College Preparation in the Middle Grades: It's More Than SATs

Despite more than 30 years of effort by the federal government to increase college enrollment rates for African Americans, Hispanics, and low-income students, these groups continue to be underrepresented in higher education. Although family income and financial resources continue to influence college enrollment decisions, educators now suggest that the traditional focus on reducing financial barriers for the underrepresented groups has been too narrow. Disciplines Curriculum and Instruction | Education | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Educational Sociology | Education Policy Comments At the time of publication, author Laura Perna was affiliated with University of Maryland. Currently, she is a faculty member at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/gse_pubs/296 Published to serve princpals of children ages 9 through 14 by the National Association of Elementary School Principals middle MATTERS Volume 10, Number 1 Fall 2001 An Early Start Is Key to Success College Preparation in the Middle Grades: It's More than SATs The process of making college accessible to disadvantaged students must begin with a comprehensive outreach program no later than eighth grade. by Laura W Perna D espite more than 30 years of effort by the federal government to increase college enrollment rates for African Americans, Hispanics, and low-income students, these groups continue to be underrepresented in higher education. Although family income and financial resources continue to influence college enrollment decisions, educators now suggest that the traditional focus on reducing financial barriers for the underrepresented groups has been too narrow. Insufficient financial resources certainly are a major barrier, but college enrollment decisions are also influenced by educational expectations, academic achievement and preparation, parental support and encouragement, knowledge and information about college and financial aid, and a number of other variables (Cabrera and La Nasa 2001; Perna 2000). Increasing college access and the potential for success for underrepresented groups requires students to be academically, socially, and psychologically prepared (Gladieux and Swail 1999). Laura W Perna is an assistant professor in the Department of Education Policy and Administration at the University of Maryland in College Park. Her e-mail address is [email protected]. Pre-College Outreach Programs Pre-college outreach programs in the middle grades are designed to provide early help for disadvantaged students to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to prepare for college. A wide variety of these outreach programs are currently provided by federal and state governments, nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities. The federal has been particularly active, offering numerous programs to provide students and their families with information about college admission requirements, financial aid, scholarships, and grants (see box on page 2). Many private organizations, like Eugene Lang's I Have a Dream (IHAD) Program, pledge financial support to graduating seniors in inner-city schools. And a 1994 survey by the U.S . Department of Educati-0n revealed that about one-third of all colleges and universities offer programs designed to increase access for educationally and/or economically disadvantaged students. Involving Middle-Grades Schools It is critical for middle-grades educators to devote greater attention to pre-college outreach activities for several reasons. First, college enrollment decisions begin to be made as early as the seventh grade while the process of becoming academically qualified for college must begin by the eighth grade. Many pre-college outreach programs may have only limited effectiveness because of their failure to start early enough in the educational pipeline. A 1999 survey by The College Board shows that only about a third of the outreach programs targeted at lowincome, underrepresented minority, and immigrant students take effect before the eighth grade.