District Of Columbia College Access Program

TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA STUDENTS TO ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

COUNSELING: DC-CAP'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM (DCPS). SERVICES INCLUDE MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO PREPARE, APPLY, GAIN ACCEPTANCE TO, AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. COUNSELORS ASSIST WITH THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS BY IDENTIFYING SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO CREATE A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE FOR EACH STUDENT. COUNSELORS ALSO WORK WITH PARENTS OF STUDENTS TO GATHER ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION TO ADVANCE THE PROCESS. IN ADDITION, DC-CAP HAS EXPANDED COUNSELING SERVICES TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.IN FY 2020, DC-CAP DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM WITH CERTAIN HIGH-PERFORMING, PUBLIC, FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION RATES FOR DC STUDENTS. PARTNER INSTITUTIONS MUST DEMONSTRATE HIGH COMPLETION RATES FOR MINORITY STUDENTS AND OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS. PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTIONS WILL COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH DC-CAP TO RECRUIT AND SELECT A COHORT OF STUDENTS ANNUALLY, PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND HIGH INTENSITY RETENTION SUPPORT SERVICES AND TRACKING, AND AWARD SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES TO ENSURE THAT DC STUDENTS CAN PERSIST AND EARN THEIR DEGREES.ONCE A STUDENT HAS ENTERED COLLEGE, DC-CAP PROVIDES COLLEGE RETENTION COUNSELING TO GUIDE STUDENTS WITH ANY DIFFICULTIES THEY MAY ENCOUNTER ACADEMICALLY OR PERSONALLY. DC-CAP IS NOT ONLY COMMITTED TO COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE BUT TO ONGOING SUCCESS AND GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE.DC-CAP COUNSELORS OFFER WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, AND TRAININGS FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WITH STUDENTS IN THE D.C. AREA AND WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVED BY DC-CAP.DC-CAP PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS THAT BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN FINANCIAL PACKAGES, THE FAMILY CONTRIBUTION, AND COLLEGE TUITION COSTS. DC-CAP MAKES MULTIPLE ANNUAL DISBURSEMENTS FOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THROUGH FY 2019, DC-CAP PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH "LAST DOLLAR" AWARDS, WHERE EACH AWARDEE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE UP TO $2,000 PER YEAR FOR UP TO 5 YEARS. IN FY 2020, BEGINNING WITH THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2019, DC-CAP PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH "DC-CAP SCHOLARSHIPS", WHERE EACH STUDENT MAY RECEIVE UP TO $4,000 PER YEAR FOR UP TO 5 YEARS. AS OF JUNE 30, 2021, NO FUTURE COMMITMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. PAYMENT OF FUTURE FUNDS IS CONTINGENT UPON CONTINUED COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, FINANCIAL NEED, AND SATISFACTORY GRADES. GRANTS ARE RECORDED WHEN CONTINGENCIES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY FULFILLED.

WARD 7 & 8 SCHOLARS PROGRAM: THE WARD 7 & 8 SCHOLARS PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TO HELP INCREASE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES IN WARDS 7 & 8 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGHLY INTENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 11 AND 12, AND ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS, FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS PER STUDENT.

STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH) INITIATIVE: THE STEM INCENTIVE AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (SISP) IS DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF STEM ACHIEVEMENT AMONG D.C. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WHO ARE MOTIVATED AND PREPARED TO EARN STEM AND STEM-SUPPORTED COLLEGE DEGREES.

ALPHA LEADERSHIP: ALPHA LEADERSHIP PROJECT (ALP) IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR IN D.C. PUBLIC AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. ALP ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS STUDENTS THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, INCREASE THEIR POSSIBILITY OF GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND BE SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY PREPARED TO ENROLL AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. THE CORE COMPONENTS OF ALP ARE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, POSITIVE PEER INTERACTIONS AND PARENT TRAINING.