Educational Talent Search Annual Report 2018-2019

I. Mission Statement

Educational Talent Search (ETS) is committed to academically prepare and motivate low-income, first-generation college students for success in postsecondary education. 

The Educational Talent Search program is aligned with CSU, Chico’s Mission, Values and Vision statements and the first strategic priority to “recruit, enroll, support, and graduate a diverse and high-quality student population.”

History at California State University, Chico

Educational Talent Search I (Funded in 1990 to serve 825 students) - the target population is comprised of students in grades 6 -12 who attend 15 target schools (Anna McKenney Intermediate, Bidwell Junior, Central Middle, CK Price Intermediate, Gray Avenue Middle, Las Plumas High, Live Oak High, Live Oak Middle, Marsh Junior High, Marysville High, Orland High, Oroville High, Pleasant Valley High, Willows High and Yuba City High) in four counties (Butte, Glenn, Sutter and Yuba).

Educational Talent Search II (Funded in 2006 to serve 503 students) - the target population is comprised of students in grades 6 -12 who attend 8 target schools (Chico Junior, Chico High Gridley High, Hamilton Elementary, Hamilton Union High, Los Molinos High, Paradise High, and Williams Junior/Senior High) in five counties (Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter and Tehama).

Department Goals (Performance Objectives required by the U.S. Department of Education)

Program Objectives:

1. Secondary School Persistence: 90% of non-senior participants served each project year will complete the current academic year and continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level.
2. Secondary School Graduation:

• 85% of seniors served during the project year will graduate during the project year with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years. 
• 40% of seniors served during the project year will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and will graduate during the project year with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years.

3. Postsecondary Education Enrollment: 75% of participants, who have graduated with a regular secondary school diploma, during the project year, will enroll in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic term (e.g., spring term) 

4. Postsecondary Attainment: 40% of participants served during the project year who enrolled in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g., spring term) as a result of acceptance but deferred enrollment will complete a program of postsecondary education within six years.

II. ETS Accomplishments

• Vanessa Ramirez, Academic Coordinator – after seven years of unwavering dedication to the ETS program and students, Vanessa has accepted a position with the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, DC. We are sad to see Vanessa leave our program, but we are excited for Vanessa’s next chapter in her career, especially because she will still be part of our TRIO family serving with the organization that lobbies for TRIO programs nationwide.
• New Advisor – Kelsey Dixon joined the ETS family in December ready to fulfill her responsibilities and grateful for the opportunity to serve students. Kelsey is a graduate of CSU, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration. 
• Successfully recruited and served 1,336 students in grades 6^th-12^th at 23 target schools – low-income, first generation college students are motivated and prepared to attend college starting in 6^th grade! On the average, approximately 70-90 ETS students enroll at CSU, Chico each fall.
• Monthly Workshops – ETS advisors visit their assigned schools each month and present workshops according to grade level on topics such as college requirements, transcript review, career/major awareness, personal growth, ACT/SAT preparation, scholarships, personal statements, and financial literacy. In addition, advisors guide seniors step-by-step through the college, financial aid, and educational support programs (EOP, SSS, EOPS and REACH) processes and applications.
• Conferences hosted at CSU, Chico – students attended hands-on workshops at CSU, Chico facilitated by university faculty/staff, volunteers and students.
  • Senior Admissions Seminar (109 students) – representatives from UC Davis, CSU Chico, and Butte College presented to students about admissions, EOP/EOP&S, financial aid, scholarships and studying abroad. Sam Blanco III, director of TRIO programs at UC Davis, spoke to students about his journey to college as well as struggles and how leaning on those that supported him made a difference in his college experience.

Pictured left: ETS students attending Senior Admissions Seminar
Pictured right: Sam Blanco III, keynote speaker, at Senior Admissions Seminar

• Spring into Your Future (30 students) – through a collaboration with the CSU, Chico Office of Admissions, students visited the Chico State campus. Students attended an admissions presentation, toured the recording arts studio, and ended the day with a tour of the Chico State Farm.  Students had lunch in the Sutter residential dining center with ETS alumni from Chico State that shared about their college experience.

Pictured left: ETS students listening to an admissions presentation
Pictured center:  ETS students touring the recording arts studio
Pictured right:  ETS students touring the Chico State Farm

• Junior Success Seminar (80 students) – Study Smart Tutors Inc., presented ACT and SAT test preparation in an interactive and academically challenging way. They gave students tips and explained what to expect on the test so they are better prepared for when they take it. 

Pictured left:  ETS students attending the ACT/SAT workshop at Junior Success Seminar
Pictured right:  ETS students attending Junior Success Seminar 

• STEM Academy (117 students) – in collaboration with the CSU, Chico student organization Latinos in Technical Careers and the Foor Foundation, 6^th- 9^th grade students experienced hands on, interactive workshops presented to motivate them to attend college and pursue a STEM career.  Students attended workshops where they built rockets, bridges and towers, learned about circuits, and put together solar cars.  Prior to the conference, students submitted essays on if they had the chance to be cybernetically enhanced, what body part they would pick to enhance their daily life.  The three strongest essays were awarded a drone, tablet, or coding game.

Pictured top left: ETS student learning about circuits
Pictured top center: ETS students waiting to launch the rocket they built
Pictured top right: ETS students building bridges and towers
Pictured bottom left: ETS students building bridges and towers
Pictured bottom center:  STEM Academy group picture
Pictured bottom right:  ETS students awarded a tablet, drone and coding game for their essays 

• Jumpstart (will be hosted on August 13, 2019) – the ETS Alumni Association and ETS staff will welcome first time freshman attending college in the fall. Workshops will include the difference between college and high school, advising resources, financial aid/budgeting, how to thrive as a college student, a student panel and available resources on college campuses to promote academic success. 

College Visits (83 students) – students in 11^th and 12^th grade visited UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced, Sonoma State, CSU, Stanislaus, and Fresno State, explored Yosemite National Park and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge during two college visits.

Pictured left: ETS students at Yosemite National Park

Pictured right: ETS students touring UC, Davis

Pictured above: ETS students touring UC, Berkeley

Summer Programs –

• Butte College Summer Connection (125 students total, 86 ETS students):  in collaboration with Butte College, students participated in a three-week academic program offered to students in grades 6^th- 9^th.  The mission of Summer Connection is to provide the students with a real-life college experience through a student learning outcome based curriculum.  Courses taught were Career and Life Planning, Multicultural History, MakerSpace, Engineering, Embracing your Roots, and College 101.  Each group was mentored by CSU, Chico and Butte College students that provide positive role models and inspired students to attend college.

Pictured left: ETS student designing a bridge in the Engineering class
Pictured center: ETS student sharing family tree from Embracing Your Roots class
Pictured right: ETS students putting together a puzzle that becomes a functioning bench made in the MakerSpace lab

Pictured top left: ETS student designing a bridge in the Engineering class
Pictured top center: ETS student sharing family tree from Embracing Your Roots class
Pictured top right: ETS students putting together a puzzle bench in MakerSpace
Pictured bottom center:  ETS students at Summer Connection program

• Upward Bound Math/Science (36 students):  four to six week long summer academic programs designed to give students a college experience, develop academic skills, and excel in the fields of math and science. 
• CSU, Chico Upward Bound Math/Science –  23 students
• Monterey Peninsula College Upward Bound Math/Science (hosted at UC, Santa Cruz)– 2 students
• UC, Berkeley Upward Bound Math/Science – 11 students

Support of Paradise Students – raised $4,400 to donate to 38 Paradise ETS students affected by the Camp Fire.  Expressed our gratitude for having them as a part of our ETS family and reminded them we will always be there to support them to attain their personal and educational goals.  Each gift included a handmade card, $100 cash, Amazon and Target gift cards, ETS t-shirt, Kleen Kanteen and a Paradise Strong sticker.

Pictured right:  Paradise High students

Scholarships – ETS staff fundraised to award four $300 scholarships that were awarded to students who will attend various institutions across California.  The four awardees were:

• Alexandra Corona, Gridley High School
• Ofelia Flores-Rodriguez, Hamilton High School
• Leslie Hernandez-Camarena, Hamilton High School
• Rosalinda Ramos-Hernandez, Hamilton High School

Cash for College – in collaboration with our target high schools, CSU Chico, Butte College and Yuba College Financial Aid, we co-hosted ten Cash for College events where over 400 students and parents received information on financial aid.  Most students submitted their FAFSA applications on the spot after their questions were answered.  

Friend of ETS Awards – given to Pedro Caldera (Chico Junior High), Lupe Haro (Gridley High), Mary Leonardo (Orland High), and Melissa Plants (Pleasant Valley High) for their never-ending dedication and support of the program. 

Leadership Positions held by ETS Staff –

• Kelsey Dixon – 1^st Gen & Proud committee member
• Larly Lee– NorCal WESTOP Technology Chair
• Diana Parra-Villaseñor – Chicano Latino Council Member; elected Chicano Latino Council Vice Chair; Bienvenida planning committee member
• Vanessa Ramirez – NorCal WESTOP President Elect
• Aurora Ruvalcaba – Women of Excellence committee member; co-lead facilitator at Women of Excellence roundtable discussion; elected Chicano Latino Council social chair
• Yolanda Salazar-Garcia – 1^st Gen & Proud committee member; NorCal WESTOP scholarship committee member

Diversity Efforts:

• Assure hiring practices and current staff reflect diverse student population in program and on campus – our professional staff is comprised of five female Latinas, one Caucasian female, and a Hmong male which is representative of both our program and campus population.
• Develop and implement diversity awareness curriculum for ETS students – staff is creating diversity awareness curriculum and activities to share/celebrate various cultures
• Maintain relationship with Mechoopda tribe to prepare and motivate their students for higher education – staff continues to communicate with the Mechoopda tribe to best serve their students. The students were invited to apply for our program, attend the STEM Academy and the Butte College Summer Connection program.  Diana Parra-Villaseñor also volunteered at the Native American Graduation celebration.

III. Changes In Policies And Procedures

There were no changes in policies and procedures.

IV. Resources Summary

Resource Allocation – ETS completed the third year of a five-year 2016-2021 grant cycle.  For 2018-2019, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 provided an additional $60 million to Federal TRIO Programs  for a total Fiscal Year 2018 appropriation of $1.01 billion.  The United States Department of Education used these funds to provide a 4.25 percent increase from 2017 funding levels.  Both CSU, Chico ETS grants were funded $681,145 annually to serve 1,328 students ($513 a student).  We are able to successfully serve students on a very limited budget. 

Human Resources – Leah Slem, ETS advisor accepted a position with CSU, Chico Student Support Services in August 2018.  Kelsey Dixon was hired as an ETS advisor in December 2018.

Vanessa Ramirez – ETS Academic Coordinator, accepted a position with the Council for Opportunity in Education in June 2019.  With the increase in funding, two ETS advisors will be hired in August.

V. Program Assessment Of Past Year

The following Annual Objectives data corresponds to the 2017-2018 academic year.  Due to the U.S. Department of Education reporting requirements, Educational Talent Search grantees complete annual reports in November, therefore 2018-2019 data is not yet available.  All other information included in this report corresponds to the 2018-2109 academic year.

Program Objectives:

1. Secondary School Persistence: 90% of non-senior participants served each project year will complete the current academic year and continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level. 

Exceeded – 100% of non-senior participants completed the current academic year and continued in school the next academic year, at the next grade level.

2. Secondary School Graduation:

• 85% of seniors served during the project year will graduate during the project year with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years.

Exceeded – 100% of seniors graduated with a regular secondary school diploma

• 40% of seniors served during the project year will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and will graduate during the project year with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years. 

Exceeded – 76% of seniors that graduated completed a rigorous secondary school program of study

3. Postsecondary Education Enrollment: 75% of participants, who have graduated with a regular secondary school diploma, during the project year, will enroll in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic term (e.g., spring term).

Exceeded – 96% of participants, who have graduated with a regular secondary school diploma, enrolled in an institution of higher education the fall term immediately following high school graduation.

4. Postsecondary Attainment: 40% of participants served during the project year who enrolled in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g., spring term) as a result of acceptance but deferred enrollment will complete a program of postsecondary education within six years.

Exceeded – 56% of participants served in the 2011-12 postsecondary enrollment cohort earned a credential.

Ongoing Assessment Efforts:

Annual Objectives for 2018-2019 Demographic Reporting

For the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,336 students were served by two ETS grants.  Below is a demographic snapshot of the ethnicity of our student population, which is reflective of the schools we serve. 

VI. Analysis

Our program’s goals are to academically prepare and motivate low-income, first generation youth for success in post-secondary education.  We constantly evaluate our program to best serve our student’s needs. Our ongoing assessment efforts include; an annual performance report to the U.S. Department of Education, evaluations from students on every event they attend, and an overall program evaluation before students graduate.  After closely assessing the program, we meet in June to plan for the following year.

• A successful Annual Performance Report was submitted to the Department of Education where all program objectives were met! The six year postsecondary completion for the 2011-2012 cohort was 56%.
• This year was extremely difficult for the community due to the devastating Camp Fire. We are proud of the fact that we were able to support our students, families, schools, campus, community, and staff despite the tremendous adversity.

VII. Program Objectives For Next Academic Year

• Submit a successful Annual Performance Report to the Department of Education where all program objectives are met. 

• Meet with Michael Thorpe from CSU, Chico Risk Management to assure our program practices are in compliance with university regulations.
• Create a “roadmap to success” for ETS alumni that enroll in college.

VIII. ETS Staff

• Diana Parra-Villaseñor, Director
• Yolanda Salazar-Garcia, Assistant Director
• Aurora Ruvalcaba, Administrative Assistant
• Vanessa Ramirez, Academic Coordinator
• Kelsey Dixon, Advisor
• Larly Lee, Advisor
• Sandra Torres, Advisor
• Erica Mercado, Student Assistant
• Mariam Yousif, Student Assistant