Near Peers help Students at Stark's Urban High Schools Explore College Options
School boards meetings in Canton, Alliance and Massillon this week included a presentation on college access programs in their high schools through community based partnerships since 2008. Adele Gelb, Program Officer, at the Stark Education Partnership, discussed the College Connector at Canton Timken High School and the Ohio College Guides at Canton McKinley, Alliance and Massillon Washington High Schools. The College Connector is funded by the United Way of Greater Stark County. The Ohio College Guides are financed by federally funded ServeOhio and the Stark Education Partnership.
The "near peer" college advisors in both programs support the efforts of teachers and counselors in helping students explore career and college options, enroll in dual credit courses, register for the ACT or SAT, apply for admission, and secure scholarships and financial aid.
Gelb told the school boards that the combined impact of "near peers" and other efforts at their high schools is apparent in the data. Since the programs began in 2008, all high schools have increased their college-going rate for both for students enrolling the next fall or anytime within two-years of graduation.
|
