Purpose
ASPIRA's ETS is a federally funded program, which provides free services to assist participants in deciding and financing a post secondary education.

Objectives
The objectives of Educational Talent Search include:

• For each year of the four-year grant, effectively manage the project that addresses the need of 800 individuals the target area so that 100% of the outcome objectives are met.
• By September 30th, identify and recruit 800 individuals and select 800 eligible participants who are low income, and determined to have potential as first generation college students, each year of the four year grant.
• Provide a minimum of 75% of program services and activities, designed to motivate 150 middle-school (6th - 8th grade) and 350 high school (9th -12 grade) participants (involving parents) to complete secondary school and enroll in post-secondary institution, for 100% of he program participants.
• Provide financial aid information and technical assistance to 100% of 12th grade participants, parents of participants, and other participants who wish to pursue post-secondary educational programs.
• Identify a minimum of 100 eligible participants who are secondary and post-secondary school dropouts and provide them with relevant and/or appropriate Talent Search services and activities, which will lead to 100% returning to school for each year of the four year grant.

Services

• Financial Aid information and Application assistance
• Career Assessment, Exploration, and Advising Services
• College Preparatory Curriculum Advising
• Study Skills and Test Preparation Assistance
• Post-secondary education selection/application assistance
• Individual and group Intervention Advising and Referral
• GED Enrollment Assistance
• Tutorial Assistance/ Referral
• Trips to Post-secondary Institutions
• SAT preparation classes

Participants
ASPIRA serves a minimum of 800 participants annually, which includes students from grades 6 through 12, high school dropouts, college dropouts, and veterans. A participant must live in Philadelphia or attend school in the Philadelphia Public and Parochial School System. Two-thirds of the participants must meet low-income eligibility requirements and be potential first generation college-bound participants (neither parent of the participant lives with or lived with prior to age 18 has a four-year college degree). One-third of the participants do not have to meet these low-income and first generation requirements.

Profile of ETS Graduates
Students are placed in the following Colleges or Universities:

• Temple University
• West Chester University
• Penn State University
• Bloomsburg University
• LaSalle University
• Kutztown University
• Rosemont College
• Beaver College
• Community College of Philadelphia

Program made possible by
U.S. Department of Education

Program Contacts
Nancy Rosado, Talent Search Coordinator
Venita DeLaRosa-Ortiz, Educational Advisor
Christina Leon, Educational Advisor