The Hill News

Last summer, before my junior year of high school, I had the privilege of working with “Upward Bound,” a program for low-income DC public high school students on track to graduate. The program has dual objectives: in addition to teaching students the skills needed to excel in higher education, it keeps them safe and off the streets.

I was shocked to realize that my kids (those I was assigned to help) must have been given an indifferent pass throughout their secondary education because I had to coach them on aspects of reading, writing and comprehension that should have been mastered well before entering high school. The kids accepted into this program are little different than me in intellect, talent, and drive; however, they are stuck in a system that seems hopelessly inadequate.

Read more...