Tuesday, March 17, 2020

A Better Chance Helps Students of Color Attend Top Schools

'A Better Chance' Helps Students of Color Attend Top Schools The scholarship organization A Better Chance (ABC), founded in 1963, has provided many students of color with the chance to attend college-prep private schools and public schools across the country. Their mission clearly illustrates the goal of the organization: Our mission is to  increase substantially  the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society.  Since its founding, ABC has grown greatly, first starting out with 55 students enrolled at nine schools to now more than 2,000 students enrolled at nearly 350 of the best private schools and public schools, as of the 2015-2016 school year (ABCs website has not been updated since we initially reported this statistic in July 2016).   United States President Lyndon Johnson meets with African American and white political figures from New Jersey, discussing aspects of his War on Poverty legislation. Afro Newspaper/Gado  /  Getty Images A Brief History   Originally, the program involved identifying and selecting talented students of color and providing  scholarships  for them to attend  private day  and  boarding schools. In the first year, even before  President Lyndon B. Johnson  announced his War on Poverty, 55 boys, all poor and mostly African-American, took part in an academically rigorous summer program. If they completed the program, the  headmasters of  16  private  schools agreed to accept them. In the 1970s, the program began to send students to competitive public high schools in areas such as New Canaan and  Westport, Connecticut; and  Amherst, Massachusetts. Students lived in a house staffed  by program tutors  and administrators, and the local community provided support for their house. In addition, many  colleges across the country, from Stanford in California to Colgate in New York state, have partnered with ABC to express their interest in promoting diversity. Racial Diversity   The current program is focused on increasing diversity at educational institutions.  While the majority of students enrolled are African-American, today the program also includes a wide range of diverse students. In addition to racial diversity, ABC also has increased its assistance for students of varying economic backgrounds, helping not only students who have significant financial constraints, but also middle-class students. The program offers to subsidize tuition for these students based on demonstrated financial need.   ABC notes that its scholars are a racially diverse group (figures approximate):   67% are African-American16% Latino7% Asian American1% Native American9% multi-racial or other Tracy Chapman. Chris Carroll/Getty Images   A Strong Alumni Base As a result of their dedication to making a quality education possible for students of color,  ABC can boast an alumni base of tens of thousands of individuals who are active in many fields.  According to President Sandra E. Timmons, there are over 13,000 alumni and alumnae of this program, and many are influential in the fields of business, government, education, the arts, and other areas. The organization includes among its famous alumni  Governor of Massachusetts  Deval Patrick, who was raised on the South Side of Chicago by a single mother. One of his middle school teachers recognized his talent, and Mr. Patrick was able to attend Milton Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts, on a scholarship. He later went on to attend Harvard College and Harvard Law School before becoming governor of Massachusetts. Another notable ABC alumna is  singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman,  who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the Wooster School in Connecticut on a scholarship. The Wooster School is a private co-ed pre-K through 12  school. After she graduated from the Wooster School in 1982, Ms. Chapman went on to  Tufts University  near Boston, where she majored in African Studies and Anthropology. She also started to perform at local venues, and she was discovered by a classmate whose father helped her get her first recording contract, though she insisted on graduating from college first. She is famous for singles such as  Fast Car  and  Give  Me One Reason. Program Requirements and Fees The College Preparatory Schools Program (CPSP) of ABC works to identify, recruit, place and support deserving students of color in college prep middle and high schools. Students applying to ABC must currently be in grades 4-9 and be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Students must also be academically strong, maintaining an overall average of a B or better and rank within the top 10% of their class. They should also participate in after-school activities, demonstrate leadership potential, and have good character. They must also receive strong teacher recommendations. Interested applicants must submit an inquiry online and later create an application, as well as write an essay,  ask for letters of recommendation, and be interviewed. Member schools may require additional steps as part of the overall application process, such as standardized testing or additional interviews. Acceptance at ABC does not guarantee admission at a member school. Participation in ABC is without cost, and the organization offers fee waivers for its scholars to take the SSAT and to apply for financial aid. Member schools do charge tuition, but all offer financial aid which is usually based on a familys personal financial situation. Some families may find they must contribute some funding towards a private school education, which can often be paid in installments. Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Age of Majority in Canada

Age of Majority in Canada The age of majority in Canada is the age at which a person is considered by law to be an adult. A person younger than the age of majority is considered a minor child. The age of majority in Canada is determined by each province and territory in Canada and varies between the ages of 18 and 19. At the age of majority, the responsibility of parents, guardians, or child protective services generally ends. However, child support is determined by the court or agreement for each case and therefore may continue past the age of majority. Upon reaching the age of majority, the new adult now has the right to vote. Other rights may be achieved at younger ages, while some are reserved for ages past the age of majority. Age of Majority by Province or Territory in Canada The age of majority in the individual provinces and territories of Canada is as follows: Alberta:  18British Columbia:  19Manitoba:  18New Brunswick:  19Newfoundland and Labrador:  19Northwest Territories: 19Nova Scotia:  19Nunavut:  19Ontario: 18Prince Edward Island:  18Quebec:  18Saskatchewan:  18Yukon Territory: 19 Legal Age in Canada The legal age is set for various rights and activities and is also known as the age of license. It may or may not match the age of majority in a province or territory. Even when it does, there may be other conditions such as mental capacity that can restrict some individuals.  Legal ages also often  differ as to whether the individual needs the consent of a parent or guardian or not for an activity. It is important to check the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to find the applicable legal age for an activity. Because the age of majority varies between 18 and 19, nationwide programs such as sweepstakes often limit entry to age 19 for consistency. Criminal responsibility begins at age 12 in Canada, with individuals protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act until age 17. By age 14, a youth could be sentenced as an adult. The right to work begins at age 12, with the consent of a parent or guardian. At age 15, the individual can work without the need for consent. However, a person is not entitled to a full minimum wage until age 18. Joining the armed forces is allowed with parental consent at age 17 and without consent at age 19. The legal age is as low as 12 for the right of consent for being adopted, working with the consent of parent or guardian, or name changes with permission of the parent or guardian. Age of Consent for Sexual Activity in Canada The general age of consent in Canada in 16. However, there are exemptions for close-in-age sexual activity, which depend on the age of the younger partner. At age 12 and 13, an individual can consent to activity with a person no more than two years older. At age 14 and 15, a person may consent to activity with another person less than five years older.