SERVICES

Community & Academic Partnerships

GEAR UP/Project STEPS

GEAR UP/Project STEPS is a federally funded program designed to significantly increase the number of low-income students who attend and graduate from a college/university. The program began with a cohort of 7th graders from Walter Reed, and Sun Valley Middle Schools in 2005 and has followed them to North Hollywood, East Valley, and Francis Polytechnic High Schools where the program currently resides. GEAR UP/Project STEPS supports these students and their families by providing academic support and counseling, tutoring, mentors, summer enrichment programs, free PSAT testing, free college level courses, parent workshops, college tours and advisements. These services are made possible from collaborative partnerships with the Los Angeles Unified School District, Walter Reed Middle School, Sun Valley Middle School, North Hollywood High School, East Valley High School, F. Polytechnic High School, Los Angeles Valley College, UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program, Parent Institute for Quality Education, and Families in Schools.

GEAR UP/Project LASSO

GEAR UP / Project LASSO began in 2005 with a cohort of 7th and 8th graders from Sepulveda Middle School. The program was designed to significantly increase the number of low-income students who attend and graduate from a college/university. The first group of students has moved on to Monroe High School, and the program will follow both grade levels throughout graduation from high school. GEAR UP/Project LASSO supports these students and their families by providing academic support and counseling, tutoring, mentors, summer enrichment programs, free PSAT testing, free college level courses, parent workshops, college tours and advisements. The collaborative partners include CSUN EOP, Youth Policy Institute, Kaplan, Los Angeles Valley College, College Summit, Sepulveda Middle School, Monroe High School, and Los Angeles Unified School District.

College: Making It Happen Family Conference

College: Making It Happen is designed to provide college preparatory information to parents of middle school students in order to enable them to assist and support their children to plan and prepare academically and financially for educational opportunities after high school graduation. This family conference emphasizes the required academic preparation for college success, how parents can positively impact student achievement, and ways of financing a college education. College: Making It Happen engages the entire family in a daylong program, consisting of parent workshops, structured grade level student programs, a college fair, a book fair, and campus tours. Reaching more than 20,000 family members over the past fourteen years, this family conference has proven to be a meaningful opportunity for parents and students of the San Fernando Valley to learn about higher education opportunities and college readiness.