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A Family Guide to Student Success

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Say Yes Syracuse Brochure

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Page 1: Say Yes Syracuse

A Family Guide to Student Success

Page 2: Say Yes Syracuse

What is Say Yes Syracuse? It is parents, students, teachers, principals, administrators, school district officials, community members, business leaders, social workers, higher education institutions, faith leaders, teachers associations, politicians, and neighbors working together to support college success for every student in Syracuse.

Because of the community’s commitment, students in Syracuse will receive financial support to help pay for college along with high quality and sustained academic, social, emotional, health, and family supports throughout the K-12 years and beyond.

Say Yes Syracuse encourages all families in Syracuse City School District (SCSD) to take advantage of the services provided by Say Yes and its partners—SCSD, Syracuse Teachers Association, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College, and many community-based organizations and local businesses.

As illustrated by the graphic on the next page, Say Yes in-school supports include:

• Extended day and extended year programs

• Tutoring

• Mentoring

• Family outreach and engagement services, including access to Parent University

• Social work/counseling services

• Financial aid counseling

• Referrals for high-quality health care and legal assistance

The program culminates with the promise of the Say Yes Tuition Guarantee for all SCSD graduates who meet residency, graduation, and admission requirements into one of nearly 100 public and private higher education institutions. Say Yes also provides internship, mentoring, and networking opportunities for SCSD graduates. For more information about Say Yes, visit www.SayYesSyracuse.org

Parents and Families, The Syracuse City School District is proud to be the first in the country to implement Say Yes to Education across an entire city. This initiative enables our community to come together and collectively develop conditions for success for our students and families. This collaborative approach to education, which includes bringing together city and county government, higher education, the business community, community-based organizations and faith-based leaders, is helping students and families across the City of Syracuse reach their goals.

There are difficult obstacles and barriers that students and families face that can prevent them from achieving the level of success they aspire to. This guide provides you with the services and supports that are in place in the Syracuse City School District, which are designed to help remove these barriers and help every student become college and career ready.

Academic supports, such as tutoring, mentoring, extended day and extended year programs, are in place to ensure our children have the resources they need to be academically successful. Working with our community-based partners at the Salvation Army and Huntington Family Center, we are providing assistance so that families and children have the proper health insurance coverage and possess the necessary tools to successfully navigate the educational system.

The Say Yes Higher Education College Compact is the crowning piece of this collaborative effort. Through the implementation of grants, scholarships, and college partnerships, every eligible student in the Syracuse City School District will have access to college. In addition to tuition assistance, high school seniors and their parents are provided support with the financial aid process. There are financial aid workshops and college nights scheduled throughout the year.

This booklet is a tool to ensure that all of you are fully aware of the supports and services available to you and your family. It is our collective goal to see that all students and families are informed, involved and empowered.

In the Interest of All Children,

Sharon L. Contreras Superintendent of Schools

3Say Yes Syracuse2 A Family Guide to Student Success

Page 3: Say Yes Syracuse

ExtEndEd dAY PROGRAM

Tutoring is available for high school students in SCSD through Say Yes Syracuse.

If your child is in kindergarten through 5th grade, please contact the Say Yes site director at your child’s school. For students in 6th to 12th grades, please contact your school’s guidance counselor for more information.

Say Yes, in partnership with several community-based organizations, provides extended day programs that cultivate the intellectual gifts and talents of all young people. Students engage in a rigorous, project-based curriculum that aligns with the SCSD standards and a talent-development curriculum built on students’ interests. Enrichment opportunities, youth engagement activities, and leadership opportunities aim to develop the strengths of all children and support their physical, social, and cognitive growth in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.

The extended day programs run two hours per day, immediately following the regular school

day. The program is free and transportation is provided. Please contact the Say Yes site director at your child’s school for more information.

Community-based organizations that provide extended day programs in the Say Yes/SCSD schools include:

• Boys and Girls Club

• YMCA

• YWCA

• Dunbar Center

• Salvation Army

• Catholic Charities

• Huntington Family Centers

• Westcott Community Center

• Northeast Community Center

tutorinG SERvICES

4 5A Family Guide to Student Success Say Yes Syracuse

SAY YES TO EDUCATIONPARENT GUIDE TO SAY YES SUPPORTS

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

EXTENDED DAY/YEAR PROGRAM

SAY YES HIGHER EDUCATION COMPACT

INTERNSHIPS, MENTORING,NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES & MORE

REVIEW AND SUPPORT FOR CORE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMING

SAY YES GRANTS AND

SCHOLARSHIPS

NO COST/LOW COST

HEALTH CARETUTORING SERVICES

FREE LEGAL SERVICES

STUDENT MONITORING AND INTERVENTION SYSTEM

College Application and Financial Aid Support

Page 4: Say Yes Syracuse

Say Yes has established scholarships, grants, and college partnerships, known as the Higher Education Compact, that advance the ultimate goal of each student’s Say Yes experience–graduation from college. The Say Yes financial aid opportunities available to eligible students are designed to reduce the financial barriers that prevent students from starting or completing college.

the Say Yes GuaranteeIf a Say Yes student enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY Say Yes Higher Education Compact college does not receive the cost of tuition from state, federal, and institutional grants and scholarships, Say Yes will provide a Say Yes Tuition Scholarship for the remaining tuition balance. The Say Yes Opportunity Grant and Say Yes Choice Grant are additional financial aid opportunities for qualified students.

Say Yes tuition ScholarshipIf a Say Yes eligible student enrolls at a Say Yes participating SUNY or CUNY college and does not receive the full cost of tuition from state, federal, and/or institutional grants and scholarships, Say Yes will provide a grant for the remaining tuition balance. The Say Yes Tuition Scholarship is available to all students, regardless of family income, at SUNY and CUNY colleges. Most private colleges guarantee full tuition to students from families with incomes of less than $75,000.

Say Yes opportunity Grant(For students at SUNY/CUNY colleges only) The Say Yes Opportunity Grant may be awarded to eligible students enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY college who have received the maximum Federal Pell Grant, reside on campus, and have high remaining need for financial aid. This grant covers up to $2,000 per year and can be used toward books, fees, or room and board.

SAY YES TO CollEGE

6 7A Family Guide to Student Success Say Yes Syracuse

ExtEndEd YEAr PROGRAMSay Yes extended year programs are dynamic summer day programs that offer hands-on activities, creative thinking, and positive social interactions for students currently enrolled in SCSD schools. Students participate in innovative learning and enrichment opportunities aimed to ignite a spirit of inquiry and encourage critical thinking, enhance communication skills, and empower creative expression. All camps are free of charge. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

Campers spend the morning engaged in challenging academic programs and the afternoon in exciting outdoor activities, including sports, music, science, and field trips.

Please contact the Say Yes site director at your child’s school for more information.

Page 5: Say Yes Syracuse

Say Yes works with local college financial aid offices and high school guidance offices to help students and families complete their financial aid applications. Say Yes partners with local organizations who offer additional college preparation for students, including Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, Partnership for a Better Education (PBE), and On Point for College. Students and parents should contact their high school guidance office to get information about available college access services.

Step 1. Enroll as a full-time student at a Say Yes College. Say Yes students must apply and be admitted to a Say Yes College to be considered for Say Yes financial aid opportunities. It is important that students work closely with their high school guidance counselor to ensure that they have taken appropriate courses, standardized tests (SATs and ACTs), and meet all admission requirements and deadlines.

Step 2. Apply for financial aid. Say Yes students must apply for financial aid at Say Yes colleges. Please keep in mind that colleges may have different deadlines and forms to complete. All students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and NYS TAP Application. Say Yes financial aid opportunities are considered “last-dollar scholarships” and can only be determined after a student has applied for financial aid at the college he or she is considering.

Step 3. Complete a Student Certification Form. When students know which college or university they will be attending, they must complete a Say Yes Student Certification Form with their guidance counselor. This form is also available at www.SayYesSyracuse.org. Say Yes staff will use this form to determine students’ Say Yes awards or grants and ensure that they are processed in time for the fall semester. Award disbursements (payments) are made after the start of fall and spring semesters and are paid directly to the college.

NOTE: Eligible students who decide not to go to college right after graduation remain eligible for Say Yes benefits for one academic year after their high school graduation. Therefore, if your child graduated in June 2012, he or she is still eligible if he or she enrolls in a Say Yes College in the fall of 2013.

COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT

3 STEPS TO COLLEGE

8 9A Family Guide to Student Success Say Yes Syracuse

Say Yes Choice Grant(For Students at Private Colleges Only)Students from families whose income is more than $75,000 who are attending a Say Yes Private Compact College (and not receiving a Say Yes Tuition Scholarship due to an income cap) may receive the Say Yes Choice Grant. This grant covers up to $5,000 per year. Awards are determined by the difference between financial aid and the cost of full time tuition. Choice Grants, when combined with state, federal, and institutional grants and scholarships, are not to exceed the cost of full time undergraduate tuition.

iS MY Child EliGiblE?

Must be a resident of the city of Syracuse

Must have continuous enrollment in a SCSD high school for three years: 10th, 11th, and 12th grades [or be legally designated as having refugee status on an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)]

Must graduate from one of the SCSD high schools in or after June 2009

Must enroll in college within one academic year after graduation

Say Yes higher Education CompactSay Yes Syracuse has partnered with nearly 100 colleges, including most of the SUNY and CUNY colleges and more than 20 private colleges, to provide eligible SCSD students with a wide variety of options. For a complete list of participating institutions and details, please visit www.SayYesSyracuse.org.

Page 6: Say Yes Syracuse

FAMilY SuPPort FOR STUDENT SUCCESSEvery family wants its children to be successful. We know students are helped when their families are given the tools they need. Say Yes focuses on helping families identify and remove barriers to engagement in school and student success.

Say Yes Family Specialists can help families:

• Improve a child’s behavior, attendance, and grades at school

• Access available community resources

• Advocate for their children at school and help develop effective working relationships with school staff

• Address a child’s behavior issues at home

• Address other family issues that may be impacting a child’s success

• Access Parent University

Family Support is a voluntary, parent-driven program. The approach is flexible and is based on the needs of each family.

Any family with a child attending school in the SCSD may be eligible for Family Support services. For more information contact the Social Worker at your child’s school or call Family Support for Student Success at (315) 362-7686.

10 11A Family Guide to Student Success Say Yes Syracuse

If your child is under the age of 19 and is a resident of Onondaga County with limited or no health insurance, there are health care options available at low or no cost. No physical exams are necessary and there is no cost to apply.

Available services include:

• Doctor check-ups

• Hospital and emergency care

• vision, speech, and hearing services

• Prescriptions

• Dental care

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact:Andrea MooreMedicaid/Child & Family Health PlusFacilitate EnrollerPhone: (315) 479-1382Fax: (315) [email protected] www.sasyr.org

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED hEAlth inSurAnCE?

Page 7: Say Yes Syracuse

INTERNSHIPS, MENTORING, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND MOREResearch shows that students achieve at higher levels academically, socially, and emotionally when they are provided with strong examples of positive role models. Offering enriching activities, such as career shadowing and internships, and providing one-on-one supports, such as mentoring or tutoring, are proven to greatly increase student success. Below are just a few examples of how you or your company can join the Say Yes effort to create positive change in the lives of our Say Yes college students (Say Yes Scholars), and in doing so, cultivate the future professional workforce required to build a more vibrant and economically sound city and region.

• Host a Say Yes Scholar for a Career Shadow Day

• Mentor a Say Yes Scholar

• Provide a Say Yes Scholar a spring break internship

• Provide a Say Yes Scholar a summer internship

• Present to Say Yes Scholars in a Summer Lecture Series

For more information about how you or your company can join in the Say Yes effort, please contact Kristi Eck at:109 Otisco St. 2nd FloorSyracuse, NY [email protected](315) 807-8627

12 13A Family Guide to Student Success Say Yes Syracuse

FREE LEGAL SERvICESSay Yes Legal Clinics are staffed by Syracuse attorneys and paralegals during the academic school year. Attorneys, paralegals, and law students assist families with children in the SCSD with legal issues that may interfere with their child’s ability to succeed in school. Any parent or student in the SCSD can attend a walk-in clinic at any available location, regardless of which school the child attends.

legal issues covered

• Housing

• Consumer

• Employment

• Immigration

• Education *

• Family law matters ***If conflict is with the SCSD, we will refer to another provider

**If any conflict arises, we will refer to another provider

For more information about law clinic locations and schedules, please visit www.SayYesSyracuse.org.

Free legal services provided

• Advice and counsel

• Brief service

• Referral

other advocacy and legal servicesOnondaga County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (315) 471-2690

Hiscock Legal Aid Society (315) 422-8191

Legal Aid Society of Mid-NY (315) 703-6600 or (866) 475-9967

Legal Services of CNY (315) 703-6500 or (866) 475-9967

For more information, call (315) 443-9689 or visit www.lawhelp.org/ny

Page 8: Say Yes Syracuse

14 A Family Guide to Student Success

More than 20,000 reasons to say “YES!”The mission of Say Yes Syracuse is to value and realize the promise and extraordinary potential of every child. Your donations of time and money will ensure that all students in the SCSD have the opportunity to receive the necessary supports that will impact their readiness for and access to higher education.

Donations of timeWe are enlisting the help of all parents, students, educators, and members of the community to donate time, skills, and knowledge to Say Yes Syracuse. For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit www.SayYesSyracuse.org.

Donations of moneyMonies donated through the CNY Community Foundation, no matter how large or small, will ensure that SCSD students are financially able to attend Say Yes Higher Education Compact colleges by providing tuition scholarships to eligible SCSD graduates.

to donate to the scholarship fund, please contact lisa Moore at:CNY Community Foundation

431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13202

(315) [email protected]

If you would prefer to give to the general Say Yes to Education fund, which supports Say Yes programming, such as extended day and extended year programming, family supports, legal supports, health and wellness, you may send your check by mail to:

Say Yes To Education Inc.One State Street

Hartford, CT 06103

Please write “For Syracuse Chapter” in the memo line on your check.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Page 9: Say Yes Syracuse

109 Otisco Street, Second floor • Syracuse, NY 13244 • 315-443-4260 [email protected]