Pre-Collegiate Academy

In 1991, the East Bay Consortium, in collaboration with the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Merritt College, instituted the Pre-Collegiate Academy (PCA), a program specifically designed for students in Oakland middle and secondary schools.

The PCA was established to remedy the growing number of students from low socio-economic backgrounds who were not qualifying for admission to higher educational institutions. The PCA program aims to increase the numbers of middle school students who qualify for and pursue postsecondary studies, primarily by strengthening students’ mathematical skills through summer enrichment courses and support services offered during the academic year.

Recognizing the important role of teachers in accomplishing its goal, the PCA includes a teacher-training component that is designed to encourage the professional development of teachers from OUSD schools, as well as encourage undergraduates attending local universities to pursue careers in teaching.

Academic Year Programs

During the school year, students continue to participate in a number of other PCA activities that reinforce the skills learned during the summer program, as well as engage in other events that prepare them for the college entrance process. Thus, the community of “Pre-Collegians” is continued throughout the school year.

Academic year programs include:

Summer Program

Dates

Late June-July

Time

8:30 am – 3:15 pm

Location

Merritt College (Students will be provided with bus passes)

Students are given the opportunity to be on a college campus and to see what college is like. They are taken on tours of the campus and allowed access to the different resources available to students.

The primary emphasis of the four-week intensive summer program is enrichment in the areas of math and college readiness. Class work emphasizes cooperative and hands-on, manipulatives-based learning.

Math: The Math Program focuses on strengthening skills through innovative, structured activities, such as building model houses and schools, becoming active participants in the virtual stock market, and assembling three-dimensional geometric models.

The Afternoon College Readiness Workshops (CRWs) offer tailored programs for rising 7th to 12th graders to explore college and career opportunities.

7th, 8th, & 9th Grades: College & Career Exploration

Students engage in self-exploration of college and career interests, covering topics like college admissions, major exploration, and financial literacy.

10th Grade: Keeping College As A Goal

This workshop helps students link successful careers to college readiness through self-discovery activities. Students assess their skills and explore college options, admissions requirements, and the importance of maintaining strong academic performance.

11th Grade: College Making It Happen

Focusing on personal responsibility, students develop action plans and conduct extensive research on colleges and careers. They draft college applications, create academic plans, practice public speaking, and engage in mock admissions scenarios to understand the selection process.

12th Grade: Jump Start to Your Senior Year

This program prepares rising seniors for the college application process by providing resources like personalized checklists and drafts of personal statements. It covers evaluating transcripts, developing a college list, understanding application types, and financial aid processes.

Selection of Students

Rising Seventh grade students from designated schools are invited to participate in the Pre-Collegiate Academy based on academic and disciplinary standing:

Students who meet the above criteria are admitted on a first come-first serve basis. In order for students to continue in the PCA, they must maintain:

Prospective Teacher Programs

A key component of the Pre-Collegiate Academy program is the teacher-training project. Developed with the key assumption that teacher quality affects student achievement, the teacher-training aspect of the program comprises a one-week summer Teacher Institute, in which Oakland Unified School District mathematics teachers are trained in curriculum development. Experienced teachers are paired with prospective teachers – typically undergraduate students attending local universities- to work together to develop curriculum and strategies for teaching students.

After this initial week, both teachers and prospective teachers continue to develop the skills they have acquired by teaching mathematics to PCA students attending the four-week summer program. During the program, teachers and prospective teachers meet daily for two hours for additional training and reflection on teaching methods. The teacher-training component of the program is designed to provide teachers with access to a “laboratory” setting, in which they create a new curriculum and practice innovative instruction amidst motivated students who are enthusiastic about learning.

Collaboration with teachers from other Oakland schools promotes professional development among participating teachers, as well as fosters a support network that encourages teachers to not only stay in the profession, but to also to excel and to spread their enthusiasm for teaching and learning to others.

Teacher Institute

A key component of the Pre-Collegiate Academy program is the teacher-training project. Developed with the key assumption that teacher quality affects student achievement, the teacher-training aspect of the program comprises a one-week summer Teacher Institute, in which Oakland Unified School District mathematics teachers are trained in curriculum development. Experienced teachers are paired with prospective teachers-typically undergraduate students attending local universities – to work together to develop curriculum and strategies for teaching students. After this initial week, both teachers and prospective teachers continue to develop the skills they have acquired by teaching mathematics to PCA students attending the four-week summer program.

During the program, teachers and prospective teachers meet daily for two hours for additional training and reflection on teaching methods.

The teacher-training component of the program is designed to provide teachers with access to a “laboratory” setting, in which they create new curriculum and practice innovative instruction amidst motivated students who are enthusiastic about learning.

Collaboration with teachers from other Oakland schools promotes professional development among participating teachers, as well as fosters a support network that encourages teachers to not only stay in the profession but also to excel and to spread their enthusiasm for teaching and learning to others.

Parent Programs

Increasing parent participation in their child’s education is of the highest priority to the East Bay Consortium. Parents and families are vital to the Pre-Collegiate Academy programs and to their child’s active involvement in enrichment activities.

During the academic year, parents are required to attend mandatory meetings that focus on students’ progress in school and participation in PCA.

The East Bay Consortium believes that parent involvement is a very important aspect in the educational success of students. That is why the East Bay Consortium is committed to helping and encouraging parents to be more involved in their child’s education.

Throughout the year East Bay Consortium organizes informational events and workshops open to all interested parents. These workshops provide information about what students can do as early as middle school to prepare for college, how parents can support their college bound student, financial aid and scholarships that will help fund their child’s education, and more.