Kinder2College
Champions
The Kinder2College (K2C) initiative is a partnership with FIA, Oakland Promise, and Cox Academy, that aims to close the racial opportunity gap in college access by building a college-going culture starting in elementary school. Targeting 4th and 5th grade families, K2C empowers parents with strategies to foster college aspirations early on.
In Oakland, while over 75% of high school seniors graduate, only 50% of Black and Brown students complete the necessary courses for college with passing grades. This gap limits access to college and economic opportunity, even though earning a college degree can increase lifetime earnings by $1.5 million.
Oakland Promise and FIA are excited to launch a new partnership with Cox Academy to create Kinder2College Family Champions. This initiative aims to build a college-going culture in elementary schools by empowering parents with the tools to support their child’s educational journey.
The goal is to engage 100 families, helping them set college goals, build college-focused habits at home, and access resources like scholarships and college savings accounts. By providing families with the knowledge to make informed decisions about middle school options, the program empowers them to actively plan for their child’s future.
The K2C Family College Champion initiative is not just a program, but a promise that every child can aspire to higher education, regardless of background or income. We’re excited to see this movement grow and positively impact the community!
Parent Testimonial
Maira Vaca, parent at Education For Change school, Cox Academy
Maira Vaca has been a parent at Cox for 11 years and is in her first year as the school’s Family Coordinator. She has four kids, two in elementary school and two in high school. She said the sessions helped “make college more real” to families, by showing them that they are eligible for tuition assistance to make paying for school more affordable.
“We all want our children to go to university, but many of us are not doing anything to inform ourselves on how we can get them to college,” she said. “Parents learned important information. It’s powerful to know that you can do something to get your kids to college.”