Realizing the College Dream http://outreach.berkeley.edu

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Realizing the College Dreamhttp//outreach.berkel
ey.edu

• A College Going Curriculum
• Center for Educational Partnerships
• Funded by the ECMC Foundation

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What is college-going culture?

• The environment, attitudes, and behaviors in
  schools and communities that support and
  encourage students and their families to obtain
  the information, tools, and perspective to ensure
  access to and success in post-secondary
  education.

• College Talk
• Clear Expectations
• Information and Resources
• Comprehensive Counseling
• Testing and Curriculum
• Faculty Involvement
• Family Involvement
• College Partnerships
• Articulation

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Why strengthen college-going culture in our
schools and communities? 

• College-ready rates differ disproportionately
  by student/family income level and racial/ethnic
  group.

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In California Students Lack Information 

• Less than 1 of Californias students know the
  curriculum requirements for college.
• More than half of students overestimate community
  college costs by 5x.
• About a third of students think four-year
  colleges cost 5x more that they actually do.

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Common Student Misconceptions About Preparing for
College

• Meeting my high school graduation requirements
  will prepare me for college.
• Its better to take easier classes and get better
  grades.
• My senior year in high school doesnt matter.
• I dont have to worry about my grades, or the
  kind of classes I take, until my sophomore year.

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Realizing the College DreamA Teacher-Advisor
Guide

• A curriculum guide that supports teachers,
  counselors and youth-development specialists in
  their work to increase the expectations of
  attending college by low-income and first
  generation college students and their families.
• The lessons and workshops provide students with
  an opportunity to think of themselves as future
  college students and to debunk the myth that they
  cant afford college.

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Realizing the College Dream Three Premises

• All students should graduate from high school
  with a college-preparatory curriculum that
  enables them to take advantage of all options in
  postsecondary education or in a career.
• No matter what their futures may bring, as adults
  these students will benefit from the academic
  rigor found in college-preparatory work.
• In this time of high-stakes exams, economic
  hardship and changing demographics, it is
  important for students to understand how todays
  challenging course work means a brighter future
  not only for themselves, but for their families
  and communities.

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Realizing the College DreamFive principles

• Educate students and their families about the
  social and financial benefits of a college
  education, and provide information about
  financial aid
• Sequence the course and workshop content and
  instructional strategies to be age-appropriateles
  sons can be modified for elementary, middle, and
  school age students, as well as community college
  students
• Expose students to college students, faculty, and
  campus life
• Create instructional strategies that are hands-on
  and interactive, with the content and skills
  aligned with national standards and curriculum
  and
• Use the materials in a variety of settings
  (classroom, after-school, Saturday programs,
  informal educational settings, or include short
  segments of the lessons in advisories or homeroom
  settings).

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Realizing the College Dream Four Sections

• The first three sections introduce a set of
  lessons and workshops that contain nine elements
  
• Introduction
• Learning goals
• Target audience
• Timing
• Materials needed
• Activities
• Extensions, bibliography and websites (as
  appropriate)
• National curriculum and content standards
• Lesson-specific handouts for duplication or
  overhead
• The fourth section, the Appendices, contain a
  handout for use throughout the curriculum The
  More You Learn, The More You Earn, a template for
  an Individual Academic Action Plan, My Portfolio,
  Financial Aid Terminology, and sample Program
  Evaluation Tools.

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Section A Thinking of Yourself as a
College-Bound Student Workshops/lessons for
Middle to High School Students (can be modified
for Elementary level)

• Dream a Little Dream Imagining My Future
• Exploring Career Options
• College 101 Researching Colleges and
  Universities
• The Life and Challenges of a First-Generation
  College Student
• Mock College Admissions

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Section BDebunking the Myth that You Cant
Afford College Workshops/lessons for High School
and Community College Students

• Debunking the Myths of Financial Aid
• A Workshop for Students and Families
• Being a Wise Borrower
• The Importance of Managing Your Money
• 3. Who Wants to Spend 20,000?
• 4. Comparing Financial Aid Packages

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Section CGetting Involved and Staying
InvolvedPresentations for Families

• Preparing for College A Guide for Families
• Planning and Presenting a Financial Aid Night for
  Students and Families

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Section D Appendices

• The More You Learn, The More You Earn
• Individual Academic Action Planning
• My Portfolio
• Financial Aid Terminology Chart
• Program Evaluation Tools

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Power Point Resources

• At the web site
• http//outreach.berkeley.edu
• Under Realizing the College Dream there are a set
  of power points that can be downloaded and used
  with students and their families (some are in
  Spanish and English)

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Lesson Review

• What do you like the most/the least about the
  lesson?
• How could you see using this material?
• How would you get started?