FAFSA Made Easy (College Financial Aid)

Updated 7-14-15


How-to video  

http://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/fafsasimplification/


"Financial Aid Made Easy" from Best Colleges Online

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/financial-aid-made-easy/ 

"How to Fill Out the FAFSA Step by Step"

http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/financial-aid/articles/applying-financial-aid/how-fill-out-fafsa-step-step/

Other 

https://fafsa.ed.gov/ 

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/resources 

Bullying Prevention

Borrowed from the Oklahoma State Department of Education's website are the following tools and resources for National Bullying Prevention Month, October 2013.

55 percent of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes.

Check out this daily tip calendar for students to stop bullying.

The tips work all year!

http://ok.gov/sde/sites/ok.gov.sde/files/documents/files/Bullying%20Prevention%20Month_TipsCalendar.pdf

To read more on bullying prevention:         http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ofhs/prevention/preventbullyingva/

Ret. 10-10-13

Call for Middle School and High School Mentoring: State Law

This is a useful guideline for middle school and high school mentoring programs. 

Building the relationship first is helpful before proceeding with the suggestions below.  

Section 244.1.1 Mentorship Programs to Reduce Drop-out Rates. (70 O.S. § 1210-527)   

A. The State Department of Education shall encourage school boards and districts to develop mentorship programs aimed at reducing drop-out rates. The goal of these programs shall be to identify middle school and high school students who are at risk for leaving school before they obtain their high school diploma and providing these students with comprehensive prevention and intervention programs.

B. Mentors should work with identified students to assist in the following:

1. Transitioning from middle school to high school;

2. Creation of personal graduation plans;

3. Counseling of students on the consequences of dropping out;

4. Beginning career exploration with students at an earlier age;

5. Informing parents and students regarding the impact of middle school grades on high school placement and achievement;

6. Providing students with guidance in selecting courses; and

7. Providing students with tutoring and extra academic assistance as needed.

http://www.ok.gov/sde/school-laws-oklahoma-21  

Ret. 10-11-13

The Drop Out Crisis

Another excerpt from SNAPSHOT: Youth Mentoring Research and Outcomes

The Dropout Crisis

Nationwide, nearly one‐third of high school students fail to graduate. In total, approximately 1.3

million students drop out each year — averaging 7,200 every school day. Among minority students,

the problem is even more severe with almost 50 percent of African-American and Hispanic students

not completing high school on schedule.  

Experts say that dropping out of high school affects not just students and their families, but also the

country overall — including businesses, government and communities. The Alliance for Excellent

Education estimates that high school dropouts from the class of 2006-07 will cost the U.S. more

than $329 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes.  Experts also say that

those who drop out are more likely to be incarcerated, rely on public programs and social services

and go without health insurance than youth who graduate from high school.

 

In summary, high school dropouts are:

• Less likely to have a job or earn less, on average, than high school graduates;

• Less likely to have health insurance than those with more education and more likely to depend on Medicaid or Medicare for their coverage;

• More likely to depend on public assistance; and

• More likely to be incarcerated. 2

2 Social and Fiscal Consequences of the Dropout Crisis. (Updated, 2009). Center for Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University.

Excerpt from:
http://www.mentoring.org/images/uploads/Snapshot%20on%20Mentoring%20FINAL_April%202013.pdf  

Ret. 10-11-13

Return on Mentoring Investment

SNAPSHOT: Youth Mentoring Research and Outcomes

Mentoring is a youth development strategy that is a proven foundational asset for a young person’s

successful path to adulthood. It is also effectively used as an intervention strategy to redirect a

young person’s life toward a healthy and productive future. In both cases, the results save taxpayer

dollars and fuel the economy. In fact, recent research demonstrates that

for every dollar invested in effective

mentoring programs, there is a return of $2.72.

This positive return on investment reflects projected increases in lifetime earnings gained by 

leading at‐risk youth down the path to becoming productive adult citizens, as well as dollars saved 

through evidence‐based mentoring‐related outcomes, such as reduced juvenile delinquency and 

crime, improved school attendance, higher graduation rates, and lowered risk of youth involvement 

in costly behaviors such as drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

In addition, effective mentoring programs also report significant increases among youth served in

self-confidence, self-efficacy and a positive attitude about their futures. 1

1

Anton, P.,Wilder Research & Temple, Judy, Univ. of Minnesota, “Social Return on Investment in Youth Mentoring Programs,” March 2007

An excerpt from
http://www.mentoring.org/images/uploads/Snapshot%20on%20Mentoring%20FINAL_April%202013.pdf

Business/Civic Leaders Value Mentoring

We are always proud of the many community contributions of our corporations, especially those which either have their own mentoring programs or allow employees to participate in other mentoring programs during the work day. 

Some examples in Oklahoma City include Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, SandRidge Energy, SONIC Corporation, INTEGRIS Health, Mercy Hospital, American Fidelity and Walmart.  Chesapeake's wide range includes elementary, middle and high school programs.  AT&T's ASPIRE Program also targets high school-age youths.  Building a relationship with youth is much more effective in the long-term than making a monetary donation, although donations to community organizations are always needed.  Many of these corporations are reaching out to youth in diverse relational ways.

Recently, we discovered that Rotary International, one of the world's major civic organizations, primarily composed of business leaders, has its own mentoring program.  Here is a link to the international website and also a screen shot of the San Antonio Rotary Club's website posting of the program. 

Rotarians can participate in existing mentoring programs within their own communities for all students--elementary through high school and postsecondary--if they do not want to sponsor their own initiatives. 

It's all about shaping the future, isn't it?

http://www.rotarystudentprogram.org/   International Rotary

http://www.rotarysa.org/YouthMentoring.cfm  Rotary Club of San Antonio

Screen shot of the Rotary webpage

Learning How to Handle Money

Khan Academy has free, online classes in a variety of areas for everyone of all ages and circumstances.  We can all improve and/or teach others. 

This is the latest project of Khan Academy and Bank of America to develop financial literacy.  (More on the Khan Academy in a subsequent post.)

http://www.bettermoneyhabits.com/en/home.html#fbid=bMo1nULKmnH

 Below are a few screen shots to entice you to take a "course."