Focus Educational Talent Search - Proviso

Education Programs

Increasing the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education is the goal of the Talent Search program. To accomplish this, the program enrolls individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. Then they provide program participants with academic, career and financial counseling, as well as help identifying financial aid resources and the postsecondary application process.

Graduating, either from high school or college, is a key focus of the program. All participants are encouraged to graduate from high school and continue on to, and complete, their postsecondary education. In addition, persons who have not completed high school or postsecondary education are encouraged to enroll and complete their education.

Program Services

Services provided by the program include:

• Academic, financial, career, or personal counseling including advice on entry or re-entry to secondary or postsecondary programs
• Career exploration and aptitude assessment
• Tutorial services
• Information on postsecondary education
• Exposure to college campuses
• Information on student financial assistance
• Assistance in completing college admissions and financial aid applications
• Assistance in preparing for college entrance exams
• Mentoring programs
• Special activities for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders
• Workshops for the families of participants
• Alternative Educational Programs

In addition, Talent Search leaders offer a multitude of education and training activities to assist participants that can include:

• Conducting consumer education and counseling to improve students’ financial and economic literacy
• Offering guidance on and assistance with secondary school reentry
• Identifying alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts
• Assisting with enrollment in GED or postsecondary education programs for students who are:
• limited English proficient
• members of groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary
• aging out of the foster care system, or;
• or other disconnected students.