We serve approximately 85 underserved students and their parents at Provo, Timpview and Independence High School in the Provo School District. Students who are first generation college bound are selected to be in our program, however we also prioritize students who have a GPA of less than 2.5 and are on the free or reduced lunch program (low-income). These qualifications are how we define “underse
rved.” Many community programs focus on serving underserved students who are able to maintain relatively high GPAs (at least 2.5). At Teens Act, we know that underserved students who are first generation collge bound and whose GPAs are too low to be accepted to other programs are the students who have the greatest need. This is why we focus on students at risk of dropping out, a characteristic which differentiates Teens Act from other programs. The Teens Act Higher Education Preparation Program contains three major facets that together involve over 200 hours of high school student involvement per site:
1. Student Success Class: This is an approved elective taken during the day at participating high schools. In this class our students increase in success skills (ie a sense of the ability to achieve, persistence, etc.) They also receive help with homework, increase their GPAs, improve their study skills, go on college campus tours, engage in career exploration, are introduced to STEM careers, and hear motivational guest speakers from the community.
2. After School Tutoring: Mentors meet with Teens Act students after school in the library to provide additional homework help, mentoring, tutoring and support. This allows our students to get the extra assistance they need outside of school hours.
3. Parent Support Program: Teens Act staff and parents collaborate to help our students succeed. This empowers the parents of our students with the knowledge, skills, and vision to nurture their students’ quest for higher education. Mentors along with district staff contact parents, meet with them and regularly update them on their students’ progress as well as inquire after and address any specific needs the parent and family may have and provide referrals and support from district and other community resources.
