  Developed to deliver pertinent information to parents and students

Elements of the University Ready Website  Career Readiness  Academic Readiness  Personal Readiness  Financial Readiness  Admissions Readiness

“College readiness is a result of thoughtful and conscious preparations, not chance or privilege” -University Ready Website

Panther University Ready

 Underserved students have less access to the Internet, an important tool for exploring college opportunities. -A Shared Agenda, 2004

 Counselors available in the library during all lunch periods one day each week  Hands on assistance provided with on-line applications, FAFSA, test registration and more!  Students provided with access to printed and on-line materials

“I needed help with the application form on-line. It was great to sit with a counselor and get help.” -Andrew

Junior Academic Conferences

 Low-income, minority, and first- generation students are especially likely to lack specific types of “college knowledge”. -Vargas, 2004

 Parents and junior students invited to meet with their counselor for one hour during spring semester Senior year schedule and timeline College planning  Discuss college and career goals  Review PSAT and plan for SAT/ACT  Review college admissions requirements and selection process

Scholarship Assistance

 “The biggest challenge that these kids have to face is, how do they balance what they see as their responsibility to help out at home now that they are young adults and, at the same time, follow their dream of going to college?” Quote from the President of California State University at Bakersfield -Schmidt, 2003

 Focus on Plano area scholarship  Nominations submitted by counselors and teachers  Assistance provided with completion of the application and telling their story  Assistance provided with preparation for interview.  Stresses the “Oh yes you can!” mentality

“I’m really sure I want to go to college. Getting help with a scholarship will help me get there” -Roberto

Destination Graduation

 Effective programs affirm and help students understand that academic success is not attained through individual achievement alone, but through an axis of support. -Gullatt and Jan, 2003

 Collaboration between Plano ISD and Urban League  Goal is family involvement  Future plans include taking the program to local recreation centers.

 Parent Academies Presentations in English and Spanish targeting parents and students in grades 9 – 12. Information about high school and college success, college admissions, financial aid and more. Information provided about citizenship and voter registration processes. Childcare and meal provided.

ESOL Program

 It is absolutely the case that they (Hispanic students) have parental support, but they don’t have anybody in the family who really knows the ropes” says Thomas Arcineaga, president of California State University. Schmidt, 2003

 Classroom presentations providing in- depth information about the college admissions process and financial aid.  Computer lab work sessions  Field Trips Community College Four year University

“You are persuading us to go to college and not just work” Mayerling

“(The program) gave me more information and it made me decide that I’m going to Collin College. I wasn’t sure before” -Jordan

 A survey of college-bound students reported that the Internet ranked second only to guidance counselors in their decisions about where to apply to college” -Vargas, 2004

Contact Information Thank you for coming!