College Academy for Parents (Elementary School)
**Program will not be available to families during the spring 2010 semester**
**El programa no será disponible a familias durante la primavera del 2010.**
College Academy for Parents is a college preparation program defined by the belief that informed parents can be the best advocates for their child's success in entering college. The earlier parents begin to prepare and understand the college preparation process, the more likely they will be to successfully entera four-year university.
CAP is offered in three forms to serve elementary, middle school and high school families. Below is a description of the different variations of the program, and who is eligible to participate:
Program Information
ELIGIBILITY: Must have an elementary student and attend a Sunnyside Unified School District elementary school.
TIMEFRAME: Entire spring semester (will not be offered during spring 2010)
DESCRIPTION: Started in 2003, this is the original version of the College Academy for Parents. At the time, the Office of Early Academic Outreach noticed a gap in the college preparation process beginning as early as elementary school, and it identified parents as a key partner in the college preparation process. Beginning with just seven elementary schools in the Sunnyside High School feeder pattern, CAP now serves the entire district, with 14 elementary schools participating.
The elementary version of the program is twelve weeks long, with breaks for SUSD and UA's spring breaks, with workshops each week on Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm. The workshops cover information about parent involvement, the benefits of a college education, admissions and financial aid processes. Six of the sessions are also led by UA faculty, who share their educational experience with the parents, as most of them are first generation college students themselves, and they also share a brief lecture on their topic of expertise. Parents can attend all sessions in either English or Spanish, depending on preference.
While the parents attend sessions with UA faculty and staff, their elementary-age students attend College Camp, led by UA students, to learn about college and the importance of the many subjects they will need to learn to be ready for it. Students will participate in fun games and interactive activities to develop their understanding of college. If families have middle or high school students, they are encouraged to attend the sessions with their parents.
The program also includes three trips to The University of Arizona. One trip is dedicated to math and science, with interactive presentations from different departments and student groups, while the second trip is dedicated to language arts and culture, ending with a visit to Spring Fling. The third trip is usually in May at the end of the program, and is a graduation ceremony to celebrate the committment of the parents and students to their future educational success. The entire program is free of charge.