Steps to College
Steps-to-College (S2C) is a summer enrichment for-credit program hosted by University of North Georgia for bilingual (or multilingual) area high school students who are also English learners. The program was developed (1) in response to requests from area school systems to help language learner students maintain their English language skills over the summer, (2) provide opportunities for English language learner students to earn credit toward graduation, and (3) introduce these students to post-secondary educational environments and options. The Goizueta Foundation currently funds the program, with area school systems providing transportation. Participating school systems include Gainesville City school system and the Hall, Forsyth, and Banks county school systems.
Classes are held on the Gainesville campus and, according to the needs of prospective students, include courses such as American Government, science, math, language arts, and ESOL. The program, which includes classroom instruction, bus transportation, and lunch, is free to the students. Teachers are state-certified in 6-12 ESOL and in the content area they teach. The teachers are assisted by GSC students who act as teaching assistants and mentors for S2C participants.
S2C was first held in 1999 and included 44 students, 90% (40) of whom completed the one-month half-day session and earned ½ a Carnegie unit toward their high school graduation; of this first cohort, 74% graduated from high school on time and more than 50% enrolled in college. The program now serves between 80 and 100 students, depending on available resources.