Making College Dreams a Reality

Research shows that between 2^nd and 7^th grades, a gap emerges between student’s aspirations (lofty dreams) and their hidden expectations (what they quietly and actually think will happen). Without intervention, that gap persists through high school. This session explores the “aspiration-expectation gap.” Learn how schools at each level can strategically reshape students’ expectations of college access and success, explore the power of the classroom teacher in this work, and walk away being more equipped in supporting your students’ goals of college success.