College Readiness

1. College Readiness GEAR UP Family Forum Tuesday, January 10, 2012 5:30 -7:00 pm

2. Welcome to you all! • Introductions • GEAR UP Team at Kearny • Vanessa Núñez, Site Coordinator • Trisha Chung, School Counselor • GEAR UP Grant Director • Dina Weiss • Small School Staff • Dawn Swanson, School Counselor at the School of International Business (SIB)

3. Your Presence is Important • “In the 2002 research review A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement, Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp conclude that there is a positive and convincing relationship between family involvement and student success, regardless of race/ethnicity, class, or parents’ level of education. • Finding 1: Involvement programs that link to learning improve student achievement. It’s simple: The more parent and community involvement activities focus on improving student learning, the more student learning improves. • Learning-focused involvement activities may include • Family nights on math or literacy • Family-teacher conferences that involve students • Family workshops on planning for college” From the National PTA website www.pta.org/2128.htm

4. College Success starts in High School • Proper planning ensures that your student takes the necessary courses to satisfy high school graduation and college entrance requirements • Each small school has a 4-year plan specific to their requirements • See attachments A-D for your student’s small school 4-year plan

5. SDUSD High School Course Graduation Requirements • English 4 yrs = 8 sem. credits • Math 3 yrs = 6 sem. credits • Science 3 yrs = 6 sem. Credits • Social Studies 3 yrs = 6 sem. credits • Physical Education 2 yrs = 4 sem. credits • Visual, Performing, or Practical Arts and World Languages 1½ yrs = 3 sem. credits • Electives 11 sem. credits 44 Total Credits REQUIRED to earn a diploma • *** Each small school may have a slight variation as to years needed. Please check your student’s specific 4-year plan.

6. How to Earn a Diploma • Have a 2.0 GPA in grades 9-12 • Complete the Computer Literacy Requirement • Complete a minimum of 44 semester credit units • Complete the Senior Exhibition • Pass both parts of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) • To participate in the Graduation Ceremony, you must have a 2.0 in citizenship your senior year.

7. How to Calculate a GPA • A grade point average (GPA) is the average grade of all of your classes combined • Add up the points equivalent to your grades and divide by how many classes you have Academic Grade _Citizenship Grade A = 4 pts. = Excellent B = 3 pts. = Good C = 2 pts. = Satisfactory D = 1 pt. = Needs Improvement F = 0 pts. = Unsatisfactory

8. GPA Calculation Example A = 4 points English B = 3 B = 3 points Algebra A = 4 C = 2 points History B = 3 D = 1 points Spanish C = 2 F = 0 points PE B = 3 Science C = 2 = 17/6 GPA = 2.83 *For AP/IB courses, all grades are worth one extra point due to the rigorousness of the work (ex/ A=5, B=4, C=3, etc.)

9. Fast Track ProgramMesa Community College and Kearny Complex • This is a dual enrollment program which allows high school students to earn UC/CSU transferable college credits while still in high school • Benefits: • Earn college credits prior to high school graduation saving time and money • All courses are taken at the Mesa College campus • Placed in classes with mostly college students • Experience authentic college rigor • Tuition waived for students in the Fast Track Program (Early graduate students must pay tuition but they can apply for financial aid at the college)

10. Fast Track ProgramMesa Community College and Kearny Complex

11. College Entrance Requirements and the Different Higher Ed Systems

12. A-G Requirements for UC’s and CSU’s ** All courses must be passed with a “C” grade or better.

13. Entrance Exams • University of California • SAT Reasoning or ACT w/ Writing • Highest total score • California State University • SAT Reasoning or ACT • SAT: Use Reading and Math scores only • ACT: Writing is not required Register at: • www.collegeboard.com • www.actstudent.org Make sure to test by the end of your Junior Year

14. University of California (UC) • Ten Campuses in CA • Admission Requirements: • 15 A-G courses w/ 3.0 or better • Entrance Exams (SAT or ACT w/ writing) • Personal Statements • Application Deadline: November 30 of • Senior year • Fee: $60 per UC application (as of now) • www.universityofcalifornia.edu

15. California State University (CSU) • 23 campuses in CA • Admission Requirements: • 15 A-G courses w/ 2.0 or better • Entrance Exams (SAT or ACT w/o writing) • Application Deadline: Nov. 30 of senior year • Fee: $55 per application (as of now) • www.csumentor.edu

16. Private/Independent Universities • 73 in CA • Degrees offered and admission requirements expected: • Vary for each institution • http://www.aiccu.edu/ • Application process varies but many institutions accept the • Common Application: • www.commonapp.org

17. CA Community College • 112 campuses in CA • Degrees offered: • Associates Degrees • Vocational Certificates • Rolling admission practiced and applications are FREE • Admission requirements: • Must be 18 or older (or with parent permission) • Must take Math and English Placement Tests • SAT or ACT not needed • Affordable: $26/unit • Many offer evening and online courses • Transfer options to a 4-yr university: • IGETC • TAG • www.cccco.edu

18. Vocational/Technical Schools • Admission requirements vary for each institution • Accreditation: Does your degree count? • Do research on the institution • Remember: Community colleges often offer the same certificate programs for a much lower cost!

19. More Education = • See attachment E in your packet • …More pay which means more monthly/yearly income to pay for your desired lifestyle • …Overall smaller unemployment rates which means you are less likely to be out of work and if you do get laid off, you may be able to find work faster due to your increased education and skills

20. Financial Aid: Ways to pay for college

21. Ways to Pay – Scholarships • All students have access to money for college! • Your student can receive free money based on specific criteria that does not need to be repaid • It is never too early to begin applying for scholarships • Periodically check the GEAR UP website to take advantage of scholarship opportunities www.sandi.net/domain/9912

22. Ways to Pay – Scholarships • Apply to as many scholarships as you can even if you think the award is small (every little bit helps and adds up) • Re-use essays – no need to come up with something new if you don’t have to (be sure to change any pertinent information) • Ask your English teacher to read your essays and to give you any tips • Talk to your small school counselor or the GEAR UP team for assistance with scholarships and anything college related

23. Ways to Pay – Financial Aid • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for government grants and loans • Campus specific financial aid may also be available • Grants – free money for educational expenses based on need • Loans – money that must be repaid with interest (subsidized and unsubsidized) • Work Study – part-time employment to assist with educational expenses

24. Ways to Pay – Financial Aid • In order to receive money from the government, your student must have a Social Security number • Families should complete the FAFSA between January 1st and March 2nd of a student’s senior year in high school. It is better to apply as early as possible. • For more information: www.fafsa.ed.gov

25. Ways to Pay – AB 540 • Assembly Bill 540 is a CA state law that gives qualified undocumented students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition versus out-of-state tuition to attend a higher education institution in CA

26. Ways to Pay – AB 540 • 2009-2010 total average annual fees for a full-time undergraduate student

27. Ways to Pay – AB 540 • “To qualify as an AB540 student, undocumented students must: • Have attended a California high school for 3 or more full academic years (between grades 9 through 12. They do not need to be consecutive years); • Have or will graduate from a California high school or have attained a G.E.D.; or received a passing mark on the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE); • Register or be currently enrolled at an accredited institution of public higher education in California; • File or plan to file an affidavit as required by individual institutions, stating that he/she will apply for legal residency as soon as possible; • Not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, E, etc.)” • from www.ab540.com/ (also in Spanish)

28. AB 131 Dream Act • Allows students who meet the AB540 criteria to receive Cal Grants • Signed into law September 2011 • Effective for 2013-2014 school year • For entitlement candidates only • Must meet all other Cal Grant requirements • Online app will open in January 2013 to gather FAFSA like info.

29. Questions??? • Contact info: • 858-496-8370 x 2751 • Vanessa Núñez, Site Coordinator • vnunez@ucsd.edu • Trisha Chung, Site Counselor • tchung@sandi.net • GEAR UP News and Announcements • www.sandi.net/kearny • Scroll over ‘Organizations’ at top of page • Click on ‘GEAR UP’