Two educational programs that have sent thousands of low-income
kids to college are on the chopping block as a result of President
George Bush’s recently released budget.
Hollister – Two educational programs that have sent thousands of low-income kids to college are on the chopping block as a result of President George Bush’s recently released budget.
For nearly four decades, the federally-funded Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound programs have targeted under-achieving, but motivated high school students get to college by helping them select classes, visit university campuses and fill out financial aid applications.
“We’re looking at the 2.5 GPA kids, we’re not cherry-picking,” said Sam Pacheco, who coordinates the local chapter of ETS at Cal State Monterey Bay. “The whole intent is to show them that they too can get to college.”
Upward Bound is a similar program that helps first generation college-bound students, children of veterans and low-income kids. Both were part of former president Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, a campaign to reduce the number of families living at or below the poverty line.
Although Outward Bound doesn’t exist at San Benito High School, many have gone through the ETS program there and credit it with helping them become the first in their families to get to college.
Gonzalo Bravo, 18, graduated from the school last summer and is now studying business at Cal State Monterey Bay. He enrolled in ETS as a freshman and for the next four years worked closely with his advisor, who helped him pick the right classes, select campuses he wanted to apply to and figure out his career goals.
“Before that, I never saw my counselor,” said Bravo, who was born and raised in Hollister, but whose parents immigrated from Mexico. “I would get my classes assigned at the beginning of the year and that’s it.”
Bravo grew up not knowing what college was about, because no one – including his parents, uncles and friends – had ever been there. Now he glows with pride as being the first in his family to attend, helping to pave the way for his two younger brothers still living at home.
“My parents keep telling me that I am their best example,” he said.
Since 1997, 300 high schoolers in the tri-county area have completed ETS and with glowing results. Ninety percent of participants graduated from high school and up to 70 percent have gone to college. But despite the positive reviews graduates and participants give ETS and Upward Bound, the latter of which was started locally in 1997, they do have a price, costing the federal government an estimated $836 million annually.
The programs are just two of 150 targeted for elimination in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
Pacheco, who coordinates the local chapter of ETS says they won’t take the impending cuts lying down. By law, program staff are not allowed to lobby to keep the funds, but they are taking four students, including 16-year-old Yadira Zendejas from San Benito High School, to Washington, D.C. in March to convince congressional representatives to keep the money.
“It concerns me because if it wasn’t for us, all the kids teachers had given up on, wouldn’t be where they are today,” said Pacheco.
Karina Ioffee covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
