W2C sends first-generation students to college who, without our intervention, may have dropped out, as one in three Waukegan High School students do. We are creating a college-going culture within an at-risk population with high poverty, low literacy, and low college attainment. With the help of volunteers, staff and the community, W2C is putting families on a path to higher education and out of poverty.

2012

85

various - foundations, individuals, congregations

Waukegan to College creates brighter futures for students, families and communities by preparing students to enroll in and graduate from college.

The goal of W2C is to get students to enroll in and graduate from college. More specifically, goals include: 1)Improve academic performance of W2C students - Increase grade point averages of W2C students through weekly tutoring and consistent monitoring of grade reports during monthly counseling sessions -Provide weekly reading tutoring to students -Improve ACT scores -Ensure participation in summer enrichment activity 2)College matriculation for all W2C high school graduates -Ensure that all juniors and seniors receive ACT prep – through W2C tutoring and/or area classes -Provide one-on-one college counseling to match student capabilities, interests and learning styles with prospective colleges. -Assist students with college essays and the application process. -Require all students to complete the FAFSA and apply for at least 5 scholarships. 3)Ensure that parents are engaged with W2C -Develop the Parent Leader program – meet with Parent Leaders monthly to discuss upcoming events and brainstorm program improvements -Implement a deposit system where families make an initial $50 deposit and receive this back at the end of the year if they have had 100% participation -For each family workshop, include an evaluation and include parent feedback in workshop design -Ensure that parents are getting their children to tutoring and R2A appointments 4) Organize parents to achieve improvements to the school system -Train parents in managing a committee and in organizing -Develop and implement an organizing plan that includes specific changes to the School District -Superintendent/his designee approves at least one change

parental engagement, academic improvement