Mission Statement
Turbo Go Centers provide equitable access for Green Bay Area Public Schools middle school students to understand and explore their unique academic and professional post-secondary options.
Overview
Turbo Go Centers are an extension of the Turbocharge initiative between GBAPS, NWTC, and UWGB. One of the biggest gaps Turbocharge career coaches see in highschool students is a lack of college and career awareness. They spend more time meeting 1:1 with students to explore college and career options than on the time needed to plan for those options. Turbo Go Center support staff and programming will align with community and school programming to support middle school (MS) students academic and career planning (ACP).
To expand ACP resources at an earlier age, the middle school Turbo Go Centers will provide equitable access to college and career exploration for students in four of the district’s middle schools with high levels of poverty, as measured by students receiving free and reduced lunch. By effectively introducing the concepts of ACP in middle school in a developmentally and culturally appropriate manner, we will improve the aptitude of students about career possibilities and increase the number who complete high school and pursue postsecondary education.
The Turbo Go Centers will provide students with multiple and varied opportunities to explore their career interests. This specially-designed space, filled with college and career resources, will also meet the unique and ever-changing needs and interests of our underrepresented student groups so they receive the same access as their advantaged peers. The Turbo Go Centers will be highly visible spaces located in the MS Library Media Centers (LMC) or comparable space where students can explore college and careers. The Turbo Go Centers will be designed using best practices from effective national models to be welcoming and attractive to children between the ages of 11 and 14 and their families.
Objectives
1. Create a career and college-going culture that incorporates student interest and youth voice.
2. Equip middle school students from underrepresented and marginalized populations with the knowledge to create a meaningful high school experience resulting in equitable access to postsecondary credentials and/or earning college credits.
3. Provide college and career information for the teachers and staff at the middle schools.
4. Inform parents and the school community of the opportunities to use the Turbo Go Centers after school and in the summer.
Specifications
Turbo Go Centers are intended to be part of the Learning Space but dedicated to post-secondary awareness and exploration. Centers are located in easily-accessible areas and usable by various partner groups provided they sign-in or document their usage for utilization tracking.