The Grandview School District has received a grant from the College Sparks Foundation to help promote college access for students. The program is funded from interest collected by banks that fund student loans, said Grandview School District Executive Director of State and Federal Programs and Administrative Services Matt Mallery. The grant is for six years and will help expand services for the Navigation 101 and AVID programs, both of which are geared towards preparing students for college. The grant will allow the district to continue its efforts at Grandview High School. However, it will also allow the program to be expanded to Compass High School and the middle school.

The program prepares students for taking necessary courses to help them enter college, said Mallery. It also helps students learn about career options and learn to fill out the necessary paperwork for college, such as financial aid. Students are matched with an advisor who works with that student throughout the school year. The staff member, which could be a teacher or other building employee, will help guide the student with necessary classes and other projects throughout the year. The advisors in this program even help at the high school level to make sure students have their senior project done. The middle school will see a big change next year in conferences under this program. The conferences will become student-led, which means the student will do such things as schedule a time for parents, gather the needed information and present what is going on at school, said Mallery. At conferences, students will meet with their advisor before seeing their other teachers. Mallery said one of the reasons why the program is being offered at the middle school is it has been proven the sooner a student has that contact with an adult to guide them through school, the easier time they have meeting requirements and making it to college. The program will also offer more help for students at Compass High School, as they examine career options, said Mallery.

Navigation 101 will compliment the AVID program efforts in the district. AVID helps prepare students with heading to college, as well. Under this grant, the district will receive monies to help purchase student materials and train staff. Mallery said he is also hoping to be able to bring in people to speak at
assemblies and offer other options students can explore. With this program, the district will now have in place a sixth grade through high school system that helps serve in an advisory role for students as they prepare to graduate and explore other career avenues. “It helps give kids some tools to plan their future,” said Mallery. “It helps personalize the education process.”