Resources

9th Grade Transition:

A reality often reported by schools is the challenge of successfully transitioning adolescents from middle
grades to high school. The highest rates of dropout are reported during the high school freshman year,
with urban schools arid minority students being more likely to experience the most adverse effects of
dropping out arid retention practices. Investigators have found that deliberate interventions in middle
school can positively impact the transition experience into high school. In response to these realities,
university-school partnerships, such as the University of Florida Alliance, are beginning to address the
barriers to high school completion by focusing on earlier interventions in the middle grades level.
Based on research that supports the collaboration between middle arid high school communities as an
ideal intervention for smooth transitions into secondary school, the UF Alliance works towards sustaining
effective partnership with select urban high schools. University-school partnerships that promote holistic
school reform can be an integral part of schools that are a place of support and academic success for all
students.
For more information, please visit:
The Principals Partnership I 9th Grade Transition I
Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students I
College Scholarships, Colleges & Online Degrees I National College Access Network I
Search Institute I Fast Track I Florida Trend’s Next

College Access Information/Links

http://www.knowhow2go.org/

Know How 2 Go – Hey Students! So you want to go to college? But do you know the proper steps you need to take to get there? KnowHow2GO provides information about the steps you should be taking as students from middle school through high school. Check out each of the Four Steps and see if you’re on the right track to achieving your college dreams.

http://www.college.gov/

college.gov is being built by the U.S. Department of Education in collaboration with students. This site is intended to be the go-to source for information and resources about planning, preparing and paying for postsecondary education (such as 2- or 4-year colleges and universities, and vocational or career schools).

Most importantly, college.gov is intended to provide inspiration and hope to all students, and encourage them to consider and pursue a postsecondary education.

In building this site, we asked students what information was most useful as they look ahead toward college. Over time, this site will continue to evolve, and you can help influence that process by visiting our contact page http://www.college.gov/contact/ to submit questions, suggestions and feedback.

http://www.findtuition.com/index.php?rid=1
Search one of the largest FREE scholarship searches on the web! At FindTuition.com, you get fast, free access to one of the world’s largest resources for finding college money. Search over 1.7 million scholarships and grants worth more than $7 billion.

http://www.castategearup.org/
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) was enacted as part of the 1998 Higher Education Act to give more low-income students the skills, encouragement, and preparation to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP grants have been awarded to 47 states and three territories. Program services are specifically designed to support the middle school reform effort in each State.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/quickstart.html
My College QuickStart™
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT on or after 2006, you have access to My College QuickStart, a free personalized college and career planning kit based on your test results.
To sign in, you’ll need the access code printed on your PSAT/NMSQT paper score report. If you do not already have a College Board account, you’ll be prompted to create one. It typically takes less than two minutes to create your FREE account.

My College QuickStart includes these features:

My Online Score Report – An enhanced score report that allows you to review each test question, your answer, and the correct answer with answer explanations.
My SAT Study Plan – A customized SAT study plan based on your PSAT/NMSQT test performance, highlighting skills for review and practice.
My College Matches – A starter list of colleges based on the your home state and indicated choice of major.
My Major & Career Matches – Personalized lists of majors and careers plus access to a personality assessment that suggests other compatible possibilities.

http://www.latinocollegedollars.org/
An overwhelming majority of Latino families value a college education, yet they perceive the cost of higher education to be prohibitive.
Many families are not aware that scholarships and grants- free money – are available to Latino students, and every year thousands of dollars go unclaimed!
This up-to-date directory that requires no registration and is accessible to all.
Best of luck as you work to find the financial support you deserve.

http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/scholarship_directory/index.html
This free scholarship search, geared for African-American students, contains more than 300 scholarships searchable by GPA requirement, academic and career interest, and application deadline.
This directory is a part of The Sallie Mae Fund’s multi-faceted African-American College Access Initiative, launched in October 2005, to improve access to higher education among African-American students. Produced by the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education.

http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/index.html
Addressing financial need through scholarships is one of the key elements of The Sallie Mae Fund’s efforts. Since 2001, The Sallie Mae Fund has awarded $12.7 million in scholarships to help more than 5,000 students enroll in college.

http://www.csocollegecenter.org/
CSO College Center is an initiative of Center for Student Opportunity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to promote college access and opportunity among first-generation and historically underserved student populations.
Center for Student Opportunity was founded by a group of concerned parents, admissions professionals, and nonprofit practitioners who sought to fill the need for greater college counseling and preparation resources for first-generation and underserved college-bound students. Studying the national landscape of college access to this student population, the principals discovered that while there are numerous local and sub-regional programs that effectively serve these populations, few if any of these organizations have the resources to expand their reach and fewer still, have the network to access many of the colleges and universities that have targeted these student populations for admission. With this in mind, the principals founded Center for Student Opportunity with the express purpose of growing opportunities for college-bound first-generation and underserved students as a conduit in linking qualified students with leading colleges and universities.

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

DiversityAbroad.com
DiversityAbroad.com is a comprehensive study abroad and cultural exchange portal. Learn about the benefits of going abroad and the tools to get you there. Get advice and connect with other students going abroad. Search for International Scholarships and explore study abroad and other international programs. Get access to health and safety tips and our parent’s guide to study abroad.
http://www.diversityabroad.com/index.php

Diversity Web
DiversityWeb is a project of AAC&U’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Global Initiatives (ODEGI). Central to the office’s mission is the belief that diversity and global knowledge are essential elements of any effort to foster civic engagement among today’s college students. To support those goals, the office helps colleges and universities establish diversity as a comprehensive institutional commitment and educational priority.

Providing national leadership, ODEGI supports colleges and universities in their efforts to create settings that foster students’ understanding of the intersection between domestic and global issues and their sense of responsibility as local and global citizens. AAC&U works with campuses to cultivate productive public dialogues and community partnership to enhance democratic values and practices in our diverse but still unequal American society.
http://www.diversityweb.org/index.cfm

CIEE: The Council on International Educational Exchange
CIEE: The Council on International Educational Exchange is the leading U.S. non-governmental international education organization. CIEE creates and administers programs that allow high school and university students and educators to study and teach abroad.
http://www.ciee.org/participant.aspx

American Institute for Foreign Study
Founded in 1964, AIFS is today the leader in summer, semester and academic year college study abroad programs. Every year nearly 5000 U.S. undergraduates choose to study with AIFS at one of our 24 international campus locations. http://www.aifsabroad.com/scholarships.asp#diversity

Minority Students and Study Abroad: Articles and Resources
http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/index.shtml

Allabroad
This site was created as a resource for students, parents, faculty, and administrators interested in study abroad. In it, you will find answers to common questions about study abroad given by our experienced mentors, including study abroad administrators, counselors, former study abroad students, and parents.
Find links to resources that support academic achievement for underrepresented students below. Resources relevant to all students with diverse backgrounds are located in the first section entitled “underrepresented students” and the remaining resources are categorized by group—African American Students, Asian American Students, Latina/o and Hispanic American Students, and Native American Students
http://allabroad.us/funding1.php

The Black Collegian
Launched in 1970, THE BLACK COLLEGIAN is a career and self development magazine targeted to African-American students and other students of color seeking information on careers, job opportunities, graduate/professional school, internships/co-ops, study abroad programs, etc.
http://www.black-collegian.com/international/index.shtml

Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Gilman International Scholarship Program offers a competition for awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at a 2-year or 4-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.
http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program

SCHOLARSHIPS

http://www.jou.ufl.edu/Knight/default.asp

The Knight Division of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications provides scholarship and assistant opportunities to UF undergraduate students.

For more information or if you have any questions, contact:

Charles Harris
Director
charris@jou.ufl.edu

Dori Faust
Program Assistant
dcfaust@jou.ufl.edu

Knight Division for Scholarships, Career Services and Multicultural Affairs
1080 Weimer Hall
PO Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-8400
Phone: (352) 392-0289
Fax: (352) 846-2484

PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT

The University of Florida Alliance Partnership recognizes parents and families as leaders and promotes creative approaches to family educational involvement based on communication, development of trusting relationships, family assets and strengths, parent empowerment and mutual respect. A culturally responsive environment guides these practices.

For more information related to parental engagement, please visit:
FINE (Family Involvement Network of Educators) I American Council I NEA Help for Parents I Florida Department of Education I College Board for Parents I College Planning Information for Parents I National Coalition of Parental Involvement In Education (NCPIE) I Parent Teacher Association (PTA) I Parent Involvement at the Middle School Level I Florida Partnership For Family Involvement in Education I The Public School Parent Network I “Involved Parent” I A Decade of Urban School Reform I Evaluating Family Involvement Interventions I Out of School Time Participation Study I Education World : Special Theme: Parent Involvement in Schools!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Urban schools are consistently confronted with creating a learning environment that supports teacher retention, and improves student learning and achievement. To help alleviate these challenges and create better learning opportunities for students, the UF Alliance supports and provides professional development opportunities for teachers in our six partner high schools in Dade, Orange and Duval counties.

For more information related to effective professional development for teachers, please visit: