Family Engagement Plan

Gateway to College (GtC) is another chance to finish high school while beginning college.

 

Gateway to College creates a caring community that supports broad college opportunitites by developing relationships and personalizing education plans in a serious learning environment, with high expectations for all learners.

 

Special Program Qualities:

There are four impact areas in our Family Engagement Plan (FEP).  We will work together this year to build positive and goal-oriented relationships in each area.  Families and GtC Staff developed this plan together.

 

• Our school has staff member(s) available for families to discuss this plan and ask questions.
  • Darren Yerama
• Our school communicates with families in many different ways.

  • Families should check grades on Campus/Schoology using the parent or student portal.

  • Families should visit www.spps.org/gatewaytocollege for updates and information.

  • Families should ask students to log into “eservices” and or “D2L” at saintpaul.edu to discuss progress in college courses.

  • When students, family members or stakeholders call, Gateway to College returns calls within 24 hours.  Emailing individual teachers, advisors or our gatewaytocollege@spps.org will get the fastest response.

  • Darren Yerama, School Administrator, sends emails, Schoology messages and phone messages to students, key stakeholders and families.

  • Gateway to College Program Update and updated calendars will be posted on our website.

  • Staff will communicate with students, key stakeholders, and families weekly via text, email, and Schoology.

• The achievement gap, or rather the “opportunity gap,” between students of color and white students in Saint Paul Public Schools is unacceptable. Our school is working to change practices and systems by identifying the barriers that make it harder for students of color to succeed and for their families to support their learning.

  • For more about our work on racial equity, contact: Darren Yerama

  • Gateway to College is dedicated to providing opportunities. All of our students have a schedule based on their individual needs.   With the support Gateway staff provides, we are giving all of our student’s post-secondary opportunities in a way that no other school program can.

• Transitions between schools can be challenging, and we work to help families as their children start and leave our school.

  For new students and families, we support the transition by:

  • A welcome back to school postcard with reminders about the upcoming school year and orientation and welcome back meeting on August 29, 2024.

  • An informational letter and invitation to New Student Orientation on August 29th mailed or presented in person to all new students.

  • At the orientations, we distribute a 24-25 Gateway to College Calendar, go over keys to success in college, outline the differences between college and high school and provide a FAQs and Program Overview for interested stakeholders. We work to remind students about expectations of college, fill out forms, and get them books, bus cards, and school supplies.

  • Before orientation, all students meet with the Program Manager and or other staff to develop an individualized plan for their time with Gateway, select high school and college courses, answer all questions, and officially enroll students with Saint Paul College.  Families and key stakeholders are invited to this meeting.

  • Students and families meet with staff during interview and enrollment process.

• For students and families moving to the next school in their pathway, we support the transition by:

  • Students meet one-on-one with a counselor to explore postsecondary options.

  • All Gateway students have the opportunity to take college classes. 

  • When students leave Gateway to College, they meet with the counselor to make sure they have completed next steps.  Communication with family involves ensuring communication between student and family/support network.

  • When students graduate from high school, the counselor works with students fill out FAFSAs, seek out scholarships.

Family Partnerships

• Our school-parent compact establishes the shared responsibility for student success between the school, families, and students. Families and teachers work together to develop the compact.
• There are many opportunities for families to build connections to the school and to each other.

  • GtC will hold two evening events this school year where students, families and other interested stakeholders can come to our space, meet with high school teachers and program staff to plan for the coming semester. October 22^nd and February 27.^th

  • National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) will be on February 10, 2025, we will reach out to invite parents to school for the day, we will host a celebration in the Gateway office where parents and students can meet, talk, have lunch, and ask questions.

• We work to make these meetings and events available for every family in the school.

  • We will work to know in advance when interpreters are needed.  Gateway to College is a small program, and bringing translators to every event, where they may not be needed, would be prohibitive to the program.  Our key documents and media are translated into Hmong, Somali, Karen, and Spanish.

  • During our evening open houses, we will serve light refreshments and provide bus fare.

  • Open House at the end of January 2025. Students and Families will have the opportunity to meet with a staff member to plan classes for the semester and participate in other postsecondary planning activities.

• Our school supports families as advocates and provides opportunities for parent leadership.

  • We encourage parents and involved stakeholders to contact their student’s teacher or advisor as a first step. Direct phone numbers and email addresses are listed in our on our website and on the school calendar.  The next step is to contact the Program Manager who is available and responsive to any requests from parents and interested stakeholders.

  • As Gateway to College works to grow its ELL population, district TOSAs will provide on-going support for how we can best support these students and families as they transition to college.   

  • Also, the program manager frequently embeds professional development about working with families at staff meetings and one-to-one conversations with staff.

  • When SCIP goals are reviewed throughout the year, we will reach out to our parent and stakeholder group to share progress, the direction of the program, seek input and feedback and make changes. 

Teaching and Learning

• Our school shares information about state standards, assessment and student achievement with families in multiple ways.

  • Report cards and progress reports will be distributed by mail the request for mailing is done the day after grades are due.  Report cards will reach homes about one week after the end of the term.  We will allow students to pick them up in person and send information on how to access these report cards online, as well. Please note that grades for college classes will only be on quarter 2 and quarter 4 report cards because college classes are a semester in length.

  • Parent-Teacher conferences are held during our open house events on 10/22/25 and 02/27/25.

  • Gateway to College is a small program, so each student and or family meets with staff twice a year to complete a continual learning plan for the coming semester.

  • Additionally, our small size allows Gateway to complete several events into one evening, and gives us the flexibility to meet with students and families one-on-one whenever there is a need or desire.

• Our school will engage families in Personalized Learning as a key strategy to accelerate student achievement, as these changes come to our school.

  • Parent Portal is available by contacting Darren Yerama.

  • We offer a multiple number of tours and conversations with prospective families to promote Gateway to College and its unique opportunities.

  • Gateway staff creates a one-on-one opportunity for registration to support a positive transition from high school, and to ensure that the student’s goals and timeline is being met. 

  • School Counselors and our Special Education teachers works with IEP and 504 students and aide to transition previous services to high school classes.

• Many before- and after-school enrichment and support opportunities are available for students.

  • At Gateway to College, we are proud of the individual attention available to students.  Students’ flexible schedules give them time to meet one-on-one with high school teachers and advisors to discuss homework and more significant issues on scheduling and academic progress. 

Community Partnerships

• Our school develops community partnerships to provide additional support for students and their families.
  • Gateway to College partners with Change, Inc. to provide on site mental health support to any and all interested students. Additionally, we receive student navigator support through Change, Inc as well.