SUCCESS

College & Career Success Coaching

The California Student Aid Commission is working with the state legislature to modernize the Cal-SOAP program to be California’s leading resource for improving FAFSA/CADAA Completion Rates and College Going Rates of high school seniors.

North Coast Cal-SOAP wants to work with you to customize services and supports to meet the individual needs of your school and students. The proposal we submit will go into effect for the 2020-2021 school year.

North Coast Cal-SOAP is a project of the California Student Aid Commission, a program of the Humboldt County Office of Education, and a collaborative partner of the Get Ready Humboldt Community Network/Initiative.

CSAC is the principal state agency responsible for administering financial aid programs for students attending public and private universities, colleges, and vocational schools in California, and provides legislative and policy analysis at the state level.

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WHAT WE DO

North Coast Cal-SOAP works to promote post-secondary success in local students

Outcome & Goals

Our Program Model

Methods � Increase FAFSA/California Dream Act Application (CADAA) rates in all four areas:

� Submission: FSA ID and Application Submission

� Completion: Error/Unmatched Corrections

� Awarded: Student Aid Award Letter Review/Analysis

� Accepted: Summer Transition and College Success

� Increase College Going Rates

� Increase College Persistence (student retention in first and second year in college)

Student Success Coaches placed at high schools, Humboldt State, and College of the Redwoods will have two roles:

� FAFSA/CADAA support – Assisting students and parents through the four areas to receive financial aid

� Implement and lead college and career activities/services/events – Working with your school’s designated staff, Success Coaches will organize and lead the activities you decide are most appropriate and beneficial for your students and parents.

Other Cal-SOAP Services:

� Events such as Cash for College Workshops, North Coast College and Career Expo, HSU I’ve Been Admitted to College, CR Redwood Days, Making College Happen, and more

� Individualized academic tutoring for students who are college bound but need help in an A-G class

� Classroom tutoring at schools with AVID

� Financial Aid training for high school counselors

� Activities, Services & Events in high schools and colleges

� Messaging to students and families

� Incentives to encourage student/family participation

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A PI

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TIM

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The issue of college affordability is at the forefront of the conversation in our nation and state. CSAC recently conducted a Student Expenses and Resource Survey (SEARS) to look at the perceived obstacles students face affording higher education. The survey data, which will guide further legislative action for Cal-SOAP revitalization and Cal-Grant reform, found that cost-related factors were by far the largest perceived obstacle to college success. However, just 47% of Humboldt and Del Norte county seniors submitted a FAFSA or CADAA application last year!

Given how important financial aid is to college-going rates, a major goal of North Coast Cal-SOAP is to increase the number of students who apply.

National statistics show that 90% of high schoolers who complete the FAFSA go directly on to college, compared to only 55% of those who don't. But currently, fewer than half of North Coast high school seniors complete a FAFSA/CADAA.

Cal-SOAP is a project of the California Student Aid Commission, and as such, is being positioned and supported to take the lead in assisting schools throughout the state to improve their financial aid numbers and college going rates.

Where Cal-SOAP Comes In

College Affordability

In a recent survey conducted by CSAC

64%of students cited either Cost

of College or Balancing School and Work Responsibilities as

the biggest perceived obstacle to succeeding in college.

90%of high school seniors who complete FAFSA attend college directly from high school

Compared to just

55%of high school seniors who do not complete FAFSA attend college directly from high school

- National Center for Education Statistics

Make FAFSA/CADAA submission a graduation requirement?Assembly Bill 1617 (Reyes) would make California the fourth state to make completion of the FAFSA/CADAA a graduation requirement. Evidence that this works can be seen at Val Verde Unified School District, which found that low-income students were not completing and submitting financial aid applications. After making financial aid application completion a graduation requirement, FAFSA/CADAA completion increased 14% from 69% to 83% in the first year of implementation alone. In 2018, only 11 seniors out of 1,556 opted out!

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2018-19 FAFSA/CADAA Application and Cal-Grant Award Rates 2017-18 College Going Rates*

LOCAL DATAAfter students submit the FAFSA/CADAA, they still need support on the road to Acceptance. Our Success Coaches will be there to support students through all four steps!

The California Student Aid Commission's recommendation is to achieve at least a 5% annual increase in FAFSA/CADAA rates.

Seniors Enrolled

Applications Submitted

Applications Completed

Cal Grants Awarded

% of Apps Awarded

High School Graduates

Enrolled in College

College Going Rate

Arcata High 210 128 125 57 46% 158 115 73%

McKinleyville High 143 85 82 37 45% 121 71 59%

Eureka Senior High 266 159 152 85 56% 186 128 69%

Ferndale High 34 26 25 10 40% 32 19 59%

Fortuna High 183 121 118 68 58% 161 102 63%

Hoopa High 52 30 28 17 61% 49 30 61%

South Fork High 50 22 19 11 58% 40 25 63%

Academy of the Redwoods 47 28 28 4 14% 24 17 71%

Alder Grove 51 7 7 3 43% 54 18 33%

Captain John Continuation High 19 -- -- -- -- 17 1 6%

East Continuation 44 11 8 1 13% 49 17 35%

Laurel Tree Charter 10 2 2 0 0% ++ ++ ++

Mattole Triple Junction 3 3 3 2 67% ++ ++ ++

Northcoast Preparatory Academy 25 -- -- -- -- 20 12 60%

Northern United Humboldt Charter 33 15 15 9 60% ++ ++ ++

Osprey Learning Center 1 0 0 0 0% ++ ++ ++

Pacific Coast High Continuation 28 0 0 0 0% 36 7 19%

Pacific View Charter 16 -- -- -- -- ++ ++ ++

Six Rivers Charter 18 8 7 3 43% 25 18 72%

Tsurai High Continuation 15 -- -- -- -- 36 3 8%

Zoe Barnum Continuation 33 5 4 2 50% 34 7 21%

Humboldt County Totals 1,281 650 623 309 50% 1,042 590 57%

Del Norte High 203 96 92 50 54% 175 111 63%

Castle Rock Charter 108 4 4 0 0% 113 24 21%

Sunset High Continuation 43 1 0 0 0% 40 7 18%

Del Norte County Totals 354 101 96 50 52% 328 142 43%

HUMBOLDT/DEL NORTE TOTALS 1635 751 719 359 50% 1370 732 53%

CALIFORNIA TOTALS 468,558 265,818 251,770 246,201 52% 439,211 282,740 64%

* College Going Rates for 2018/2019 will be available in July 2020. CGR is defined as the number enrolled in college divided by the number of high school graduates.++ College Going Rate data not reported when number of graduates is less than 10 students-- No FAFSA data found for 18/19 for Captain John Continuation, Mad River Continuation, Northcoast Preparatory Academy, Pacific View Charter

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Best Practices for helping students through the process1 • SUBMISSION 3 • AWARDED

2 • COMPLETION

4 • ACCEPTED

Create FSA ID and submit FAFSA/CADAA application � Cash for College Workshop for all seniors during school

time

� Cash for College Workshop in evening for parents

� Follow up with students who haven’t submitted

� Junior students obtain FSA ID

� Financial Aid Parent Night (April or May of junior year) to obtain FSA ID and learn about senior year deadlines

Student Aid Award Letter Review and Analysis � Help students understand their award letter and

compare financial aid packages

� Provide best practices for students selected for verification process

Error/Unmatched Corrections � Identify students who are unmatched from Webgrants

� Meet with students to correct errors or missing information

Summer Transition and College Success � Assist students with submitting college acceptance,

transcripts, enrollment, and acceptance of Financial Aid Award

� Provide student support to prevent summer melt

� Ensure students understand ongoing GPA requirements if receiving a Cal-Grant

� Continue support during the first 2 years of college

FAFSA/CADAA Submission is only the beginning

Submitting a FAFSA or CADAA is just the first of four steps toward unlocking the funding students need to make college affordable. After Submission comes Completion, then an Award Offer, and finally Award Acceptance. But it can be a long road.

Best Practices for Increasing FAFSA/CADAA Completion Rates

In 2018-2019, just half of students who submitted an application – a mere 23% of all seniors – actually received an award package. This could be due to a

variety of issues which the best practices below can help to address.

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� Family Nights

� College Signing Day

� College & Career Club

� College & Career Center

� Presentations/Assemblies

� One-on-one and small group coaching (college and career searches, timelines, financial aid, placement exams)

� College application assistance (CCC, CalState, and UC apply workshops)

� Educate on financial literacy and financial aid options

� Online resources such as California CareerZone and CaliforniaColleges.edu

� Get Ready, Stay Ready

� College Connect Class Observation Field Trips

� SAT/ACT sign-up & follow-up

� Senior Survey

� Bulletin Boards with college/career information

� Remind App text messaging for students and families

� Phone calls to households who have not submitted FAFSA/CADAA

� Targeted robo-calls

� Incentivizing FAFSA/CADAA completion

Choose your priorities and let us do the work!

Success Coaches work with school counseling staff to implement activities that best fit your high school's needs.

*Suggested tracks

Hold an annual school-wide College & Career DayEach grade has its own track; include options for students to choose from*9th 4-year plan, career exploration

10th PSAT, career & trade assessments

11th FSA ID Workshops, Junior assemblies, college and career searches

12th Cash for College Workshops, college applications, review timelines, Trades industry panels, ASVAB testing (optional)

Our Top Pick

Best Practices for Increasing College-Going Rates

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LOCAL EFFORTSOur Student Success Coaches can help students to connect with local efforts to make college more affordable. Here are some of those opportunities.

Humboldt State University has created a $4,000 Scholarship for all local area incoming freshmen. Starting in fall 2020, all new high school graduates from Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, and Trinity counties will be offered a scholarship of $1,000 per year, up to four years, when enrolled at HSU. https://finaid.humboldt.edu/aid-types/other

College of the Redwoods implemented the College Access Program to help California residents pursue their community college degree tuition-free. This program waives enrollment fees for eligible first-time students enrolled in 12 or more units and it’s now available for a second year! That’s a two-year degree – for free! (FAFSA/CADAA required)

Humboldt Area Foundation (HAF) offers two easy ways to search for local scholarships:

HAF Online Scholarship Application has over 160 scholarship opportunities created by local residents to honor their loved ones and to support local students in pursuit of their diverse ambitions. Students may be considered for multiple awards through a single application. https://www.hafoundation.org

The Scholarship Finder is a comprehensive site that allows students to search for scholarships offered by local schools, businesses, service clubs, and individuals. http://www.scholarshipfinder.org

Humboldt Area Foundation Resources

CR College Access Program

HUMBOLDT AREA FOUNDATION

Research has found that every additional $1,000 in grant aid per student increases postsecondary persistence rates by 4 percentage points.$ucce$$

Humboldt First Scholarship

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� Increase the number of local students who enroll at CR and HSU.

� Create a summer bridge program to assist students in following through with their fall enrollment plans and avoid summer melt.

� Provide support to local students during their first two years of college.

� Assist students in completing FAFSA /CADAA each year.

Where did Humboldt's Class of 2018 go?(Top 3 out of 86 colleges)

Persistence Rates - Class of 2018

Humboldt First Scholarship

Success Coaches Placed at CR and HSU to Increase Local Students’ College Persistence RatesCOLLEGE PERSISTENCE

Let's work together to increase persistence!

80%of high school seniors who enrolled in college attended school the first year.

College of the Redwoods

Humboldt State University

Shasta College

All Others

Source: National Student Clearinghouse

50%of high school seniors who enrolled in college stayed in school for a second year.

55%36%

3%6%

2018 BY THE

NUMBERS57%Overall college

going rate

97%attended a

public college

92%attended college

in California

73%attended a

two-year college9

Board Members

Program Staff

Who will the Success Coaches be?

North Coast Cal-SOAP recruits its team of Student Success Coaches from the local college community. They participate in extensive training and we work closely with them to ensure a high-quality experience for students, parents, and school staff.

Kintay Johnson* Director of Special Programs, CR

Kathy Thornhill** Director of Undergraduate Advising, Career Services, Service Learning, and Internships at HSU

Carol Stewart*** HCOE Budgets Analyst

Cindy Porter*** HCOE/North Coast Cal-SOAP Program Director

Craig Woods Grant and Scholarship Manager, Humboldt Area Foundation

Alison Eckart Principal, Del Norte High School

Karling Skoglund Program Manager, HCOE College & Career Resources

Sheri Jensen District Instructional Coach School Climate, Eureka City Schools

Delores Haskamp School Counselor, Eureka High School

Anne Sahlberg School Counselor, McKinleyville High School

Emily Silveira School Counselor, Arcata High School

Erin Banke School Counselor, Ferndale High School

Jen Burtram College and Career Coordinator Alder Grove Charter School

*Board Chair **Vice Chair ***Non-voting

Cindy Porter Cal-SOAP Program Director

Rachel Perry Events Technician

Erika Lanning Tutor Services Technician

North Coast Cal-SOAP901 Myrtle Avenue • Eureka, CA 95501 • hcoe.org/cal-soap • 707-445-7762

North Coast Cal-SOAP

North Coast Cal-SOAP

Working Draft #5 - August 2020

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