INTRODUCTION n Low income and minority students do not have equal access to education n While much research is done on resources in schools, access resources outside of school need to be explored as well n Our goal: to identify learning sites in communities and understand to what extent the resources provide college access

Methodology n Initially 3 neighborhoods –two low income –one high income n Qualitative –interviews –focus groups n Quantitative –Mapping n Interview and Focus Group Questions –What types of services exist, –how do people use the services, –what are the barriers to usage, –what does your community need in the future

Creating Neighborhood Maps Downloading Shape and Data Files from the Web Creating Boundaries w/in shape files Merging and Dissolving unnecessary information Plotting points, geocoding Merging shape and data files BEAUTIFUL MAPS!!!

Community Learning Resources A Panel Discussion of Pico Corridor and Pico-Union Neighborhoods

Featuring: n Nuria Santamaria, Host n Veronica Sena, Expert Pico Corridor n Mayneth Hernandez, Expert Pico Union n Lee Dominquez, Resident Pico Corridor n Victoria Kraus, Resident Pico Union

Neighborhood Demographics n Pico Corridor n Located in Santa Monica 26th North, 13th South, I-10 West, Pico, East n Under 20,000 People per SQM n Large minority pop n Santa Monica High

Neighborhood Demographics n Pico-Union n Located in Downtown LA n 9th St North, I-10 South, S. Alvarado & Hoover West and East n 35,000 people per SQM n Large immigrant pop. n Belmont High

Learning Sites in the Communities

Findings n There are more social need sites in Pico Union, with more college access sites in Pico Corridor n Students in both communities have lack of knowledge of what services they need to assist them in college preparation

Findings n Barriers to using sites include: –transportation –language –low Socio-economic status –lack of parental knowledge n Future needs include: –extended hours –transportation –computers w/ internet access –mentoring programs

Conclusion n Learning sites that provide college access are not prevalent in low income communities. n More learning sites in a community does not necessarily equal more resources that provide college access

Conclusion n Barrier to college access may not be limited to education but may be connected to broader society issues: –Poverty –Unemployment –Neighborhood violence –etc....

Conclusion n Kozol, “providing community resources to low income students may never equal to what affluent students receive in their homes.” n Kozol, “Communities should not have to make up for failing schools, schools should provide more resources….”

Policy Implications n The needs of low income communities must be researched, the local and state government, along with schools must develop programs to address the needs. n More research is needed to determine the added value of community learning sites.

Policy Implications n Schools should take more responsibility in educating parents and students about: –What students need to prepare for college –What kinds of services exist to assist in that preparation

Thank you!!!!! Any Questions or Comments?