Since 1995, Take Stock in Children (TSIC) has been helping low income and minority students graduate from high school and college. This year, St. Petersburg College is partnering with Pinellas County Schools to help TSIC connect at-risk middle and high school students with mentors.
Learn more about how you can become a mentor for Take Stock in Children.
How the mentor program works
The program’s success is due to the unique multi-year program that combines student and parent accountability, mentorship and scholarship. To successfully complete the program, students and their parents sign a contract agreeing to stay in school, graduate from high school, remain crime and drug free and meet with a mentor 15 times per year. Graduates of the program receive two years of Florida Pre Paid Scholarship.
Current data from the Florida Department of Education indicates that less than half of students in poverty will graduate from high school and only a small percentage will graduate from college. The success rates* for students in the TSIC program compared to peers not in the program tell the story:
| In TSIC | Not in TSIC | |
| High School graduation rate | 96% | 57% |
| College Enrollment rate | 96% | 28% |
| College graduation rate | 67% | 25% |
Of the 957 college students from Pinellas County who are currently receiving the scholarship, 45 percent (432 students) are attending St. Petersburg College.
* Source: Take Stock in Children
What kind of requirements need to be met to participate?
Hi Bryan – While no experience is needed, an orientation where they provide training is required. They require a background check which they will run after you attend an orientation. For more information, you can call the Pinellas Education Foundation at 727-588-4816. Thanks for your interest.