Program Services

  1. A Talent Search project must provide the following services:
    1. Connections for participants to high quality academic tutoring services to enable the participants to complete secondary or postsecondary courses.
    2. Advice and assistance in secondary school course selection and, if applicable, initial postsecondary course selection.
    3. Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and completing college admission applications.
    4. Information on the full range of Federal student financial aid programs and benefits (including Federal Pell Grant awards and loan forgiveness) and on resources for locating public and private scholarships; and assistance in completing financial aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    5. Guidance on and assistance in -
      1. Secondary school reentry; Alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to the receipt of a regular secondary school diploma; Entry into general educational development (GED) programs; or Entry into postsecondary education.
    6. Connections for participants to education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of the participants or the participants' parents, including financial planning for postsecondary education.
  2. A Talent Search project may provide services such as the following:
    1. Academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects.
    2. Personal and career counseling or activities.
    3. Information and activities designed to acquaint youth with the range of career options available to the youth.
    4. Exposure to the campuses of institutions of higher education, as well as to cultural events, academic programs, and other sites or activities not usually available to disadvantaged youth.
    5. Workshops and counseling for families of participants served.
    6. Mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons.
    7. Programs and activities as described in this section that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient, from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, individuals with disabilities, homeless children and youths, foster care youth, or other disconnected participants.
    8. Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the Talent Search Program in § 643.1.