The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), ScholarShare and their 529 Plan program manager, Fidelity Investments, took a bold step for the future of California by partnering to fund EAOP's Family Inclusion Initiative. The Family Inclusion Initiative consists of a series of workshops and activities designed to empower parents to advise students on their college-preparation path, thereby increasing student academic achievement. The pilot program in the regions of San Diego, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area provides culturally relevant, multilingual workshops and activities throughout the academic year that teach parents key information about the college eligibility, financial aid and the admissions process. The EAOP Family Inclusion Initiative is a partnership between EAOP, ScholarShare, Fidelity Investments, schools, districts and community groups to help families boost scholastic achievement.

"California's economy is becoming increasingly more competitive and good jobs increasingly require a higher education," said California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, chair of ScholarShare, California's 529 College Savings Plan. "That makes college all the more important and the Early Academic Outreach Program provides California's youth with a tremendous college planning resource. I'm proud to work with my alma mater, the University of California, to help deliver this vital program to deserving students throughout the state."

Parent involvement in children's education is positively related to achievement and EAOP Family Inclusion Initiative events give parents with little or no college experience the information they need to guide students along a college path. EAOP, ScholarShare and Fidelity Investments believe the EAOP Family Inclusion Initiative is a vital strategy for supporting parents in their efforts to close achievement gaps in California. "Helping young people gain access to higher education is a very worthwhile investment," said Carolyn Clancy, executive vice president at Fidelity Investments. "We're delighted to partner with the ScholarShare Investment Board to support the University of California's exciting and highly successful Early Academic Outreach Program."

Judy Sakaki, UC's vice president of student affairs, said, "This important collaboration with ScholarShare and Fidelity Investments will allow EAOP to further involve parents in enhancing a college-going culture for the first generation, underserved students of California. Thanks to ScholarShare and Fidelity Investments, EAOP can work even more closely with families to help students become competitively eligible for college admissions."

EAOP Family Inclusion Initiative events take place throughout the academic year. Most recently, Berkeley EAOP hosted the Parent and Family Conference on Dec. 15. Attended by more than 400 students and parents, the conference offered sessions about paying for college, understanding the four college systems in California, tips for a successful transition from high school to college, and making the most of your high school years. In "Making the Most of Your High School Years," panelist Belinda Mak, investment advisor for Fidelity Investments, shared her experiences as a child of immigrants and first-generation college student. She told of her high school experience starting a volunteer club and offered advice to students - to identify what they enjoy doing, to build skills around that by joining or creating a club, and to the seek help from mentors. The standing-room audience of parents and students learned that by making the most of their high school years, not only will students be able to demonstrate leadership ability on a college application, but they can also build skills that will carry them through school and career. Workshops on paying for college and college opportunities for immigrant students offered simultaneous translation in Spanish and Chinese so parents would have access to the most up-to-date information.

The next Family Inclusion Initiative event takes place at UCLA on Feb. 17. Hosted by UCLA EAOP, the Passport to Your Future Parent and Student College Conference will include bilingual workshops on how to prepare for college, the four systems of higher education in California, financial aid and scholarships, and will also feature a college tour and a career panel where panelists will discuss how their educational paths propelled them into successful careers.

To maintain its place in the global economy, California needs an educated work force. Unfortunately, due to the severe challenges of California's educational system, too many students in low-income neighborhoods are not receiving the guidance needed to successfully prepare for college; and parents with little or no college-going experience do not have the knowledge needed to help them. With more than 30 years of service to California's youth, EAOP is the cornerstone of state-funded college preparation programs. Through EAOP, students improve basic academic skills, master advanced high school curriculum and have the opportunity to engage in the intellectual life of the University of California through study and research opportunities. Students prepare for all required college entrance exams and receive ongoing advising to ensure that they complete in high school a college preparatory course pattern ("a-g") at the highest levels of achievement.

The ScholarShare College Savings Plan is California's 529 Plan, sponsored by the ScholarShare Investment Board, an agency of the state of California, and managed by Fidelity Investments. The plan provides parents, grandparents and others a tax-advantaged way to save for a child's college education.

For more information: www.eaop.org