Stepping Stones to College

About Stepping Stones to College
In 2005, NBCDI launched Stepping Stones to College, an enhanced mentoring/tutoring component of the Entering the College Zone program. Funded by State Farm Insurance Companies®, NBCDI has collaborated with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to implement the project. This project is initially being piloted in Greensboro, NC through a partnership with Black Child Development Institute Greensboro, North Carolina A&T University and Guilford County Schools. The goal of Stepping Stones to College is to assist eighth graders and their parents in high school transition and college preparation. To date, the project has served thirty-three eighth graders from the surrounding Greensboro school districts. Specifically, Stepping Stones to College is designed to:

• Advise students and families on student educational goals.
• Build individual learning plans for each student during the eighth grade year.
• Help students identify additional resources, such as summer programs.
• Work with families to identify learning options (mentoring/coaching) and fulfill that need where necessary.

Overview
Stepping Stones to College will be held once a month for six months on Saturdays starting in January and ending in June. Each session will be held for three hours and require student, parent and teacher commitment. The program will include high school and college preparation as well as academic enrichment designed and provided by four National Board Certified Teachers. All students will be paired with a teacher for mentoring and personal assessment, and communicate with their teacher on a monthly basis. Parents will also be contacted by the teacher to review not only the student’s progress in the program, but also their current academic progress in school. Since this is a partnership, parents may also give the Stepping Stones teacher permission to contact their child’s current school teacher to discuss report cards, current academic challenges, or problem areas. The goal is to get the student on a track to succeed academically.

Evaluation Study
NBCDI will also be using the Stepping Stones to College component to evaluate the impact of the ECZ program. The evaluation study is designed as a pre-post test to examine changes in academic attitudes, motivations, college plans and school grades among students participating in the ECZ program. The evaluation of the enhanced ECZ program will provide important statistical data regarding the impact of the ECZ program in increasing the odds of low income, particularly African-American, students’ participation in higher education. Over the long term, the evaluation study will contribute to the understanding of how early interventions impact the educational attainment of children “at risk” and can influence public policy throughout the United States. NBCDI is working with Washington, DC based evaluators Child Trends, Inc. to design and implement the study in Greensboro, NC.

How to Get Involved:
Currently, the Stepping Stones to College component is only being piloted in Greensboro, NC. If you live in this area and interested in having your eighth grader participate in the 2007 program, you should plan to attend the Entering the College Zone program at North Carolina A&T University on November 18, 2006. Please contact the Black Child Development Institute Greensboro office at (336) 230-2138 for more information.

Quotes from Parents, Students, and State Farm:
(Mother): "I was educated on resources to help my daughter reach her goals. Stepping Stones allowed me to gain wisdom. Stepping Stones was a team."

(Father): "It takes a village to raise a child. Stepping Stones to College has been a tremendous opportunity for our children. NBCDI, NBPTS and State Farm have given our children the opportunity to be great!"

Thelma Murray Jones, State Farm Insurance Companies, Inc.: "I am one of the most fortunate people on earth, because I'm privileged to be here today representing a company who is genuinely interested in your future. Remember this - each day, you must choose to be better than you were yesterday. Steer clear of anything that cannot or will not help you move to a new level - a higher level - every day of your life. We're all proud of you and we're expecting great things from you."