RHEProposal

Middle School Mentoring

Policies & Fear: Topic Proposal

Group name: Thunderbirds
Group members: Karen Brooks, Eric, Michael

1. What is the problem that you will be trying to solve? Please, describe it in detail.
Our solution will address high drop-out rates in low-income areas in Austin.

2. Why is it a problem that cannot wait? What is its significance or urgency?
Kids in middle school are very impressionable, and need positive reinforcement concerning college. This is an urgent issue as middle school students are only in middle school for 3 years. Education is essential to democracy, allowing the existence of a middle class and economic growth, R&D.

3. Please present your solution, describing it as realistically as possible.
We will establish a UT club pairing UT students as mentors with middle school students from AISD. The program will encourage middle school kids to graduate high school and go to college. UT students will take their kid to various events on campus and around Austin: UT sports games, musical performances, plays, concerts, outdoor activities and other interesting and educational opportunities. The children will also receive tutoring. The club will be funded by local businesses, ticket donations and UT scholarships.

4. Where would you look for primary research for this paper?
We will search for statistics on drop-out rates and middle school students' interest in college.