Low-income minority students must often overcome tremendous obstacles to succeed in school. Can aggressive support programs help? Can they last? Two stories take a closer look:
- Damage Control
Convinced that a high school in California was shortchanging their kids, a group of parents took charge, creating a school within a school. And whether the setup lasts, the parents are hoping their influence will.
Going Places
The national GEAR UP initiative steers needy kids onto the college track with campus tours, tutoring, community support, and teacher training. The program has yet to prove itself on paper, but a close look at its beneficiaries suggests it is a necessity.