Category: College Awareness

1
Category College Awareness
Job Role Parent
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Why is college important?

• Education opens up doors
• Education allows your child to choose his/her
  career
• Education increases the amount of money your
  child may be able to make
• Education determines your childs lifestyle  
• Education expands your childs mind
• Education can help your child improve the
  community 
• Education exposes your child to a variety of
  people and experiences
• Education equals security
• Education equals respect

3
What can I do now to help my child prepare for
high school and college?

• Motivate your child
• Challenge your child
• Enroll your child in extracurricular activities
• Make sure that your child is taking the right
  classes
• Make education a realistic journey
• Make education a top priority
• Discuss careers and educational opportunities
  with your child
• Expose your child to college
• Learn about financial aid and start saving
• Be an educational supporter for your child
• Be an example for your child
• Celebrate your child

4
What are the various college preparation programs
currently available for middle school students?

• To find out what other pre-college programs are
  available in your area, check with the school and
  with local community churches and organizations.
  Here are some programs that may be available in
  your area
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st
  CCLC)
• Advancement Via Individual Determination
  (AVID)
• California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP)
  
• California State Summer School for Mathematics
  and Science (COSMOS)  
• California Student Opportunity and Access
  Program (Cal-SOAP)
• Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP)  
• Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
  Undergraduate Programs
• (GEAR UP)
• Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement
  (MESA)
• Puente Project
• Talent Search
• TRIO Programs
• University of California Links (UC Links)
• Upward Bound
• Upward Bound Math/Science

5
For a given career, how much money can one earn?
For information on what salaries can be earned
for specific careers, visit the U.S. Department
of Labors Web site http//www.bls.gov/oco/home.
html. Here are some samples
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Salary ranges compare for college vs.
non-college educated people

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2000), the
  average amount of money earned by individuals
  based on their education level is shown in the
  table below

For more information on what salaries are earned
for specific careers, visit the U.S. Department
of Labors Web site http//www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
7
Category Financial Aid
Job Role Parent
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What types of scholarships are typically given,
and how can I find them?

• Scholarships are everywhere, you just need to
  know where to look. Here are four important areas
  to research
• Locally
• Organizations and employers
• Free scholarship search services
• College financial aid office

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California financial aid eligibility requirements

• In order to be eligible for California financial
  aid, your child must meet ALL of the following
  criteria
• Qualify for one or more of the various
  type(s) of financial aid available (except for
  certain loans)
• Have a high school diploma or a General
  Education Development (GED) certificate
• Be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible
  program and working toward a degree or
  certificate at a California school
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security Number

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California financial aid eligibility requirements
(cont.)

• Continuing students must maintain
  satisfactory academic progress once in school
• New students must earn and submit a Grade
  Point Average (GPA) Verification form be sure to
  confirm the specific GPA requirement as it may
  vary by grant type and year of application
• Have family earnings and assets less than the
  established ceilings
• Submit both the GPA Verification and the Free
  Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by
  the Cal Grant deadline.

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What are some of the typical financial aid
application due dates?
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What are the typical ranges of awarded amounts
given to students interested in going to college?

• The amount and type of financial aid that your
  child may receive can depend on the following
  items  
• Financial need
• Choice of college
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Year in school
• Status as a full-time or part-time student
• Amount of other financial assistance you will
  receive
• Amount of money available from the college

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What are the typical ranges of awarded amounts
given to students interested in going to college?
(cont.)

• The following chart provides you with a summary
  of the individual financial aid programs, plus
  the associated award ranges or maximum amounts
  that are given out yearly

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Who do I contact for additional information or to
get applications?

• Financial aid information and application forms
  are easy to get. If you want more information
  contact the financial aid office at a college
  near you or call
• (888) CA-GRANT
• http//www.csac.ca.gov
•  
•  (888) 2ED-FUND
• http//www.edfund.org
•  
• (800)-4FED-AID
• http//www.ed.gov/studentaid

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Category Learning Environment School Systems
Job Role Parent
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What is going to school like in the U.S.?

• Grade Levels K-12
• School Districts
• School Systems
• - Elementary school system
• - Secondary school system
• Types of Schools
• Public schools
• Private schools
• Charter schools 
• Year-round education
• Magnet programs
• Alternative schools
• Independent study 

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What is going to school like in California?

• Average School Calendar
• Minimum School - Age Requirements
• Standards-Based Education
• California Schools Management and Personnel
•   School District
•   School District Superintendent
•   School Principal 
•   School Social Workers
•   School Counselors
•   Teachers

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What are content standards?

• Content standards outline what students should
  know at each grade level
• They form the basis of educational goals,
  educational policies, classroom instruction,
  curriculum adoption and academic assistance
• Each state and school district establishes and
  monitors its own standards
• There are four major content areas in which
  standards are set
• English/Language Arts,
• Mathematics,
• History/Social Science
• Science.
• To get a copy of Californias academic content
  standards, visit the California Department of
  Educations Web site http//www.cde.ca.gov/standa
  rds/

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How do I choose a middle school for my child?

• There are many factors that you may want to
  consider before choosing a school here are some
  of them
• School Evaluation Measures
• Academic Performance Index (API)
• School profile
•   Teacher certification and professional
  experience
•   Class size or teacher-student
•   School safety
• School advisement staff
• School resources
• School environment
• Student-support programs
• Parent involvement practice

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Things To Do Before Choosing a School

• Research and compare the API and profiles of
  schools in your area
• Research crime statistics for each schools
  neighborhood
• Make an appointment to visit the school on a
  regular school day
• Attend a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or
  school board meeting

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Questions To Ask While Visiting Schools

• How many of your teachers are state-certified?  
• What professional development opportunities are
  available for the continued training of teachers?
• How do you keep parents informed about what is
  going on in the school? 
• How often do you host parent activities? What
  type of parent activities does the school offer? 
• How safe is your school?  
• Does your school provide bus transportation for
  students? 
• What after-school activities and programs does
  your school provide? 
• What is your dress code for students?
• How do you measure student performance and
  learning? 
• How do you measure school performance? 
• What are some characteristics that are unique to
  your school?
• What is your attendance policy for students? Do
  you notify parents when students have unexcused
  absences?
• Do you have remedial and accelerated programs for
  students who may be underachieving or
  overachieving in academic areas?
• Additional Resource Greatschools.net -
  http//www.greatschools.net

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How can I help my child be successful in middle
school?

• Be Involved
• Read with your child and show an interest in what
  is happening in school each day
• Encourage your child to read as much as possible
• Establish a good relationship with your childs
  teacher
• Help teach your child good study skills
• Help your child learn to manage homework
• Enroll your child in an after-school program that
  will help your child with the work he/she must do
  in the regular school day
• Regularly communicate the importance of learning
  at home. Your child needs to be excited about
  learning
• Show your child how to be organized
• Talk to your child about school

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How can I find out if my child's school is
really safe?  

• Consult with your childs school to see what
  safety strategies they employ
• Get a printed copy of the following
• Discipline code
• School calendar
• School bell schedule
• School handbook
• Visit the campus
• Take a look around 
• Ask about the discipline policies 
• Investigate the Parent - Teacher Association

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What are my rights as it pertains to my child's
school?
Parents have rights at their childs school, and
some of the most common ones are noted below.
These rights are outlined by the California
Department of Education. Family-School
Partnership Act  Elementary and Secondary Act
Family involvement Classroom
observation Teacher conferencing
Volunteering Student attendance Student
testing  School selection Safe school
environment Curriculum materials Student
academic progress  Student records
Standards School rules Psychological
testing Councils and committees Policy
development  School contracts You should also
be aware of the following policy

California Strategic Plan for Parental
Involvement in Education
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How is middle school different from elementary
school?

• More students at the school and in classes
• Changing classes and more teachers
• New curriculum
• New school schedule
• More after-school activities and programs

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How can I be a more active middle school
parent?At Home
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At School
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How can I feel know generally what is going on in
my child's school?

• Get Involved
• Keep a school calendar of activities and events
  posted at home 
• Read the school newsletters
• Join the school board or a parent club or
  association
• Know your childs school family
• Donate time to your childs school 
• Talk to the school secretary
• Talk to your childs teachers

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Are there any special considerations and new
responsibilities as a middle school parent?
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How do I build a relationship with my child's
teacher?
To make communication easier with your childs
teacher, here are some things that you should
remember   Make your first interaction with
your childs teacher a positive one   Dont get
angry before getting the facts    Talk to the
teacher if you have a problem before you go to
the principal   Teachers welcome ongoing
dialogues with parents because it gives them a
better understanding of their students For those
parents who speak a different language   Make
regular visits to your childs school. Find
someone at the school who speaks your language 
Ask about language classes offered at the school 

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When should I ask for a parent-teacher
conference, and how do I get the most from the
conference?   

• As a parent, you should ask for a conference with
  your childs teacher for the following reasons
•   If you want to find out how your child is
  doing in school
•   If there is a dramatic change in your childs
  behavior that lasts for an extended period of
  time
•   If your child is having repeated problems with
  homework assignments
•   If an unusual or difficult circumstance
  arises, including death, serious illness or
  marital problems
•   Provide teachers with information that will
  allow them to assist your child
•   If your child tells you that the teacher said
  or did something that you do not like
•   If your child is going to be out of school for
  more than a couple
  of days

32
How much homework should my middle school student
have?

• Educators recommend that sixth graders be given
  homework each school day that requires between 20
  to 40 minutes of time to complete.
• For seventh and eighth graders, the amount of
  time spent on homework should increase to an
  average of about 2 hours per day.

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How much should I get involved with my child's
homework?
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Warning Signs of a Poor Homework Program

• Students get little or no homework
• Students arent required to do homework
• Teachers dont regularly correct homework or give
  feedback
• Many homework assignments consist of easy
  projects or repetitive drills that require little
  thinking
• Teachers tell you that homework does not serve a
  purpose or do much good
• Class time is used for children to do their
  homework before they go home

35
How do I motivate my child to achieve
academically?

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How do I get my child to study?

• Let him/her know how important studying is to the
  whole learning process
• Set up a study area - Make sure this area is free
  of distractions so that your child is able to
  focus on his/her schoolwork
• Set a specific time to study each day - Structure
  allows children to create a routine
• Ask your childs teacher how much time should be
  dedicated to studying each night
• Keep track of assignments. Monitor your childs
  understanding of the lessons he/she is working on
• Have your child practice taking notes, and review
  them with him/her
• Help your child to learn how to study
  productively with others

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How do I motivate my child to enjoy reading?

• Serve as a role model
• Make visiting the library a habit
• Give books as gifts
• Use the newspaper to encourage daily reading
• Share stories from your personal reading when
  talking to your child
• Surround your child with quality literature
• Incorporate reading into your family routines
  and activities
• Make sure that your child reads or that someone
  else reads to him/her daily
• Read aloud to your child, particularly when
  he/she is under five years of age

38
How do I make sure that my child continues to
learn during the summer months?

• Formal summer school
• Summer tutoring
• Summer camp
• Obtain a summer reading list from the school
• Family exploration activities and trips

39
What school activities should I attend throughout
the year?

• Parent-Teacher conferences
• Parent nights 
• Back-to-School nights
• Open House nights
• Other activities at your childs school that
  you may want to attend include
• School board meetings
•  Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings 

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What school activities should my child attend
throughout the year?

• Your child should attend as many school
  activities as possible. Here are some examples of
  important school activities
• Testing Days
• Student orientations
• Assemblies
• Open houses
• Back-to-school nights
• To get a complete list of what is offered,
  contact the school. The
  school should provide a calendar of events and a
  list of student-support
  programs.
•  

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I do not have transportation to get my child to
after-school, weekend or extracurricular school
activities. What can I do?

• Contact your childs school 
•    Contact your local public transportation
  agency -http//www.i5usa.com/public_transportation
  /
•   Contact your schools Parent Teacher
  Association (PTA) 

42
What are student assessments or standardized
tests?

• Student assessment and standardized tests are
  designed to measure your childs aptitude and
  academic achievement level, plus identify areas
  for improvement
• Depending on the type taken, the test will
  compare your childs achievement level to state
  standards or to that of his/her peers
• Some tests will assess if your child is meeting,
  exceeding or falling below the state standards
• Some tests will compare your childs achievement
  level against all other students at their grade
  level who took the test nationwide
• Assessment tests are also used to help determine
  the academic performance of the school

43
Why are these Tests Important?

• Monitor and measure what your child has learned
• Help to identify the areas in which he/she may
  need additional assistance
• Uncover school deficiencies or problem areas
• College admission

44
Tests To Be Familiar With

• Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/
  National Merit Scholarship
  Qualifying Test (NMSQT)
• High School Exit Exam (HSEE)
• SAT I Reasoning Test (SAT) and
• American College Test (ACT).

45
What are the various college preparation programs
currently available for middle school students?

• To find out what other pre-college programs are
  available in your area, check with the school and
  with local community churches and organizations.
  Here are some programs that may be available in
  your area
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st
  CCLC)
• Advancement Via Individual Determination
  (AVID)
• California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP)
  
• California State Summer School for Mathematics
  and Science (COSMOS)  
• California Student Opportunity and Access
  Program (Cal-SOAP)
• Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP)  
• Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
  Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
• Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement
  (MESA)
• Puente Project
• Talent Search
• TRIO Programs
• University of California Links (UC Links)
• Upward Bound
• Upward Bound Math/Science

46
What are some of the existing support programs
for parents?

• To learn about groups offering programs in your
  area, inquire at your childs school, the school
  district office and with community and
  faith-based organizations. Here are some sample
  programs that may be available in your area
• National Parent Education Network (NPEN)
• Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)
• Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
• Parents as Teachers (PAT) National Center
• Parents for Public Schools (PPS)
• Partnership for Family Involvement in Education
  (PFIE)

47
Category Parent Communication Social Issues
Job Role Parent
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What emotional changes and challenges should I
expect in my middle school student?

• Physical
• Mental/Emotional 
• Social  

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How do I deal with a child who does not want to
participate in school activities?

• Discuss the benefits of participation with your
  child
• Discuss positive outcomes of participation
• Help your child choose activities that are of
  interest to him/her

50
What are the non-school related issues that my
child may face during adolescence?

• Highlighted below are some key factors that may
  prove challenging for your child during the
  adolescent stage of development
• Separation
• Exploration
• Violence
• Peer Pressure
• Gangs
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Conflicts
• Nutrition
• Puberty
• Lack of Focus
• Self-Esteem

51
How do I communicate effectively with my child?

• Listed below are some ideas on how to have good,
  meaningful talks with your child
• Make Time to communicate with your child daily
• Listen to what your child has to say
• Reflect
• Share your own views and opinions
• Be Aware of the words you use
• Watch your body language and the message it
  conveys
• Encourage your child
• Discuss

52
Is my child involved in too many activities?

• Listed below are some common reasons why children
  are enrolled in extracurricular activities
• No other childcare arrangements
• To develop natural talent
• To develop social skills
• Some signs of an over-scheduled child is
• Falling behind in schoolwork
• Headaches or stomach aches
• Missed meals
• Lack of sleep
• Stress/Depression
• Mood swings
• Constant fatigue