Educational Programs
Scholars Program
Scholars Program Overview
The LSF provides financial aid and education-related support through our Scholars Program to academically excellent PreK-12th grade students in the Washington, DC Metropolitan region. For the 2009-2010 academic year, the LSF supports 86 students in grades PreK-12, representing over $95,000 in supplemental financial support. The Scholars Program includes mentoring, workshops on higher education, and support for students and their families. The small stipends that we provide are supplemented by a series of workshops designed for family networking and to prepare students and their families for the future. Though our stipends are small, they are often the ‘make or break’ money for parents to be able to enroll their children in private or parochial school and frequently cover such additional expenses as books, activity fees, and uniforms.
Scholarship Amounts
Scholarships are merit-based and fixed depending on the grade level. The scholarship amounts are as follows:
- Grades PreK-5: $500
- Grades 6-8: $1,000
- Grades 9-12: $1,500
Why The LSF Scholars Program Is Important
In the Scholars Programs the graduation rate from high school for LSF participants is 100%. It is the experience of the LSF that Latino youth often become disengaged with public school systems that fail to meet their language and cultural needs. According to research compiled by the Lumina Foundation, out of every 100 Latino elementary students, only 52 will graduate from high school. When Hispanic students abandon school, they foreclose a lifetime of opportunities and place themselves at risk for poverty and underemployment. In response, the LSF works to provide culturally competent and relevant services to all participants.
Family support is critical to a child’s success and cultural and language barriers for parents have dramatic repercussions on children. Staff and volunteers at the LSF serve as bridges between school systems and Latino parents and their children. The LSF creates a community which strengthens the resolve of each Latino student to succeed in school and set high goals for themselves in the future. By educating Latino children, we aim to help secure their future success and to mentor students who have the skills and desire to have lasting impacts in their own communities.
Who Is Eligible
Students in grades PreK-12 in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area are eligible to apply for the program. In addition, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be of Latino descent;
- Demonstrate excellent academic achievement;
- Be admitted to a parochial or independent school for the upcoming academic year;
- Receive financial aid from the school or Archdiocese.
Once students have been accepted to the Scholars Program, the Latino Student Fund will support them for the duration of their primary and secondary school education. As long as students remain academically and financially eligible, they will continue to receive the appropriate LSF scholarship and support services. Though a complete reapplication is not necessary, we do require that students submit a one-page reapplication form in the spring of each school year.
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Tutoring Program
Tutoring Program Overview
The LSF Tutoring Program provides free academic support through individualized tutoring for Latino students from the Washington, DC metropolitan area in all areas of academic learning. Each student is tutored individually and parents have the opportunity to participate in two levels of free ESL classes. The Tutoring Program and all of the supplemental services that the LSF provides are free of charge.
Program Philosophy
The hallmark of the LSF Tutoring Program is our one-on-one tutoring. We believe that the ability of each student to work with one tutor enables our students to not only receive the direct attention that they need and deserve but also fosters strong mentoring relationships between the student and the tutee.
Who Is Eligible
The Tutoring Program is open to underprivileged Latino students in grades PreK-12. Students must be from the Washington, DC Metropolitan region. Many of the students we serve are from the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system. The Tutoring Program targets at-risk students who need supplemental tutoring to improve their reading/writing comprehension, math skills, and computer literacy skills. Students may be from private or public schools and be of Latino descent.
When and Where
During the academic school year, the Tutoring Program takes place on Saturday mornings in the cafeteria of Hearst Hall at the National Cathedral School for Girls from 10:00am-12:00pm.
The address for the National Cathedral School’s Hearst Hall is:
3612 Woodley Rd., NW
Washington, DC 20016
During the summer month, the LSF partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) to offer summer tutoring.
The address for the BBBS office is:
1763 Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Students and families are expected to attend the majority of the sessions. Please be advised that no sessions are held on major holidays and National Cathedral School closures.
Additional Services
Additional activities such as SAT preparation classes and college essay writing workshops are also available to students in the LSF Tutoring and Scholars Programs.
For parents and family members of students enrolled in the Tutoring Program the LSF offers two free levels of ESL classes. Parents meet with an ESL teacher during the Tutoring Program hours and work on their English-language skills. Students enrolled in the Tutoring Program are also eligible to receive summer scholarships to camps and schools in the Washington, DC area. Please note that space is limited for these camps and availability will be limited. The LSF also provides workshops, speakers, and informational outreach services to students and their families regarding educational opportunities and community events.
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