MCCC Receives $1 Million from U.S. Dept. of Education for Upward Bound Program
Jan. 7, 2008, Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.—Montgomery County Community College has been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to extend its outreach efforts in Norristown and Pottstown by preparing low-income high school students for college. The four-year Upward Bound program grant will provide those without the financial means to pursue higher education with the tools to help them achieve this goal.
The College is partnering with the Norristown Area School District (NASD) and the Pottstown School District (PSD) to provide an intensive academic, career and culturally-enriching experience for 50 at-risk high school students. Twenty-five students from each district will begin the four-year program during their freshmen year of high school.
During each academic year, students will participate in activities such as tutoring, counseling and mentoring at their respective high schools at least twice per week, and each summer, the students will take part in a six-week intensive program at the College.
The Upward Bound enables students to develop the skills and persistence necessary to achieve at proficient levels on state assessments in reading, language arts and mathematics during high school, to graduate from high school and to enroll and complete a post-secondary education.
“The College’s strategic plan specifically addresses the need to continue expanding access and increasing student success by reducing barriers to enrollment and increasing the ability of all students to reach their learning goals,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, President of Montgomery County Community College. “The Upward Bound program compliments the College’s efforts to reach high school students where they currently are and prepare them for success in higher education and beyond.”
Statistics show that over 50 percent of all low-income housing in Montgomery County is within the Norristown and Pottstown school districts, and 28 percent of families in these districts fall below the 150 percent poverty level. Furthermore, more than 50 percent of students from these families score below proficiency in math and reading.
“By engaging at-risk students and their families in the educational process while they are still in high school, we can increase their level of success and the probability that they will graduate from high school and pursue higher education,” said Dr. Steady Moono, Dean of Student Success at Montgomery County Community College. “We are pleased to strengthen our relationships with the Norristown and Pottstown school districts as we begin to work with the selected 50 ninth grade students this summer.”
