CEI will partner with Jefferson high school guidance counselors and the career center to provide assistance to 100 low-income juniors. The students to be assisted will be low-income students, with parents who will be willing to receive the support as well as encourage the extra academic work by their student.

The Program will include:

1. Year long tutoring and homework assistance for all students needing to improve their grades or acquire the necessary credits to stay on a path to graduation. CEI will provide AP/Honor students or local college students as peer tutors under supervision of certified teachers. Students will be taught in small groups, subjects like learning skills/styles, organizational skills and successful study skills.

2. Provide trips to local colleges and universities to give students an insight into the college experience.

3. Provide payment of student fees for the PSAT, SAT and ACT tests required for college admissions and college application fees for those students who can not afford them. Recent budget events have made the waiver of public college application fees more challenging for low income families.

4. Provide Step to College Program Advisor for students in the preparation of their college and scholarship applications and their college essay.

5. Payment assistance for students eligible for college summer programs like U.C. Berkeley’s Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP). These programs provide students with a college experience and helps identify career goals.

6. Assist students in developing their timeline in preparing to apply to colleges. CEI has identified significant milestones in student preparation for college entrance and will create an online database system where students can track their progress toward their goal of college acceptance. Individual student progress will be available to the student and their parents, as well as counselors. In addition, group information will be provided to the school counselors to indentify students who may be falling behind in their progress.

7. CEI will host quarterly family dinners at Jefferson High School for a) families to discuss their student’s academic growth with staff, b) parents to discuss with other parents their student’s progress and c) recognition and awards for student achievement in meeting their timeline objectives.

All Students who successfully complete the program will by default participate in CEI's SAT Prep Program and will be consider for scholarships upon graduation from Jefferson High School.