San Jose California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP)

Funded by the California Student Aid Commission, San Jose Cal-SOAP aims to increase student success and access to higher education by coordinating and implementing comprehensive academic preparation and motivation support services for low-performing schools in Santa Clara County. Cal-SOAP is dedicated to inspiring and supporting students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds who will be the first in their families to attend college. As a result of the unique delivery of integrated, school-based services across programs under the umbrella of the Educational Partnership Center, the San Jose Cal-SOAP program is able to leverage resources and expertise from the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), which gives students the extra academic edge they need to successfully graduate from high school and pursue postsecondary education options.

The San Jose Cal-SOAP program currently partners with the Alum Rock Union School District, East Side Union High School District, Franklin-McKinley School District and San Jose Unified School District. Our goals are increasing college-going rates, improving students’ academic preparation for college, increase college awareness among students and families, and helping students explore and clarify career interests and make the connection between postsecondary education and future career aspirations.

• I’m Going to College is a six-week, in-class college-going curriculum for fifth grade students, including a College Adventure Day and Graduation Ceremony.
• College: Making it Happen provides college awareness and information for middle school students and parents, focusing on high school and college preparedness.
• Transfer: Making it Happen provides college-going and transfer information to high school and community college students to assist them in their academic and financial planning to attend a four-year university. Students will be given general advisement, mentoring, and academic support through tutoring, workshops, and presentations.
• Academic tutoring through After-School Homework Centers and in-class tutoring provides college advising support and supplemental academic tutoring for students, primarily in mathematics.
• Academic, college, and career advising is delivered through the College Going Initiative and grade-level strategies for high school students, which are specially designed academic and college advising services aimed to support students on the college-going pathway.
• Cash for College workshops in January and February provide financial aid and scholarship information workshops and free, in-person help to low-income and first generation college-going students and families in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant application.

Visit the San Jose Cal-SOAP Web site for more details.

For more information, contact:
San Jose Cal-SOAP Program Office
(408) 531-6122