7 Nov 2002
Information About Admissions and Financial Aid Will Be Offered in Spanish and English
DALLAS—More than 500 Dallas Independent School District parents and students have been invited to a college fair where they can learn about the many resources available to make higher education possible for them.
The "Keys to Success/Las Llaves del Exito," education fair sponsored by the DISD, Dallas County Community College District and other area universities, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Mountain View College, 4849 West Illinois Ave. College recruiters and admission experts will be on hand to talk to families about the application process and steps needed to be considered for admission. All seminars will be offered in English and Spanish.
"We are making every possible effort to reach parents," said DISD Trustee Rafael Anchia. " If the parents don't buy into the idea of college for their children, the students will not dare dream about that option. Many DISD students do not even entertain the thought of a college education because they perceive it to be a far-fetched dream. Our goal with this fair is to empower predominately Hispanic parents and students in our district with the tools to make a college education a reality for them."
A recent survey by the Intercultural Development Research Association shows that students who do not complete high school cost the Texas $319 billion in foregone income, lost tax revenues and increased criminal justice, unemployment and job training costs.
"We have before us a crisis," Anchia said. "There are students who leave school because of poor attendance and others because of failing grades. However, there is a group of students who after meeting all the academic requirements to pursue a college education fail to enroll because they lack information about financial aid, scholarships, tutoring, or help with the application process."
Locally, the Dallas County Community College District Foundation has more than 400 different scholarships which award students in amounts from $100 to a full tuition and books award.
Diana Flores, DCCCD trustee, said that statistics currently show that for every 100 Latino children who enter the public school system at the kindergarten level, 12 years later only an average of 24 are graduating from high school, with an average of eight enrolling in college and only four graduating with a bachelor's degree.
"If these startling numbers do not improve, it does not bode well for the future viability of our local and state economy. Latino parents do not lack a desire for their children to receive a college education, but they do lack the information on how a college education is accessible and available for their children. Las Llaves del Exito will provide the needed information parents and students need to realize that, yes, they can go to college. If they do not have the money to pay for a college education, there is help available through financial aid and work study programs. This is the type of valuable information that will be available to all at the college fair for families."
The keynote speaker at the conference will be Aurelio M. Montemayor, an IDRA senior education associate and master trainer. He has worked extensively in the development, implementation of training and technical assistance programs for diverse students and directs the organization's efforts for the National Mobilization for Equity Project and for IDRA's Community Leadership for Standard-Based Reform project.
Each family will receive a conference packet with information on programs as well as referral resources in elementary, middle, high and post-secondary education. Lunch for participants will be provided courtesy of the 7-Eleven Corporation. Other underwriters include Comerica Bank Texas and the University of Texas at Arlington.
For more information, call Ileana Cerda at (972) 925-3717.