CAP has opened up our students’ curiosity to their future in higher education.
– Ivan Harris, Assistant Principal at McKinley School
More than two years after school closures and the transition back to in-person learning, the CAP team continues to see pandemic-related shifts across all programs. During this period, CAP’s middle school team superstars, Natasha and Wendy, had many thoughtful conversations with our middle school partners at Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy and McKinley to reassess how we can collaborate to better serve PUSD students, especially those furthest from opportunity.
Prior to school closures, CAP after-school programs rotated at middle schools and were open to any PUSD student that signed up for the course. Some daytime programming was also offered at specific school sites.
After reassessing with school administration, CAP’s middle school team customized the program to combat learning loss and be more equitable. In its evolution, our programming is now integrated into the school day during core subjects, like English, science, or history. In contrast with the former programming structure that supported only enrolled students, we now serve full grade levels and reach students who may not be able to stay after school, with eighth-graders being our top priority since this is their first year in middle school experiencing in-person learning.
During the course of three or five one-hour sessions, Natasha and Wendy enrich student learning by focusing on core curricular pieces, including understanding higher education and college options, meeting admission requirements, paying for college, and exploring extracurricular and leadership opportunities. Covering these core themes ensures students are equipped with the right information to make informed decisions about their future.
“One of the things that we say to every student is that they control their choices. They took steps and chose to make it to school that day, just as they will take steps and make choices that will help them get to college,” says our Program Manager Natasha. “Going to college is a choice. It’s your choice. You, as the student, make the choice. Start planning now so that you can choose.”
CAP is a wonderful, engaging, and fun opportunity for all students that helps introduce students to the importance of college and helps them navigate the process. Students leave feeling inspired and empowered!
– Laura Partma, Instructional Coach
The middle school team has also integrated CaliforniaColleges.edu into the curriculum. Students use this valuable resource to research colleges and universities and look up acceptance rates. In an effort to increase advocacy and support with the transition from middle to high school, students also mirror this research process by selecting the right fit PUSD high school based on career pathway options and extracurricular opportunities, just as they will one day select a right fit college to align with their academic interests.
To elevate the impact made during in-class workshops, Natasha and Wendy also provide 1-on-1 appointments with all students and their families. During these sessions, the student receives a thorough middle school transcript evaluation in an effort to discuss their educational journey and identify strengths they have and obstacles they’ve experienced. Through this reflective process, the team empowers students by reminding them that they have agency over their educational journey, even when they don’t realize it.
Program Coordinator Wendy always stresses the importance of doing well in high school as a starting point for students to achieve their goals. She encourages students by reminding them, “You start ninth grade with a 4.0, regardless of what happened in middle school!”
During the session, parents also feel empowered because they get to celebrate their student’s work and potential. The reflective session ends with additional takeaways for both the student and parent; students set three actionable goals, while the parents connect to resources that support them as advocates for their student(s).
What’s next for CAP’s middle school program? We plan to sustain the current daytime workshops to complement counselor and teacher needs that arose during the pandemic, resume after-school as well as daytime programs, and we hope to relaunch our programs on additional middle school sites this fall.
Administrators, counselors, and teachers continue to express gratitude for the team for empowering their students. Here’s what two had to say:
We appreciate CAP’s tenacity, flexibility, and commitment to our students.
– Dr. Shannon Malone, Principal at Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy
CAP has been a great positive influence to help my students plan for the future.
– Christopher Brannon, Teacher at McKinley School
For more information about CAP’s middle school program, please contact Natasha [@] collegeaccessplan.org.
