College and Career Coaches
Currently, TLC provides College and Career Coaching services funded through a federal U.S. Department of Education grant called GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). This grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post secondary education. GEAR UP provides seven-year grants to states and districts to provide wrap-around services for at-risk middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. College and Career Coaches provide program oversight, tutoring/mentoring, and after-school programming.
Program Oversight
College and Career Coaches work with Site Administrators to encourage, facilitate, and record student participation in various GEAR UP activities, including:
- College and career coaching
- Comprehensive mentoring
- Tutoring/ homework assistance
- Educational field trips
- Educational workshops
- Job site visits/ job shadowing
- Financial aid counseling/ advising
- Afterschool programming
- Summer programming
Coaching, Mentoring and Tutoring
College and Career Coaches provide comprehensive college and career coaching, mentoring, and tutoring services. A tutor assists someone with learning a new process or concept, whereas as coaches and mentors, on the other hand, go far beyond the role of a tutor. Coaching and mentoring is multi-dimensional and involves more than the academic part of a person the way tutoring does—it concerns a young persons’ whole life. TLC provides coaching, mentoring, and tutoring for individuals and small groups of students in the GEAR UP cohort. In doing so, TLC is able to focus both on short term outcomes in subject areas while also focusing on relationships, positive views, and shared life experiences.
Afterschool Programming
College and Career Coaches manage the GEAR UP afterschool programs designed to boost academic performance, reduce risky behaviors, promote physical health, and provide a safe, structured environment for children. TLC’s afterschool program provides meals, homework assistance, and a variety of enrichment activities, including use of virtual reality, sports activities, and gaming. Local transportation is provided to the identified GEAR UP participants.