Webinar: 21st Century Scholar Enrollment: Strategies to Engage More - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Webinar: 21st Century Scholar Enrollment: Strategies to Engage More Students and Families May 20, 2020

Who is IYI? Our mission is to improve the lives of all Indiana children by strengthening and connecting the people, organizations, and communities that are focused on kids and youth. • We Do It For The Kids • We Create Change • We Work Together • We Empower Our Partners And Peers • We Advocate For Others

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21st Century Scholar Enrollment: Strategies to Engage More Students and Families IYI Webinar Brittany Collins Greg Harrell Fernando Zapari Victor Hunter 5/20/2020

21st Century Scholars Program - IYI Webinar Overview ▸ Who are we? ▸ What is the 21st Century Scholars Program? ▸ Impact of the Program ▸ Enrollment Process ▸ Community Partner Spotlights/Best Practices ▸ El Mexicano ▸ EDGE 21

21st Century Scholars Program - IYI Webinar “—for at least 60 percent of all Hoosiers to have a quality degree or credential beyond a high school diploma by 2025.” Reaching Higher in a State of Change

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Did you know…? The state of Indiana is actually fourth in the United States and first in the Midwest for the amount of need- based financial aid we provide to students each year. [NASFAA, 2019] More than $340 million for need-based programs!

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar 21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar 21st Century Scholarship Program ▸ Established in 1990 to increase Hoosier students’ aspirations for and access to higher education. ▸ Income-eligible students enroll in 7th or 8th grade. ▸ Students must submit an online application by June 30th of their 8th grade year. ▸ Students who fulfill the Scholar Pledge earn up to four years of paid tuition at an Indiana college.

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Eligibility Requirements ▸ Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen ▸ Be an Indiana resident ▸ Be enrolled in the 7th or 8th grade at an Indiana school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education ▸ Homeschooled students are not eligible ▸ Children in Foster Care may apply after the 8th grade ▸ Meet family income guidelines ▸ Students under legal guardianship as well as foster care youth are exempted from the income guidelines

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Eligibility Requirements ▸ Income Guidelines for School Year (2019-2020)

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar 21st Century Scholars Pledge ▸ Graduate with at least a Core 40 high school diploma and a cumulative 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) ▸ Complete the Scholar Success Program to plan, prepare and pay for college success ▸ Apply for college admissions as a high school senior to an eligible Indiana college ▸ Refrain from using alcohol and illegal drugs or committing a crime or delinquent act ▸ Apply for financial aid on time as high school senior and each year in college

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Scholar Success Program Twelve intentional activities designed to help your Scholar plan, prepare, and pay for college. ▸ Scholars can always work ahead, and they can get caught up before they graduate from high school.

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar 21st Century Scholars Benefits ▸ Pays up to four years full tuition at Indiana public colleges ▸ Included: Tuition and regularly-assessed fees ▸ Not Included: Room and board, books, etc. ▸ Pays partial tuition at approved Indiana private colleges ▸ Non-profit: Pays average cost of 4-year public college ▸ For-profit: Pays equivalent cost of Ivy Tech Community College ▸ Many colleges offer supplemental scholarships/incentives ▸ Check out our annual Scholars Incentives Guide on our website

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar College Scholar Success Program More intentional activities to promote college success and career preparation. ▸ Must be done every year: ▸ Complete 30 credit hours ▸ Maintain SAP ▸ File the FAFSA on time ▸ Identify a mentor champion ▸ One activity from each bucket per year: ▸ College Engagement ▸ Career Preparation

Next Up: Scholar Enrollment Process

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar How to Enroll ▸ Partner organizations can enroll their student on ScholarTrack ▸ www.ScholarTrack.IN.gov ▸ ScholarTrack is the one-stop shop for all state financial aid. ▸ ScholarTrack is also where your student will log their Scholar Success Program activities.

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar

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21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Enrollment Process ▸ Student’s Social Security Number, date of birth and address. ▸ Parent or guardian’s Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, if applicable. ▸ 2018 gross income amounts for all members of the household. If applying after December 31, 2019, use 2019 gross income. ▸ A valid email address (free email accounts are available at Yahoo.com, Gmail.com, Hotmail.com, and Live.com).

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Outreach Staff & Map 8 Regional Outreach Coordinators 4 Central Office Staff 2 AmeriCorps Programs - ScholarCorps - VISTA Members

Next Up: Community Partners & Best Practices

Fernando Zapari El Mexicano Editor in Chief

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Overview Need : Increase of Hispanic families in the Fort Wayne area in need of resources. Equip families with higher education to counter the narratives about immigrants in the area/country. Unique Position: Already had a strong presence and reach in the local Hispanic community through the newspaper and Facebook. Collaborators : Core planning team, Fort Wayne Community Schools superintendent, Ivy Tech Community College, Pizza Hut (in the past), Indiana Commission for Higher Education

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar The Main Event Strategy: 1) Create mailing template to be sent to students through Fort Wayne Community Schools (English and Spanish) . 2) Promote enrollment event on social media/newspaper/in the community. 3) Bring in volunteers ( bilingual is key ) to assist families. Impact: Over 50+ families in attendance for bilingual Scholar enrollment support. Photograph from most recent public enrollment event.

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Lessons Learned - Best to do something rather than nothing. - Take advantage of multiple channels to promote enrollment events. - Send information directly to families. - Surround yourself with people who have trust in the community. - Use voices that are representative of the families you’re trying to reach. - Make it easy on your partners--provided postage for the corporation mailings. - Don’t reinvent the wheel! Next Steps: Planning sessions for early summer virtually.

Victor Hunter EDGE 21 Director

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Overview Need : Five years of declining enrollment in Putnam County. Lack of public awareness about the potential value of 21st Century Scholars. Limited time and best practice resources for counselors. Unique Position: “EDGE 21 is not uniquely positioned. All school districts can achieve higher enrollment with community support. Collaborators : Middle school counselors in the county, School Principals, former teachers and administrators, Putnam Co. Community Foundation, United Way, volunteer community advocates, potential community sponsors (Bob Jedele- Owner of several McDonald locations), Indiana Commission for Higher Education

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Program Development Strategy : Interview successful counselors and principals to gather enrollment best practices. Encourage counselors to try out enrollment ideas/incentives. Reconvene everyone to share learning. Discovery: Direct personal engagement of the counselor with the student and parent was the most efficient way for enrollment. Other activities deployed to build community awareness (Mailings, county fair, booths, pizza parties, classroom presentations, email parents, presentations throughout the community.)

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Impact

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Lessons Learned - Bring necessary partners together to set a county-wide goal. - Have counselors key in completed applications, and persistently have students report in with applications. - Pre-populate with available information. - Move success at the 8th grade back into the 7th Grade. Next Steps : Educate 6th grade families about upcoming enrollment. Continue to follow Scholars into high school with group huddles. Create a Success Coach community.

Additional Best Practices

21st Century Scholars Enrollment - IYI Webinar Other Models - Indiana Black Expo and Indiana Latino Expo - Indiana GEAR UP - Padres Estrellas - Faith-Based Outreach