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 theUniversity 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 InformationJana.Hancock@pisd.eduJoyce.Kackley@pisd.eduCynthiaD.Williams@pisd.edu

Thank you for coming!