Frequently Asked Questions

Why does education matter?

On average, high school graduates earn at least $10,000 more per year than dropouts and college graduates earn more than twice as much. High school graduates save the community by reductions in public health, public assistance, and criminal justice expenses. Communities benefit from education individuals who engage in civic activities as voters, volunteers, and good neighbors.

Why the American Dream Academy?

Seven of every ten students entering Arizona’s high schools graduate. Of those seven graduates, only four continue to college. Of those four in college, only two earn a degree.

Arizona students are:

• Increasingly diverse
• One-quarter of Arizona children age 0-5 live in poverty
• One-third of children living in Arizona suburbs come from low-income families
• Twenty-eight percent of Arizona students in public schools do not speak English as their first language
• African American, Hispanic and Native American students test an average twenty to thirty percentage points below white and Asian students
• Fewer than half of Arizona’s graduates are eligible for admission to the state’s universities based on their high school performance
• Many of those admitted to college have to enroll in lower-level courses to make up for academic deficiencies
• Few students take advantage of funded tutoring and transfer options

Is there a cost to participate in ADA?

Parents and students attend all classes and receive course materials free of charge. Financial support for the classes is provided by Arizona State University, individual schools and districts, and funding partners.

What do the classes teach parents?

 ADA’s core curriculum, Realizing the American Dream, gives parents the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to help their children achieve academic success. They learn how to become effective partners with their school, other parents and the community to help make a better school for all children. They learn why reading is so important and what they can do to help their children develop excellent reading skills. They learn ways to prevent dropouts, how to build on their children’s learning styles, the important of monitoring homework, ways to build study skills and how to improve test-taking skills.

What are the ADA classes like?

Research evaluations of American Dream Academy curriculum show that parents completing the classes made impressive gains in their skills and knowledge about how to support their children’s education. In particular, they gained an enhanced understanding of what they can do at home to influence their children’s academic career, including the steps to complete high school and prepare for higher education.

Are ADA classes successful?

Research evaluations of American Dream Academy curriculum show that parents completing the classes made impressive gains in their skills and knowledge about how to support their children’s education. In particular, they gained an enhanced understanding of what they can do at home to influence their children’s academic, including the steps to complete high school and prepare for higher education.