This document provides information from an Upward Bound parent meeting. It includes the spring 2012 Saturday session dates, contact information for Upward Bound staff, high school visitation schedules, calendars of important dates, graduation requirements for different counties, testing information like the SAT, ACT, EOCT and GHSGT, cost and financial aid information like the FAFSA and HOPE scholarship, and information about summer bridge programs.

1. GPC Upward Bound
Spring 2012
Parent Meeting

2. UPWARD BOUND
2012 SATURDAY SESSION DATES
“I Am the Change”
February 4, 2012
February 25, 2012
March 3, 2012
March 17, 2012
April 14, 2012
April 21, 2012
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
GPC Newton Campus
Covington , GA 30014
Mrs. Turner: 770-843-3444
Mr. Jones: 770-843-3618
Ms. Beckett: 770-843-4091

3. School Visits
Dennis Jones:
Rockdale High: Tuesdays from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monroe Area High: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Druid Hills High: Thursdays, 3:20 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Joi Turner:
Newton High: Tuesdays from 10 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Social Circle High: Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
**Clarkston UB Participants Check-in by Thursdays
before 4:30 p.m.

4. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Schools Resume Schools
for 2nd Resume for 2nd
semester: semester:
Rockdale Monroe
Newton
DeKalb Co.
Social Circle
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Early Release-
Newton High
Registration
Deadline for
February 11th
ACT
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Upward Bound Martin Luther King
begins school Jr. Holiday
visits this
week
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SAT
29 30 31

5. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
Saturday
Session
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Registration ACT
Deadline for March
10th
SAT
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Early Release-
Early Release- Newton High
Rockdale High
Winter Break-
DeKalb Co.
Feb.17-20
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Winter Break- GA State Univ. Saturday
Newton college visit for Session
Rockdale
Feb. 20-24
11th & 12th
graders only
GPC Newton:
10:30 AM
GPC Clarkston:
11:15AM
26 27 28 29

6. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
Saturday
Session
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Teacher Workday- SAT
DeKalb Co.
Social Circle
Registration
Deadline for April
14th
ACT
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Early Release- Saturday
Newton High Session
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Teacher
Workday-
Monroe High
25 26 27 28 29 30 31

7. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Spring Break- Registration
April 2-6 Deadline for May
Newton 5th
Rockdale SAT
Dekalb Co.
April 2-9
Monroe
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
ACT
Saturday
Session
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Saturday
Session
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Spring Break-
Social Circle
April 23-27
29 30

8. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
Registration SAT
Deadline for
June 9th
ACT
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Upward Registration
Bound ends Deadline for June 2nd
SAT
school visits
this week
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Last Day for
Monroe High
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Last Day for Last Day for Last Day for
Newton High Rockdale High Social Circle
DeKalb Co.
27 28 29 30 31
Upward Bound
Memorial Day
2012 Summer
Session Begins
Summer Session will be held from May 31 – July 12. End of the Summer excursion
will be held from July 15 – July 19. More information regarding the Summer
Session will be discussed at the next parent meeting.
June SAT date is June 2, 2012

9. As a parent of an Upward Bound
participant, what should I do?
 Make an appointment with School Counselor
 Make sure your child is on track to graduate
 Plan a Campus Visit for your family
 Continue checking your child’s status via Parent
Portal

10. DEKALB COUNTY
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
For promotion to the next grade, your child needs:
 10th grade – 6 units
 11th grade – 12 units
 12th grade – 18 units
 To Graduate – 24 units

11. NEWTON COUNTY
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
For promotion to the next grade, your child needs:
 10th grade – 5 units
 11th grade – 11 units
 12th grade – 17 units
 To Graduate – 23 units

12. ROCKDALE COUNTY
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
For promotion to the next grade, your child needs:
 10th grade – 5 units
 11th grade – 11 units
 12th grade – 16 units
 To Graduate – 24 units

13. WALTON COUNTY
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
For promotion to the next grade, your child needs:
 10th grade – 6 units
 11th grade – 13 units
 12th grade – 20 units
 To Graduate – 28 units

14. SOCIAL CIRCLE
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
For promotion to the next grade, your child needs:
 10th grade – 5 units
 11th grade – 11 units
 12th grade – 16 units
 To Graduate – 23 units

15. TYPE OF
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS
 COLLEGE PREPARATORY (CP)
 TECHNOLOGY/CAREER PREPARATORY (TC)
 *HONORS AND DISTINCTION (CP)
*Must take 3 years of the same World Language
*3.0 core GPA is required (All Academic classes and World Language)
*3.5 cumulative GPA required

16. DEKALB COUNTY
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
(For all diploma tracks)
 4 units of English
 4 units of Math
 4 units of Science
 4 units of Social Studies
 1.5 units of Physical Education
 .5 units of Health
 2 elective units
_____________________
24 Total Units

17. NEWTON COUNTY
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
 4 units of English
 4 units of Math
 4 units of Science
 3.5 units of Social Studies
 3 units of Technology/Career and/or Modern
Language/ Latin and/or Fine Arts
 1 unit of Physical Education and Health
 3.5 elective units
_____________________
23 Total Units

18. ROCKDALE COUNTY
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
 4 units of English
 4 units of Math
 4 units of Science
 4 units of Social Studies
 1 unit of Physical Education/Health
 3 units of Technology/Career and/or Modern Language/
Latin and/or Fine Arts
 4 elective units
_____________________
24 Total Units

19. WALTON COUNTY
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
• 4 units of English
• 4 units of Math
• 4 units of Science
• 4 units of Social Studies
• 1 unit of Physical Education/Health
• 4 units of Technology/Career and/or Modern Language/
Latin and/or Fine Arts
• 7 elective units
_____________________
28 Total Units

20. SOCIAL CIRCLE
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
 4 units of English
 4 units of Math
 4 units of Science
 3 units of Social Studies
 3 units of Technology/Career and/or Modern
Language/ Latin and/or Fine Arts
 1 unit of Physical Education and Health
 4 elective units
_____________________
23 Total Units

21. Georgia High School Graduation Test
(GHSGT)
 Students who enrolled in high school from Fall 2008
through June 2011 must pass the four GHSGT content
areas (Math, English Language Arts, Science, & Social
Studies). These students are also required to take and
pass the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT) to
be eligible for a diploma.
 Students who enter grade nine in 2011 – 2012 and
beyond will not take, and are not required to pass, the
GHSGT. They are required to take and pass the Georgia
High School Writing Test.

22. Common EOCT Questions & Answers
Q) How does the EOCT affect the student's grade?
A) The EOCT is administered upon completion of one of
the above courses. A student’s final grade in the course
will be calculated using the EOCT as follows:
 For students enrolled in grade nine for the first time before
July 1, 2011, the EOCT counts as 15% of the final grade.
 For students enrolled in grade nine for the first time on July 1,
2011 or after, the EOCT counts as 20% of the final grade.

23. Common EOCT Questions & Answers
Q) When are the EOCT administered?
A) There are 3 main administrations of the EOCT: Winter,
Spring and Summer. In addition, on-line Mid-Month
administrations may be given in August, September, October,
November, February and March. Beginning in 2011 – 2012,
new re-test administration windows will be added as an
enhancement to the EOCT program. These re-tests will be
intended to provide students who are not proficient on an
EOCT (in a course that they have just completed) with one
additional opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency on
the assessment.

24. UPCOMING TESTING DATES
DeKalb County Schools
Mar 19-23 - GHSGT
May 7-14 - EOCT
Monroe Area High School
Mar 26-30 - GHSGT
May 9-16 - EOCT
Newton High School
Mar. 21-25 - GHSGT
May 4-18 - EOCT
Rockdale County High School
March 19-23 GHSGT
April 30- May 10 EOCT
Social Circle High School
Mar 19-23 – GHSGT
Apr 23–30 – EOCT

25. $$$COST$$$
The cost of education increases yearly. Therefore, selecting the best
college/university should include researching cost of the institutions that
will allow the best education for your child.
 Think about your household income and be realistic about what the
family is able to afford.
 Make sure that you and your child complete the FAFSA form. This
form will allow the institutions to provide some funding for those
students in need.
 Consider the total cost of attendance: tuition, room and board, books,
travel, and miscellaneous items.

26. Federal Aid
 Create a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) Account at fafsa.gov
 Applying student and parent both need a PIN for
FAFSA
 When completing the FAFSA application, please
ensure to list all the colleges your child has applied
to or may attend.

27. FAFSA DEADLINES
 Review the institutions website and materials that
the universities send your child. What are the
deadlines for the university? Deadlines you want to
pay close attention:
 Upward Bound participants should have their
FAFSA’s completed by March 31, 2013.
 Online applications must be submitted by midnight
Central Time, June 30, 2013.
 Any corrections or updates must be submitted by
midnight Central Time, September 23, 2013.

28. Scholarships
The money provided to HOPE Scholars varies and depends on the type of
institution you are attending and your specific enrollment.
 Public Institutions
Effective Fall 2011, students attending public colleges or universities will
receive a HOPE Award Amount based upon a per hour rate at the
institution he or she is attending.
 Private Institutions
For Fall 2011, Winter 2012, and Spring 2012, students attending private
colleges or universities receive the following:
 Full-time students: $1,800 per semester, $1,200 per quarter
 Half-time students: $900 per semester, $600 per quarter

29. HOPE - Reminder
 If you graduate from a HOPE-eligible high
school located in Georgia, your high
school should automatically send your
transcript data to the Georgia Student
Finance Commission for calculation of
your HOPE grade point average.

30. BRIDGE
 We encourage our senior students to enroll
into the Summer Bridge Program. This is an
opportunity for your child to experience a
college course before starting their academic
year with their new institution.
 The Summer Bridge Program begins May 30th