INTRODUCTION Low income and minority students do not

have equal access to education While much research is done on resources

in schools, access resources outside of school need to be explored as well

Our goal: to identify learning sites in communities and understand to what extent the resources provide college access

Methodology Initially 3

neighborhoods– two low income– one high income

Qualitative– interviews– focus groups

Quantitative– Mapping

Interview and Focus Group Questions– What types of services

exist, – how do people use the

services, – what are the barriers to

usage, – what does your

community need in the future

Creating Neighborhood Maps

Downloading Shape and Data Files from the Web

Creating Boundaries w/in shape files

Merging and Dissolving unnecessary information

Plotting points, geocoding

Merging shape and data files

BEAUTIFUL MAPS!!!

Community Learning Resources

A Panel Discussion of Pico Corridor and Pico-Union Neighborhoods

Featuring:

Nuria Santamaria, Host Veronica Sena, Expert Pico Corridor Mayneth Hernandez, Expert Pico Union Lee Dominquez, Resident Pico Corridor Victoria Kraus, Resident Pico Union

Neighborhood Demographics Pico Corridor Located in Santa

Monica 26th North, 13th South, I-10 West, Pico, East

Under 20,000 People per SQM

Large minority pop Santa Monica High

Neighborhood Demographics Pico-Union Located in Downtown

LA 9th St North, I-10

South, S. Alvarado & Hoover West and 1-110 East

35,000 people per SQM Large immigrant pop. Belmont High

Learning Sites in the Communities

Tu to rin g Tes t P rep ara tion C o lleg e In fo rm ation

C o lleg e A ccess

R ecrea tion C ou n se lin g B as ic L ivin g N ecessa ties

S oc ia l N eed s

Findings There are more social need sites in Pico

Union, with more college access sites in Pico Corridor

Students in both communities have lack of knowledge of what services they need to assist them in college preparation

Findings Barriers to using sites include:

– transportation– language– low Socio-economic status– lack of parental knowledge

Future needs include: – extended hours – transportation– computers w/ internet access– mentoring programs

Conclusion

Learning sites that provide college access are not prevalent in low income communities.

More learning sites in a community does not necessarily equal more resources that provide college access

Conclusion Barrier to college access may not be

limited to education but may be connected to broader society issues:– Poverty– Unemployment– Neighborhood violence– etc....

Conclusion Kozol, “providing community resources

to low income students may never equal to what affluent students receive in their homes.”

Kozol, “Communities should not have to make up for failing schools, schools should provide more resources….”

Policy Implications

The needs of low income communities must be researched, the local and state government, along with schools must develop programs to address the needs.

More research is needed to determine the added value of community learning sites.

Policy Implications

Schools should take more responsibility in educating parents and students about:– What students need to prepare for college– What kinds of services exist to assist in

that preparation

Thank you!!!!!

Any Questions or Comments?