IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD : College: Free Children Who Stay the Course

Efforts to support families with children who are troubled or gifted sometimes overlook families with children who are good learners with average school performances and no behavioral problems. USC launched a program for these families in 1991 as part of its Neighborhood Academic Initiative designed to offer services to the mostly working-class people who live close to the campus. Each year the university selects 60 seventh-graders with “C” averages from two nearby schools to enter its six-year Pre-College Enrichment Academy. The reward for graduating? A full four-year scholarship to USC.

The program asks a lot from its participants. Students, referred to as Academy Scholars, attend classes at their schools and go to USC each weekday and Saturday for more than 14 hours of additional college prep courses, tutoring and enrichment activities. Parents must participate in workshops and seminars to bolster the family’s commitment toward learning. Professional counseling helps everyone cope with the program’s demands and other issues or distractions that come up at the university, junior high school, home or in the community. About a quarter of those accepted to the program leave or are asked to leave because of attitude problems, but no student has ever left for academic reasons. The first scholars admitted to the program are expected to enroll at USC in 1997.

WHAT PARENTS DO

Sign a contract and take a pledge to fulfill their responsibilities to the academy and the academic initiative

Ensure that their children study at least three hours every evening

Agree to notify academy staff of troubles their child has at home, school or in the community, including changes in behavior or attitude

Participate in 24 Saturday family development sessions each year to discuss subjects like family conflict resolution, employment skills enhancement and cultural awareness

Attend all academy-sponsored special activities and help with at least one program each year

WHAT ACADEMY SCHOLARS DO

Maintain at least “C” averages and grade level proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English

Attend at least 90% of their classes and arrive at school on time

Have no drug, gang or criminal involvement

Sign a contract and take a pledge to fulfill their academy responsibilities and to follow a scholar code of ethics

HOW WELL THEY’VE DONE

These scores from the 1992-93 California Test of Basic Skills compare Neighborhood Academic Initiative Scholars, gifted students and overall averages for eighth graders at the participating junior high schools.

Foshay Junior High School 8th-graders

Academy Scholars

Reading: 57%

Math: 76%

Gifted Class

Reading: 34%

Math: 47%

8th grade averages

Reading: 30%

Math: 31%

Adams Junior High School 8th-graders

Academy Scholars from Adams

Reading: 50%

Math 72%

Gifted Class at Adams

Reading: 56%

Math: 61%

8th grade averages at Adams

Reading: 20%

Math: 26%

Source: Los Angeles Unified School District, USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative

“Any skeptic need only engage intellectually any...of the academy scholars--or, indeed, their parents--to see at once what is being accomplished here: nothing short of transformation, both of minds and hearts.”

James R. Kincaid

USC Aerol Arnold Professor of English and Chair, Graduate Studies

TO GET INVOLVED

For information about USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative call (213) 740-6313.