Raising Expectations is designed to support, motivate and nurture each child to achieve his or her fullest potential. We accomplish this through the establishment of long-term relationships and unique and interactive programming activities.

· Academic Tutoring – Education has the potential to redistribute resources in our society. It is here that we embark upon the awesome task of raising the expectations children have for themselves with regard to their success in school and life. We tutor students by assisting with homework, reading with students and assisting with standardized test skills. Additionally students create Raising Expectations portfolios that include inspirational poems that they memorize, individual goals and charts, journal entries, motivational quotes and activities listed that students have participated in over the course of the years involved with the program. Students that attend the Atlanta University Center tutor and mentor the children/youth in Raising Expectations.

· Educational Alliance – Raising Expectations maintains an open and receptive line of communication between administrators, teachers and counselors about each student’s progress. We visit schools, provide them with information about our program and encourage parents to participate in their child’s education. Upcoming projects include a parent involvement program that will offer parents educational classes on how to become advocates for their child’s education, and a scholarship program that will tie directly into the child and parent’s participation with Raising Expectations and their child’s school.

· Social Discovery Projects – Exposure to activities and experiences that are different from a child’s normal surroundings and interactions is critical to a child’s success. This program facet encourages exposure through varied social, recreational, educational and cultural experiences in the form of fieldtrips. Monthly trips and activities are planned throughout the year. Check out our Take a Glimpse of Past Activities to see some of the places we have visited.

· Summer Pathfinder Program – This program component will give students the opportunity to attend summer camps and participate in job shadowing experiences with local companies and entrepreneurs during the summer months.

· Community Service Learning Projects – Two times per year students generate a list of service projects that they would like to see happen and the volunteers and mentors assist with carrying the project out. Students create, plan and manage the service project from beginning to end. Afterward, students debrief on what they learned from the service project.

· Volunteer Program – Volunteers are required to attend tutorial services once per week and attend one Saturday event per month. Volunteers attend an orientation and volunteer training session before beginning as tutors/mentors. Additional trainings are scheduled throughout the school year. Each year volunteers are rewarded with certificates, incentive awards and through both our Annual Volunteer Potluck Celebration and Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

· Raising Expectations II – Separate program created to serve the needs of students transitioning from Raising Expectations (Kindergarten – Eighth grade) into high school. This program focuses on academic support, career exploration, financial knowledge, community development and peer mentoring. The theme of this program revolves around the motto, “youth taking charge”.