Alternative Pathways / TRiO

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Home > MESD Schools & Programs > Alternative Pathways / TRiO

Alternative Pathways / TRiO provides educational opportunities for low-income and first-generation students as they transition from high school to post-secondary education, and was established with the passage of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, grant funded through the US Department of Education. Our goal is to increase the number of youth who graduate from high school or earn a GED and enroll in a post-secondary institution. We provide students with academic, career, social, and cultural opportunities, and we have been in alternative high schools throughout Portland since 1998. Alternative Pathways currently delivers services to nine area alternative high schools and programs.

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Program Manager
Geoffrey Garner
[email protected]
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College Transition Advocates

Alice Beseau
[email protected]
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Mary Lao
[email protected]
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Courtney Woods
[email protected]
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Program Background

The Alternative Pathways program began as a collaborative effort between eight alternative programs in the late 1990's. Funded through the Department of Labor, the goal was to help alternative high school students complete high school and successfully transition to the world of work or post-secondary education. In the fall of 2002, the program was awarded the TRIO/Talent Search grant to help continue services to students.

TRIO/Talent Search is funded through the US Department of Education. TRIO is an educational opportunity for low-income and first-generation students to pursue postsecondary education. The goal of TRIO is to assist students to overcome financial, class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. Once in college, there are TRIO programs available to assist students so that they can earn a college degree.
 
Throughout the year, a minimum of 600 alternative high school students are enrolled in Alternative Pathways. Alternative Pathways has worked to enhance partnerships with Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College and Portland State University as well as developing partnerships with other post-secondary institutions. Alternative Pathways has been and will continue to be committed to working with low-income, first generation college students in their effort to attain a postsecondary education.

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