PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR COLLEGE

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR COLLEGE
A Resource Book for Parents
A NOTE TO PARENTS
It’s never too early to think about college -- about the benefits of a college education and about ways to put college within reach academically and financially. Throughout their school years, students make academic and other decisions that affect whether they will be eligible to enter college. You -- working with others -- can help your child make these decisions wisely.
This resource book is designed to help you with that process. It will help you work with your child and with your child’s teachers and guidance counselors, to ensure that he or she has the option of going to college. It will help your child to prepare academically for the rigors of college, and it will help you to plan financially for the costs of a college education. A good academic record on your child’s part and sound financial planning on your part will help ensure a menu of opportunities when the time comes to decide about college. Although this book was written primarily as a long-term planning guide for parents, guidance counselors and teachers will also find it useful and informative.
This book will help you to
-- Set high expectations for your child’s future;
-- Know what college options are available;
-- Plan your finances with college in mind; and
-- Know what financial assistance your child may be eligible to receive.
To ensure that today’s students will be able to live, work, and compete in the 21st century, the U.S. Department of Education and the Nation’s governors set a direction for the Nation by establishing six national education goals. In brief, the goals state that by the year 2000
* All children in America will start school ready to learn;
* The high school graduation rate will improve to at least 90 percent;
* All children will be competent in at least English, mathematics, science, history, and geography;
* American students will be first in the world in science and mathematics;
* Adult Americans will be literate and have the skills necessary to compete in a world economy;
* And every school in America will be free of drugs and violence.
As we turn from a 'Nation at Risk' to a 'Nation on the Move' we must assure that our children and youth are prepared to meet the challenge of the world economy, the obligation of civic responsibility, and the responsibility of attaining the national education goals.
Attaining the national education goals depends greatly on the efforts of the entire community, but especially you, the parents of our children. In helping your child succeed in high school and aim for college, you’re also helping our Nation produce informed citizens and a competitive work force for the next decade and beyond.
Richard W. Riley U.S. Secretary of Education