Planning

for Access
Presentation
 West Jefferson High School
Harvey, Louisiana
•  Greater New Orleans Area
•  1400 Students
•  90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch
•  54% African-American, 32% Hispanic, 11% White, 3% Asian
 Puentes: LATINOLA NOW
Purpose: This program addresses issues relevant to the students’ lives through
creative expression and social action.
Outcome: Empower multi-racial students to voice their thoughts about relevant
issues resulting in social action.
Challenge: Scheduling time for students to learn about and apply to the program.






Photo of LATINOLA NOW youth from Foundation for New Orleans.

https://www.puentesneworleans.org/latinola-now
 Louisiana Community and
Technical Colleges

Purpose: Provide students with high school equivalency test (Hi-set)

preparation and resources to continue career education.
Outcome: Start Hi-Set preparation courses in Spanish during regular
school hours to service over-age English Language Learners (ELLs)
and students with limited English proficiency (LEP).
Challenge: Prioritization of standardized test scores and their affect
on our school performance score causing disregard for ELLs.
Jefferson Parish School System Consortium
https://www.lctcs.edu/wordready-u/
 Breakthrough New Orleans
Purpose: Partner underserved students with college mentors in an
intensive summer and after-school program for three years to
increase students’ access to a future at the college/university level.
Outcome: Provide my students with peer mentors to motivate them
to graduate and increase their likelihood of pursuing the college/
university pathway.
Challenge: Many ELLs work during the school year and the summer to
provide for their families, so eliminating that income may not be
feasible.



http://btnola.org/index.html
 Core4Kids

Purpose: Develop students’ STEM curiosity through summer camp,

city-wide science fairs, robot construction competitions and
connections to other science-related organizations.
Outcome: Provide students access to STEM development activities to
expand their career and college/university pathways.
Challenge: Many ELLs serve as providers for their family, so attending
leisure activities during the summer, may not be feasible.
Additionally, the ELLs would have to pay a fee to participate in this
program.
http://core4kids.org/
 Hispanic Heritage Foundation & The Marines present
Body, Mind & Spirit Seminar
Purpose: Provide Latino students with guidance,
resources and Latino role models to promote
health, leadership and networking.
Outcome: Provide students access to healthy
habit resources and relevant Latino role models
so that they can successfully navigate activities to
expand their career and college/university
pathways.
Challenge: Convincing ELLs about usefulness of
healthy habits, leadership and networking to
their future.
http://hispanicheritage.org/hhf-marine-corps-
host-body-mind-spirit-seminars/
 Puentes: Escalera
Purpose: Provide Hispanic and/or immigrant students with access to
bilingual instruction regarding the college/university application
process and careers in the in the science, technology, engineering
and math paths.
Outcome: ELLs know and affirm that they have access to college/
university. This will motivate them to graduate and pursue a future at
this advanced level.
Challenge: Convincing ELLs to attend after-school workshops instead
of working or playing on the school soccer team.

https://www.puentesneworleans.org/escalera-stem

 I will pursue…

Puentes: Escalera because it provides extensive bilingual resources including:

instruction, workshops and field trips for Hispanic and/or immigrant students.
Furthermore, students are given concentrated instruction in the high demand STEM
fields.

Body, Mind and Spirit Seminar because it provides culturally relevant resources for
improving students’ health, leadership and networking capabilities. Furthermore
with this opportunity, students can expand their life after high school options.