Most students in our nation’s public high schools intend to go to college. Yet some, facing the challenges of income or a family inexperienced with higher education, never take the steps to make that dream become a reality. Boston’s public school students are vulnerable to missing the path to college. Over 71 percent are qualified to receive free or reduced-price lunch and they are mostly minority: 49% Black; 25% Hispanic; 16% White; 9% Asian; and 1% other; at least 40 percent are recent immigrants to the U.S. But one program, fittingly titled College Opportunity and Career Help (COACH), empowers the city’s high school students with the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their future.

Through COACH, Harvard graduate students pair up with high school juniors and seniors, meeting weekly throughout the academic year to help them understand their college options and how to plan and pursue their life ambitions. These coaches - who are trained, receive a stipend and possible academic credit - also work with teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators to ensure a coherent support system for the student.

Since 1999, over 1,300 high school students have been served. There are two components to the program: a junior initiative and a senior initiative. In the junior initiative, teams of up to six coaches work with small groups of students to help them understand educational opportunities, financial aid and plans of action needed to pursue college. The coaches also help the students identify their interests and potential careers. The senior initiative matches each coach with up to six students. They spend three class periods in the schools each week, all year, helping the students as a group and individually to develop a post-graduation plan. This includes navigating through the financial aid and applications process.

This past school year, COACH operated in Charlestown High School and Excel High School. The program is funded by The Lumina Foundation, The College Board,
State Street Bank, and the Mellon Foundation.

Contact:

Rachel Garber, COACH Program Director
Kennedy School of Government
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

Telephone: 617-495-1456
Fax: 617-496-9053

E-mail: rgarber@ksg.harvard.edu

On the Web: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/coach