Seven Tepees helps build higher education foundation for youth

By Jason Wyman

San Francisco Unified School District’s high school curricular program has been an amalgamation of bits and pieces and was defined by the individual schools themselves. This left a gap between what was taught in high school and what was needed to enter a four-year university.

The requirements to enter college are known as A-G. According to Coleman Advocates, “70 percent of Black, Latino and Pacific Islander students who graduate from SFUSD are denied the opportunity to even apply to a CSU or UC school because they lacked the required ‘A-G’ courses.”

Over the last year, Coleman joined forces with hundreds of parent and youth members to work with SFSUD personnel to pass a policy requiring all high schools provide the A-G courses needed. Collectively, they mobilized 3,000 postcards from parents, youth and community members demonstrating the broad support for the passage of the policy. San Francisco School Board passed the policy on May 26 and starting with the class of 2014, all high school students will take A-G coursework.

Seven Tepees, a community-based organization located on 17th Street in the Mission District, has been working with students by educating them about and supporting their achievement in the A-G requirements since 2007. Its College and Career Program got off the ground thanks to a generous $250,000 donation over three years from the Morrison and Foerster Foundation, a foundation funded entirely by donations from Morrison and Foerster LLP partners.

“This is something we like to do,” said foundation chair Paul Friedman. “We like providing the seed or venture money to get something going. Hopefully, it thrives and continues going.”

The Seven Tepees’ program has been a tremendous success. After its first year of programming at its center, it expanded its operations into two SFUSD high schools: John O’Connell and International Studies Academy. The expansion provides one full-time college advisor; a part-time scholarship coordinator; a program director; a partnership with San Francisco State University; life skills classes for ninth-grade students; and collaborations with parents, wellness centers, principals and teachers. This targeted and comprehensive approach is all in an effort to change the culture of the school into a college-bound environment.

The program takes a target and long-term approach by supporting students from the ninth through the 12th grades with stepped programming. Students in the ninth grade attend a life skills class that focuses on self-investment, job readiness, understanding academic requirements and career and education exploration. In the 10th grade, Seven Tepees pays a portion of the SAT fees so students can take a practice test. In the 11th and 12th grades, it provides support for placement testing, financial aid, standardized testing, college applications and general counseling support. One student that they support last year received $27,000 in scholarship money making it possible for her to attend college.
The numbers demonstrate the program’s success. This year, at O’Connell High School, it worked with 149 students. Of those 149 students, only 62 were eligible to apply for a University of California or California State University school. Of those 62, 58 sent in at least one application to a college or university.

At International Studies Academy the numbers are similar, having supported 81 students this year. Of the 81, 42 are applying to community college and 39 are applying to a four-year college or university. That is 100 percent of students applying for higher education.

Seven Tepees not only helps students with understanding the A-G requirements and college applications, it also educates students about AB540 – a piece of California legislation that allows undocumented youth to attend CSU’s and UC’s at in-state tuition prices. The youth are still not able to apply for financial aid, but it does reduce the price they need to pay by $10,000 to $14,000, respectfully.

“We are an organization that makes long-term commitments to youth,” said Kymberly Glanville, College and Career Program director. “Our work and services are intensive.”

The structure of the Career and College programs as well as its success demonstrates its  commitment to that philosophy. 

“[We want] to be acknowledged that we are doing things differently,” Glanville said.

Upcoming events where youth, parents and community members can learn more about the College and Career Program include:

•    Jan. 26: Parent Awareness Night to focus on AB540 education at 6 p.m. at O’Connell High School, 2355 Folsom St.
•    Jan. 19: Cash For College Night where students can sign up for financial aid at 6 p.m. at International Studies Academy, 655 De Haro St.

“We are always working to make our work more extensive and comprehensive,“ Glanville said.

For more information about Seven Tepees, visit www.7tepees.org. For information about Morrison and Foerster, visit www.mofo.com.

San Francisco Weather Forecast, CA (94124)