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California GEAR UP is pleased to invite you to attend ‘Effective Tools for Preparing Students for Access and Success in Higher Education.’ Presented by a statewide network of higher education organizations, the purpose of this conference is to begin the scalability process with respect to these resource tools and strategies with the following objectives in mind:

• More secondary school and higher educational staff will be aware and knowledgeable of these resource tools
• Secondary schools, Academic Preparation Program staff, and community organizations will adopt and adapt these tools to expand the efficacy and effectiveness of their college counseling with students.

Ultimately, the goal of this conference is that more students, particularly from African-American, Latino, Native American, and low-income communities, will be prepared for enrollment and success in college through the utilization of these resource tools. Members of these audiences are highly encouraged to attend: Secondary School Administrators, Counselors, and Teachers, Community Organization Staff, Guiding Secondary School Students on College Preparation, Academic Preparation Program Directors, Counselors, and Advisors, Outreach Officers from Higher Educational Institutions. 

Sponsors include:

ACT, Inc.

Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities

California Community Colleges

California Department of Education

California GEAR UP Program

California State University

College Access Foundation of California

California Education Round Table Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC)

College Board

ScholarShare College Savings Plan

University of California

To register at no cost, please visit the ICC  Website.

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Being widely reported across California, ACT has announced the scores of the graduating class of 2010.  While hispanic students showed an increase in college readiness, their scores continue to fall short of those necessary to be successful in college.

“A record number of California students took the ACT college readiness examination in 2010…While the percentage of ACT-tested California graduates who are ready for college coursework is higher compared to five years ago, the findings indicate that there are still too many high school graduates who are not ready to succeed in college-level work. The ACT results also provide further evidence of the achievement gap; a lower percentage of students who are African American or Latino are meeting the ACT’s college readiness benchmarks compared to students who are white or Asian.

“Preparing more students for success in college is key to ensuring that California’s economy remains strong in the global economy of the 21st century. These results tell us that we must continue to focus on implementing strategies that effectively prepare all students for success in college and the workforce.”

-California Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell

The ethnic and racial patterns of the score report prompted renewed calls for extra attention to the needs of struggling students.

David Hawkins, the director of public policy and research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, noted that the ACT results show modest progress toward one definition of career readiness, but that such definitions vary from one postsecondary program or institution to another. In gauging a student’s preparedness for higher education, he said, high school grades and coursework are also key indicators of his likelihood of future success. (from Education Week article)

While the California GEAR UP community strives to address the Achievement gap it takes a dedicated education community to make meaningful gains in scores such as the ACT.

The disconnect between secondary and postsecondary institutions lies at the heart of the problem: Many high-poverty public high schools lack the resources to prepare students for college reading and writing requirements; many colleges and universities, meanwhile, are unaccustomed to extending meaningful academic opportunities beyond their campuses.  In this way, low-income high schoolers are very often confronted by both the weakest bridge between high school and college and the widest gulf to cross.  (Education Week: Commentary “The Promise of Early College” by Stephen Tremaine)

What is your school, program, or community doing to address these gaps?

UNITY UNIVERSITY

Sponsored by California GEAR UP

EVERETT MIDDLE SCHOOL

September 17, 2009

1-pm-2pm       Horace Mann Students Arrive at Everett Middle School

• Video viewing: “GEAR UP 10 Years” and NCCEP: 16 Summers
  
•  Welcome Address from School Principals 
  
•  Keynote Speaker: Rod Santos, San Francisco City College
  
•  Mayor Gavin Newsom staff: Presentation to GEAR UP programs 
• ACT-Explore student announcement 

2pm – 3pm      The College Experience: Student workshops

• SF State student panelists
  
• SF Ed Fund (translation)
  
• Student QandA
  
• *Raffle for Prizes and Gifts*
  

Ice Cream Social: Sponsored by California GEAR UP

THANK  YOU

San Francisco Unified School District GEAR UP
Everett and Horace Mann Middle School
San Francisco Promise
San Francisco City College
San Francisco State University
San Francisco Ed. Fund
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom 

September 18, 2009 

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

BEATING THE ODDS

A Collaborative Commitment to Close the Achievement Gap

8:00-8:10am   Morning Announcement: National GEAR UP Day

8:10-8:45am   Press Conference with Superintendent O’Connell

• Opening Welcome: Principal McDonald
• Recognize Special Guests
• Remarks: Superintendent Steven Ladd
• Remarks: Shelley Davis
• The Valley-GEAR UP Collaborative
• Presentation to Superintendent O’Connell
• REMARKS BY SUPERINTENDENT O’CONNELL
• Family Speaker:  A School Community in Action
• Student Speakers:  Beating the Odds at Valley

8:45-9:20 am  Campus Tour

• Valley/GEAR UP Family Center
• Valley Classroom Visitations

9:20-10:00am     Principal MacDonald

• Refreshments
• Student Achievement Gap Panel

ACT and California GEAR UP partner together for National GEAR UP Day at Valley High School in Sacramento. The event “Valley High School: Beating the Odds” will take place on Friday, September 18th at the high school located in the Elk Grove Unified School District of Sacramento. Press conference at 8:00 will feature California Superintendent of Public instruction Jack O’Connell as well as family and student speakers from Valley High School.