A nationally certified superintendent and former principal, Dr. Philip Hickman has provided leadership in under-resourced communities for more than a decade. Dr. Philip Hickman serves as superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District and is a prominent author and speaker on topics related to educational access.
Even in low-income communities, children do not lack for ambition. Students in the elementary grades often express desires for professional careers, such as those of doctors or teachers. By middle school, 93 percent of students identify college as a goal, yet only 44 percent of students actually make it there.
A current trend in education is seeking to address this disconnect by exploring students' ambitions and helping them to understand what they will need to do to reach their goals. It is not a movement that seeks to assign children to a particular career path early in life, but rather one that opens up possibilities and helps to create direction in students' academic lives.
Educational leaders encourage teachers to bring students into the world and show them career options, and to discuss with them the steps that they need to take to enter certain professions. Teachers explain the concept of college to children beginning in the early grades, and students come to understand that academic success and participation is a crucial stepping stone to their future goals.
Meanwhile, administrators can work with communities to help families understand the college process. This is particularly important in households where parents may not have attended college, as these adults may find applications and financial aid as intimidating as their children do. By identifying financial resources and promoting the affordability of college, districts can help families to support their children in college-focused thinking throughout the K-12 years.