Precollege Program Description


New Jersey Commission on Higher Education

PRECOLLEGE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Talent Search Program

(Essex County College)

Program began: 1975 - Students enrolled: 1200 - Sponsored by: Essex County College

Contact Information:

Betty Foster/Shelley Pettiford, Director/Associate Director

303 University Avenue

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: (973) 877-3196

Fax: (973) 877-3294

Email: foster@essex.edu and pettiford@essex.edu

Program Description:

The Talent Search Program promotes retention and actively seeks to improve educational opportunity and access for

target community students who traditionally have not participated fully in the advantages which higher education

provides. The program's primary focus is to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds to not only continue in

and complete grades six through twelve but also to enroll in postsecondary educational programs.

The program targets low-income and first-generation middle and high school students, and dropouts ages 11-27.

Annual enrollment is open to 1200 students who attend Central, Technology, West Side, Malcolm X. Shabazz and

West Kinney High Schools and Warren Street, Miller Street and William Brown Academy Middle Schools.

During the program year, September-May, students receive academic preparation for the Grade Eight Proficiency

Assessment (GEPA), High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) as

well as computer learning classes. In addition, students also have the opportunity to participate in college tours,

cultural enrichment activities, tutoring, career assessment and counseling.

Talent Search has operated under the auspices of Essex County College for the past twenty-six years. Project

students have enrolled and graduated from undergraduate schools and continued on to graduate institutions and

have become productive citizens within their communities.

Location of Program Services:

College campus

Sources of students served by the program:

Typical Grade Level(s) on Entry: 10th

School District: Newark

County or City Served: Essex County

Region served: Northern NJ

Program Services (Academic):

Computer

Study

Reading/Writing

Math/Science

Critical Thinking

Program Services (Other):

Visits/Tours

Fairs

Awareness

Career Counseling

Mentoring

Personal Counseling

Cultural Activities

Program Operation:

Program Cycle (Summer or Academic): Academic Year

After School Hours On Weekends

Special populations targeted by the program:

Low income

High School Students

Middle School Students

At Risk

First Generation

� New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, 1994-2004
20 West State Street, PO Box 542, Trenton, NJ 08625-0542
Telephone: 609-292-4310 Fax: 609-292-7225
Last Updated: September 10, 2004