Providing Educational Opportunities for All Students

Preparing high school students for college readiness can be a challenge. A student might meet high school graduation requirements, but might be missing coursework for college admission eligibility. And what if a student needs additional resources to remediate coursework? Or get access to Advanced Placement courses? 

As a counselor, being aware of key resources for students is critical to ensure they are prepared for college admission, and know they meet the requirements to attend their college of choice.

A well-known challenge

California’s universities are widely-recognized leaders in higher education, but the disparities in California’s K-12 education system tell a different story. According to US News & World Report, California currently ranks 3rd in the nation for higher education… and 40th for pre-K-12 education.

In the 2020-21 academic year, only 52% of students in California met UC and CSU admission requirements, better known as A-G requirements. When broken down by race and ethnicity, the numbers for historically underserved students are even more stark. The need for creative, out-of-the-box thinking is clearer than ever.

How to fill the gap

UC Scout develops and delivers  A-G approved online courses and curricula to students and teachers. Funding from the state, an expanded course catalog, and a general increase in the acceptance of online education are just some of the reasons UC Scout has grown from fewer than 5,000 enrollments in 2017 to over 30,000 enrollments in the 2021-2022 academic year. UC Scout currently offers a catalog of 65 courses in all A-G subject areas, including 26 AP courses, which are WASC accredited and have NCAA and College Board approval (where applicable). 

Embrace online and hybrid education

Remote and hybrid course offerings are here to stay, for both students and teachers. All of UC Scout’s courses are offered via three plan types to allow for flexible learning and teaching options. 

  • The Basic plan provides high-quality, pre-recorded video lectures for supplemental instruction (not for credit) and is offered free of charge to California public school students and teachers. 
  • The Plus plan provides video lectures as well as full curriculum and access to an online learning management system (Canvas) for teachers and is also free of charge for credentialed public school teachers in California.
  • The On Demand plan provides fully asynchronous online courses for credit. While this plan type is not free, UC Scout is pleased to offer scholarships for qualifying students.

UC Scout’s unique plan type system allows students, teachers, and school administrators the flexibility to choose the courses and plans that will best suit their needs. Education is not one-size-fits-all, and all students deserve the opportunity to access high quality courses that will prepare them for life after high school. UC Scout is on a mission to make that happen.

Have questions about UC Scout? Make sure to check out ucscout.org, follow @ucscout on social media, or email ucscoutoutreach@ucsc.edu for more information or to set up a virtual consultation.