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 How is Gateway to College Funded?
Network partners have contracts or similar arrangements with their local K-12 partners to provide Gateway to College to students who have dropped out of high school. Some sites, such as the Community College of Philadelphia, partner with one large school district. Others have as many as 10 school district partners.
Contracts for service agreements are made possible because many states allow students who are working toward their high school diploma to receive public education support until their twenty-first birthday. Gateway to College uses K - 12 education funds to pay for college tuition and books, since students are completing high school at the same time they are earning college credits. Curriculum is aligned to ensure that both high school and college standards are met.
 Why do school districts support Gateway to College?
Gateway to College provides a real second chance for success to dropouts who are unlikely to or are unable to return to a traditional high school. Although many school districts offer excellent alternative schools, these are not the best option for every student. Learning in an adult environment is the right fit for many dropouts. The flexibility of college and the chance to earn college credits while completing high school is attractive to older students, teen parents, students who must work to support themselves, and young people who are so far behind in credits that they could not hope to graduate with their peers.
 Who are our students?
Gateway to College serves students 16 to 20 years old who have dropped out of school or have one foot out the door. They are a diverse group of young people facing many challenges. Our students are young people who feel they did not fit well in a traditional high school setting. Some are English language learners, teen parents, former gang members, foster youth, and students who struggled with substance abuse. Many of our students work full time and live on their own. All have made the commitment to complete high school and work toward a college degree.
Gateway to College students have an average age of 17.2 at entry, have an average of 9.9 out of 22 credits needed for their HS diploma, and an average GPA of 1.6.
Gateway to College does not serve students who are doing well in high school and want to make an early transition to college. Many colleges offer advanced placement courses and other options to serve high-functioning students. Gateway to College works exclusively with students who have not experienced success in a traditional high school. They are either no longer attending school or are significantly behind in credits and are unable to graduate with their peers.
 How long are students in the program?
Because students still have a long way to go to earn their diploma, most are in Gateway to College for about three years. Since it is college, the program is flexible; students can attend part time, and take classes during the day or in the evening. The exact length of time to earn a diploma varies by a student's course load and credit needs. Students remain in Gateway to College until they earn a diploma or turn 21. We encourage graduates of the program to continue their college studies in order to meet their academic goals. More than 70 percent of graduates continue their college education.
 What kind of support do students receive?
Gateway to College provides wrap-around services to all students. Each student is under the care and guidance of a resource specialist who serves as coach, mentor, and advisor. Every student has a detailed, individualized academic plan to ensure that every course counts toward their academic goals. During a student's first term—the Foundation term where they take classes exclusively with other Gateway to College students—they take "College Survival and Success," which focuses on study habits, time management, note taking, research skills, test taking strategies, and other techniques for succeeding in college. These courses are taught by resource specialists who get to know students as individuals, and then work closely with other instructors during the Foundation term, in order to provide support and meet each student's academic needs.
After students transition to the comprehensive campus (generally in a student's second term), resource specialists continue to provide support. They connect students with college resources such as tutoring and financial aid, and can also direct students to housing programs, health services, and other community resources. They also oversee registration to ensure that students are on track with their education plan.
 Are Gateway to College students "regular" college students?
Every Gateway to College class is a college course, taught by college faculty. All classes are offered on campus, and meet college course standards. Curriculum is not modified for younger students, and students who do not meet expectations cannot continue. Coupled with high expectations is a high level of support. We have found that dropouts can achieve in college with the proper assistance, and require that students pass all classes with a "C" or better. After serving more than 2800 students, we have seen an 89 percent attendance rate. In the 2006-07 school year, Gateway to College students took 4,558 courses in which they earned a letter grade, and passed with a C or better in over 75% of them, beating the all-student average for many of our partner colleges. As one of our students puts it, "Gateway to College works because people around you want to be here. It's a great motivator."
Does the dual-credit approach work?
High school dropouts leave school for lots of reasons, but many are academically capable. Gateway to College is attractive because students can complete their high school requirements while earning a significant number of college credits toward a degree or certificate. Once students earn their high school diploma, they graduate from Gateway to College and transition to the next step on their education and career plan. Although many students leave the program prior to earning their diploma, graduates have made impressive achievements: the founding program at PCC graduates students with an average of 73 quarter college credits (of the 90 credits required for an associate's degree at PCC). Early graduates from around the network are demonstrating similar results.
How can a student get into the program?
All students must meet strict eligibility requirements and live in a participating school district. One of the program requirements is an
eighth-grade reading level, which is necessary in order to benefit from the program. The first step is attending a Gateway to College
information session. Please visit Contact Us to obtain contact information for Gateway to College network partners to find out dates of their information sessions.
Gateway to College National Network
Portland Community College, Southeast Center
Mt. Scott Hall, Room 106
2305 SE 82nd Ave.,
Portland, OR 97216
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