A recent University program submitted to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation proposes to employ graduates from the class of 2005 as "access guides" to supplement guidance counseling at Virginia high schools. The access guides would inform students about post-secondary opportunities, specifically college admissions and financial aid.
The Foundation's Virginia College Access Network is aimed at making higher education more accessible to Virginia high school students, especially those from lower income backgrounds. The average high school counselor is responsible for overseeing 353 students, giving each student an average of 20 minutes of individualized attention a year.
"Schools are not in the position to do what they would like to do," said Dr. Pete Mackey, director of public affairs for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Through the Access Network, the Foundation will assign five grants to proposed programs in the fall after the Sept. 17 application deadline. The grants will average $95,000 over a two-year period.
"We are trying to give these programs a running start, both financially and with expertise," Mackey said.
However, the grants are intended as start-up assistance, and the foundation is looking for programs among the grant applicants with the potential to become self-sufficient after two years.
"The idea is that these organizations are in the position to start programs now, that they have people available and partnerships with the business community and school systems so that they are in the position to take the program over in two years," Mackey said. "We've found that these types of programs succeed best when the commitment comes from local organizations."
So far, response to the grant program has been enthusiastic, drawing interest and proposals from a range of organizations from across the state.
"We are very optimistic that it will be a competitive process and that we will receive some extremely good proposals," Mackey said.
--Compiled by Kathleen Meyers
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