by Raquel L. Farmer-Hinton, Ph.D.
Parents are always on the hunt for a “good” school. Recent headlines show just how far parents will go even if it means manipulating the residency requirements of school districts. Who can blame a parent for an “any means necessary” approach?
However, finding a “good” school is not just about the location of the school or its high-priced tuition, but what happens inside the school. Parents can no longer equate their children’s presence in a “good” school with their children’s access to the resources in a “good” school. Presence in a “good” school is like taking Monopoly money to the shopping mall where fake money has no real value. On the other hand, there is “academic currency.” Scholars use “academic currency” to reflect the educational experiences and skills of real value that is transferrable across contexts such as college.
Here are three tips to make sure your child is gaining the “academic currency” for college:
1) Make sure you have set the vision. Research shows that there is no racial, gender, or social class gap for aspiring to attend college. But, there is a gap in how students are prepared for and supported through the college-going process. Research consistently shows that parents are the greatest supporters of their children’s college aspirations. Make sure you clearly communicate your academic expectations to all school staff. At home, be sure to reinforce the learning objectives of the school day by partnering with teachers. Lastly, find an advocate in the school building so that your family can effectively navigate the resources available inside of the school.
2) Make sure to start early. College preparation is comprehensive. Your child will build up skills between kindergarten and 12th
grade. Make sure your child has an educational experience that fosters curiosity and active learning. It should be unacceptable for your
child to spend the majority of the school year preparing for state tests when your child can spend the same amount of time actively learning reading, analytical, and mathematical skills. By high school, as your child builds a file of potential colleges, stay focused on finding a college that fits his/her academic strengths and weaknesses versus a marquee college that offers prestige. Students who can find a college that meets their needs will be better suited to complete college. It is also important to start saving for college very early. Many states have 529 plans where birthday and holiday gifts can be invested.
3) Make sure to create a support system for your child. One predictor for college-going is that a close adult expects your child to go to college. It is not only important for parents to have expectations, but also a mentoring, college-educated adult at school, church, or a community organization. This adult can give your child solid advice and extra-curricular experiences to help them develop into a college bound student.
Raquel Farmer-Hinton, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.