BACKGROUND
Goose Creek CISD is committed to all of its students, from their first day of school through high school graduation.  In addition, GCCISD has made another commitment to prepare all students for life after they have received their diploma.  Through the Preparing to Dream initiative, a group of district and campus administrators, counselors and community members met regularly to identify the postsecondary access needs of the GCCISD community.  Parent and student discussion groups - facilitated by family involvement coordinators, principals and counselors - also assisted us in identifying the barriers that prevent GCCISD students from accessing postsecondary education.  Based on data that was collected during this process, it was clear that a significant lack of knowledge surrounded our community about how to prepare for, access and complete a postsecondary education.
 
INITIATIVE OVERVIEW
GCCISD's vision is to create a supportive community environment that helps ensure that each student is prepared for and understands how he or she can access postsecondary education, and that all students access and complete postsecondary education.

To increase college and financial aid awareness among students and parents prior to high school, GCCISD will implement the Kids2College curriculum in 6th grade social studies classrooms. In addition, a comprehensive campaign that promotes a "college-going" culture will be developed by utilizing public awareness materials from KnowHow2Go and instituting college and career access centers at each high school campus.  GCCISD also will collaborate with Lee College, a local community college and Achieving the Dream institution, to strengthen dual enrollment, obtain entrance and academic data, and improve skills needed for students to succeed.
 
PARTNERSHIPS
Goose Creek CISD has developed and strengthened relationships with Lee College to provide college access services to our students, specifically through the College Connection program.  Texas A&M is supporting our efforts to educate our students and parents earlier through the Kids2College program. 
 
OBJECTIVES
By educating our parents and students on how to access postsecondary education, we anticipate seeing an increase in the following areas:

• The number of students taking advanced and dual credit courses
• The number of students taking college entrance exams
• The number of students completing college admissions applications and FAFSA

TEAM MEMBERS (click here to see the full list)
 
TEAM REFLECTIONS
"This is the first time that the entire GCCISD community (parents, students, and schools) has come together to create a comprehensive program that will remove barriers from students accessing postsecondary education."
            - LeRonda Smith-Lockhart, Goose Creek CISD
 
 
MORE INFORMATION
Contact LeRonda Smith-Lockhart
(281) 420-3082, ext. 3, or ltsmith@gccisd.net