Keys to Success for Compton Youth

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

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

Most students in alternative high schools are first generation college students who face various barriers to attending college and receiving industry recognized credentials. These students face a lack of access to college exposure activities, Student Support Services, Financial Aid, and have difficulty navigating college bureaucracies. In the alternative high schools we serve, only about 3% of students complete community with a degree, credential, or transfer to a university within 6 years. Alternative high school students who matriculate to college often go to great lengths to stay including taking on multiple jobs, yet most end up dropping out. Community colleges are the last remaining affordable option for higher education in CA. There needs to be a holistic approach to help address the systemic financial, academic, and cultural obstacles that youth ages 16-24 face.

Key 1: The College/Career Readiness & Transition Support Program is a comprehensive in-school service that follows students in their last year of high school through the process of researching, applying for college/employment and, workforce training. This aspect of the program is coupled with a life skills course to prepare students for independence post graduation. Our college readiness staff and volunteers are stationed at the school site and virtually for students who have challenges attending school, to guide students not just through graduation and their first year after that. The first year of school is the hardest and when students are fully supported and complete that year, they are more likely to finish the second.
Key 2: The College Success Program starts with the understanding that the 1st year of college is the most crucial indicator of success. Our staff will help students complete navigate the college bureaucracy, obtain financial aid, enroll in classes, and reorganize their lives around college. Students receive scholarships, case management, and mentorship. Key 3: Our Fellowship Program allows students to continue their connection with EiF beyond their first year of college. These students mentor first year college students, inform EiF programming, and advise their alternative high school staff about their successes/challenges with matriculating to college.

LA County has approximately 143,000 Opportunity Youth and we believe that these students are disconnected because they do not have a trusted support system to encourage them to attend college or find the career of their dreams. LAUSD, the largest school district in the state, has about 50 continuation schools that support systems-impacted youth yet once they "age out" or complete their program they aren't highlighted or tracked for their societal impact. By successfully completing a year of the full Keys to Success Program in Compton, we can expand to LAUSD and other alternative schools throughout the county as an investment in LA's future and can alleviate the strain on social services by this age group. We also look to partner with comprehensive high schools to support Tier 3 students who are in danger of not graduating to provide direct support BEFORE those students are kicked out of school and recommended to an alternative school site. This decreases the number of dropouts in LA.

Education is Forever's founders established a scholarship fund in lieu of an engagement ring in 2015. To date, we have awarded over 100 scholarships. Early on, we realized that giving students scholarship money is not as impactful as guidance and support. EiF has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of students and schools. The College Prep Program increases the college & career readiness of graduating students. In 2023-24 FAFSA completion rates increased at the alternative schools we served by 498%. The College Success Program increases the percentage of students who successfully matriculate from alternative schools to college. On average, EiF students are 20 times more likely to successfully complete community college. The Fellowship Program ensures continuous program improvement that is driven by student-participant experience and voice. 95% of teachers report that hearing from an EiF Fellow at a school professional development is very valuable.