963 Pageviews Read Stories
Causes: Education, Educational Services, Scholarships, Scholarships & Student Financial Aid
Mission: Foundation for a College Education’s mission is to increase the number of first-generation, low-income students of color from East Palo Alto and similar communities who graduate from a four-year college or university.
Results: 150 Bachelor's Degrees; 27 Advanced Degrees; 88% of FCE college graduates completed their degree within 6 years
Target demographics: Foundation for a College Education provides educational services to underrepresented students and their families.
Direct beneficiaries per year: More than 150 students and families
Geographic areas served: East Palo Alto and surrounding areas in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in California
Programs: FCE offers in-depth and sustained academic planning and college guidance support to ensure students and their families have the tools to make the dream of higher education a reality. FCE delivers its services through five program strands: FCE STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) provides a comprehensive program that helps middle school students develop the curiosity, persistence, and resilience to become successful learners and adolescents; FCE College Bound provides academic enrichment and college planning services to high school students and families; FCE College Success, unique college retention program for college students and their families to ensure that students obtain a bachelor's degree; and FCE College Scholarship to provide financial assistance to college students. FCE's services for grades 9-16 include: academic planning, counseling and advising; academic tutoring; college counseling/college coaching; SAT preparation; application support, including essay writing workshops; group mentoring; college tours; scholarship and financial aid guidance; college retention support; college academic counseling; career advising and internships. FCE's services for grades 6 - 8 include a hands-on learning curriculum that teaches students how to brainstorm and implement meaningful projects in technology and the arts. Regular academic enrichment sessions, as well as workshops that promote personal development, help students develop the skills to take college preparatory courses. In keeping with FCE's commitment to community change, STEAM offers monthly leadership and advocacy training for parents.