College Inquiry

Drawing on CARA expertise in school reform and curriculum development, we work with schools and school-support organizations to develop whole-school inquiry-driven college access programs. We believe that in order to meet students’ post-secondary planning needs, teachers, counselors and administrators have to develop shared understandings about college access work, and use school structures strategically to embed post-secondary exploration throughout students’ high school years. The College Inquiry program is guided by a set of ten best practices we believe are essential for Developing an Effective College Access Program (pdf), and by an approach to college access curriculum (pdf) that allows schools to create flexible and comprehensive plans that fit their students.

College Inquiry resources include:

• High School Curriculum: A 9-12^thgrade inquiry-based curriculum with lesson plans and lesson materials that engage students around four key areas:
  • Mapping the Landscape of College
  • Exploring the College Application Process
  • Paying for College
  • Exploring Careers
  • See Table of Contents for High School Curriculum (pdf)

• Middle School Curriculum:Inquiry-based lessons adapted for grades 6-8
  • See Table of Contents for Middle School Curriculum (pdf)

• Resources for School Leaders:Tools for developing college access plans and professional development workshops for staff
  • See Table of Contents for College Access Tools and Professional Development (pdf)

• College Office Resources: Tools to assist schools in setting up a college office and coordinate individual counseling work with 11^th and 12^thgrade students
  • See Table of Contents for Resources for Building a College Office (pdf)

Sites and Partnerships

• Academy of Innovative Technology with the Franklin K. Lane Student Success Center
• Brooklyn Democracy Academy
• Central Park East High School
• Channel View School for Research
• Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep with Franklin K. Lane Student Success Center
• Dreamyard Preparatory High School
• East Side Community High School
• Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School
• High School for Fashion Industries
• Manhattan Bridges High School
• Metropolitan Soundview High School
• North Queens Community High School
• Robert F. Wagner Secondary School for Arts and Technology

• College Bound Initiative (CBI), Young Women’s Leadership Network
• Goddard’s Riverside Options Institute Workshop Offering: Starting Early – Developing a 9-12 Approach to College Access
• New York City Department of Education, Office of Post-Secondary Readiness