Road to College Graduation and Career Awareness

A shocking 70% of California’s community college students fail to graduate or transfer. A new study conducted by the Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy at Cal State Sacramento and reported by the Los Angeles Times found that the large majority of community college students failed to obtain a degree or transfer to a four-year institution. These students typically dropped out – some with a significant amount of debt and no degree to help them. According to a report at the Los Angeles Times, the study showed that about one-fifth of full-time college students who enroll in school do not make it to their second year. No degree and a whole lot of debt. Many of those students are recipients of federal and state grants, as well as other government appropriations that ultimately come out of the taxpayers’ pockets. The main problem is that high schools do not have enough college and career counselors for all the students who need a written plan to succeed.

Studies show that this problem is mostly affecting Latino and African American students in low-income and underserved communities throughout Los Angeles County. It is important to increase the number of residents who have a bachelors or higher education since lack of higher education degree has a direct relation with unemployment, lower income potential, higher delinquency, and incarceration rate in Los Angeles County. Researchers cite parent-family community involvement as a key to addressing the school dropout crisis and note that strong school-family-community partnerships foster higher educational aspirations and more motivated students. The evidence holds true for students at both the elementary and secondary level, regardless of the parent’s education, family income, or background—and the research shows parent involvement affects minority students’ academic achievement across all races including their ability to graduate from a college with a degree. Our innovative program addresses the key issues that causes that residents of Los Angeles County do not graduate with a bachelor's or high degree. 1. Parent involvement in schools. 2. Parent, Student and College and Career Counselor involvement in the planning of higher education. 3. Guidance that support the student during the first years of college.

Applying a proven model or solution to a new issue or sector (e.g., using a job recruiting software or strategy to match clients to supportive housing sites, applying demonstrated strategies from advocating for college affordability to advocating for housing affordability and homelessness, etc.)

By addressing the key factors that contribute to residents of Los Angeles County not graduating with a bachelor's degree, we will make Los Angeles a better place for all. We are confident that the implementation of our proven and innovative program will contribute to a significant increase in the number of students who graduate from college with a degree. It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. When it comes to college planning, the vast majority of parents and students in low income and underserved communities are clueless about how they will make it happen. College and Career Counselors at the schools are totally overwhelmed and at best they can only provide basic guidance. By providing personalized one-on-one guidance to the parents and the students are experience has shown that the number of students who graduate from college or a university increases greatly.

We have a track record of success in educating families and students at LAUSD and schools located in Los Angeles County. During the past 14 years, we have been working hard to provide college planning education at schools through our interactive parent/student education workshops. We have come to the conclusion that in order to increase the number of students who graduate with a bachelor's degree or higher, it takes having a written plan. It takes the guidance of a caring and knowledge College and Career Counselor who the student and parents can relate to.