Over the last 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in summer opportunities for high school students. Participation in summer programs is a critical lever to increase college access with many admission officers expecting students to participate in programs to demonstrate interest. Although the number of opportunities has increased, many programs are prohibitively expensive or require complex applications. As a result, students who are first-generation or come from low-income households are less likely to participate in these programs. Excel Academy Charter School will share a comprehensive program model that engages all students in transformative summer opportunities, while Northeastern University will explore how schools, community-based organizations, and universities can cultivate partnerships that increase access to summer programs. The presenters will share strategies that can be applied by many organizations to harness the power of community partnerships.
Guiding Questions:
1) How can schools and community organizations increase student access to high-quality
summer programs and opportunities that affirm student identity, connect to student values
and goals, spark imagination, and set students on a pathway to college?
2) Why are summer programs critical in college admissions, and how do schools and community organizations create program models and strategic partnerships that provide more equity and access to these programs, so that all students might be competitive in the admission process?
3) How do you support students to continue learning over the summer or pursue a passion that
sets them on a trajectory for success in college?