Fueling Your Future: College & STEAM Roadmap for Success

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Los Angeles County faces a critical education challenge. Only 30% of residents hold a bachelor's degree, with over 31% of high school graduates failing to pursue further education. This gap is fueled by a lack of academic preparation, particularly in math, and financial barriers, as 90% of parents lack college savings or resources. The situation is worsened by understaffed schools, with one college counselor per 3,000 students, leaving low-income and underserved communities vulnerable to falling through the cracks of financial aid opportunities. Parent Engagement Institute goes beyond just academic support. We aim to inspire and ignite a passion for STEAM careers in students. We provide academic support, spark interest in STEAM careers, and expand financial aid resources for students and parents. By fostering this well-rounded approach, we empower Los Angeles County residents to not only reach their full potential but also explore exciting career paths that shape the future.

Parent Engagement Institute stands out for its holistic approach, focusing on the entire family unit. Our family education program fosters all aspects of a child's development, from building social-emotional skills like communication and self-regulation to achieving academic success in subjects like literacy, math, and science. Parent Engagement Institute's priority is on middle and high schools in underserved communities with high disengagement and expulsion rates. These communities often need more resources to adequately prepare students for college. Our "College Bound and STEAM Career Awareness" workshops utilize technology to equip parents and students with the knowledge needed to navigate the college application process, explore financial aid, and understand the academic requirements for success.
Parents, middle school, and high school students will receive strategic plans developed by our College and Career Coaches/Advisors. The plans will go beyond college readiness, guiding participants towards STEAM career paths that align with their interests and strengths. This approach ensures participants have clear guidance to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue careers in STEAM.
Empowering Los Angeles County families to collaborate and ignite a passion for STEAM careers, our program equips them for success in college and beyond. The grant will allow us to launch workshops in underserved communities. The funded robots and computers will ensure ongoing STEAM courses.

Los Angeles County faces a critical education challenge. Empowering families to navigate college applications, secure financial aid, and prepare academically will boost high school graduation rates and propel more residents towards bachelor's degrees, fostering a stronger STEAM talent pool in Los Angeles County. Our program tackles the achievement gap by providing resources and support to students in underserved communities. By targeting underserved communities with resources and support, our program levels the playing field, giving low-income students a fair shot at academic success and college opportunities. Empowering families and fostering collaboration with schools creates a ripple effect of support, leading to a brighter future for Los Angeles County.
Overall, the program's success will lead to a more educated, skilled, and engaged population in Los Angeles County. This will contribute to a stronger economy, a more innovative workforce, and a brighter future for all residents.

The Parent Engagement Institute takes a data-driven approach to measuring success. Beyond participant satisfaction, we track performance that demonstrates the program's impact. Surveys show a remarkable 30% increase in children's academic and emotional performance after attending our workshops. Parents also report newfound confidence in supporting their child's STEAM learning, with many specifically mentioning increased engagement. This success extends to parent-teacher communication, with a 15% increase in communication facilitated by school apps and online conferences. The positive impact will be by:
Participant surveys: To assess learning outcomes, parents complete brief surveys after each lesson, evaluating their confidence and understanding of the material.
Attendance: Tracking all aspects of training attendance
Track Student Progress: The student's success will be tracked by encouraging students to reflect on their learning progress through journals, surveys, or exit tickets.