A foundation that provides more than 1,750 students from underserved communities in Wards 7 and 8 with financial support to graduate from college has been awarded a $1.25 million Upward Bound program grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The grant will be administered over five years, allowing College Success Foundation – DC (CSF-DC) to expand its programming into two new schools, Cesar Chavez Parkside High School and Friendship Tech Prep Academy as announced in late August.
“College Success Foundation-DC joins the ranks of other impressive colleges, universities, and non-profit institutions to receive the Upward Bound grant from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Lester McKee, the foundation’s director of programs. “Upward Bound will expand our student service reach, affording additional college and career ready opportunities for students in Wards 7 and 8.”
CSF-DC’s Upward Bound program asserts that they will provide customized, wraparound support for students including tutoring, academic and career advisement, summer and after-school enrichment programs, SAT prep, parent workshops, college tours, admission support, financial aid and scholarship identification.
Income-eligible students as well as potential first-generation college students from Cesar Chavez Parkside High School and Friendship Tech Prep Academy are invited to apply per the foundation. The program begins in September.
Upward Bound emerged from the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Launched in the summer of 1965, the idea came from Stan Salett, a civil rights organizer, national education policy adviser and leader in the creation of the Head Start Program.
Upward Bound provides fundamental support to students who are low-income, live in rural areas and whose parents did not attend college.
The foundation said they make a long-term commitment of at least 10 years to each student and addresses the critical transition points from middle to high school, high school to college and college to career.
They also tout that 99 percent of CSF-DC students graduate from high school on time, compared to 66 percent of their Wards 7 and 8 peers.
Seventy-two percent enter college immediately after high school and 49 percent graduate from college within six years.
McKee said that each grant cycle only a few new applicants are added to the federally funded Upward Bound family.
“College Success Foundation-DC is honored to be among the new Upward Bound sites selected in 2017,” he said.