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Education is Freedom (EIF) is a nonprofit organization designed to eliminate the barriers to higher education and promote equality of opportunity in college attendance. Founded on the principle that every young person deserves the opportunity to pursue a higher education, the program promotes responsibility, academic excellence, and discipline. EIF strives to have a positive impact on the success of urban youth and their pursuit of a higher education through a two-tiered program targeted at both the national and local levels. At the national level, EIF scholarships have served students in all 50 states through a nationally competitive scholarship program. Well over 50,000 students have applied for funding and more than $3 million has been awarded. Locally, the Dallas Model of EIF currently operates in three schools within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD): Adamson, North Dallas, and Madison. In contrast to the national program, which limits enrollment, the Dallas Model relies on an open enrollment system, with all incoming freshman students eligible to participate in the program. To remain eligible, students agree to:
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Take the recommended DISD curriculum
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Maintain a cumulative, minimum 80 GPA (starting with class of 2011, this requirement has been raised to an 85 minimum GPA)
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Enroll in pre-AP and AP courses
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Attend Life Skills classes
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Accrue no more than 2 referrals and no school suspensions
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Accrue fewer than 3 unexcused absences per semester
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Work with the Higher Education Advisor to prepare scholarship and college applications
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Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
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Have their parents attend a minimum of two EIF-sponsored workshops per year
In return, EIF commits to providing:
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Guidance: One-on-one advising that helps students achieve success in high school and navigate the college and scholarship application process
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Mentoring: Positive adult influence provided by regular interactions with successful professionals
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Tutoring: Academic assistance provided by volunteers, ambassadors, and mentors
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Life Skills: Courses offered by Higher Education Advisors that enable students to thrive in high school, college, and beyond
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Hope: Securing financial assistance for college
The Dallas Model assists students in securing the financial resources to pay for college not only by guiding them through the process of completing financial aid, grant, and scholarship applications, but also in the form of close-the-gap funding and a technology scholarship. Close-the-gap funding supplements grants, scholarships, and loans that students receive, up to the cost of tuition. In contrast, the technology scholarship provides students with the funds to purchase a laptop. Students who receive financial aid that covers 100% of their tuition costs receive the EIF technology scholarship.
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