The Mentoring for Academic Achievement and College Success (MAACS) program was developed in 1988 in response to the high dropout and low college attendance rates among Bridgeport, Connecticut public high school students. MAACS pairs high school students in all three Bridgeport public high schools with college mentors from local colleges and universities. Students meet one-on-one with their mentors on all aspects of college exploration, preparation, and application. Student-mentor activities are based on the student's grade level and individual needs, and may include goal-setting, interest inventories, college searches, SAT preparation, college searches, college applications, and financial aid applications. MAACS historically has done an excellent job helping students perceive college as a realistic option.

MAACS staff annually recruit, train and supervise mentors from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, the University of Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut State University, Fordham University, the University of Connecticut and Housatonic Community College. The mentors are paired with over 300 students from Bassick, Central and Harding High Schools each year. MAACS staff continually seeks to improve the work that we do and to provide the students of Bridgeport a realistic goal of attending college. To date, MAACS has mentored over 3,800 students and employed over 800 college students.

Student Engagement

MAACS staff continues to collaborate with other college preparation programs to provide the best and most up to date services for the students of Bridgeport. The group is now collectively known as College Access Alliance of Bridgeport (CAAB), which consists of program coordinators and managers from GEAR UP, Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Wi-Mentor, College Summit, ACE, Guidance Counselors and Career Center Directors.

College Awareness Week is conducted at all three of the Bridgeport public high schools during the fall semester. The intent of this initiative is to make the high school experience meaningful to all students by informing them of their duty to prepare for college. During College Awareness Week, grade-specific workshops are held to address the specific needs and concerns of students in each grade level. In the 2008-2009 school year, 4,844 students attended at least one college preparation workshop.

Kettering Foundation Student Led Forums were conducted by MAACS staff to empower students to share their opinions and concerns about the achievement gap, but most importantly, to share and implement ideas that can improve the condition of their school. The solutions included peer to peer motivation, goal-setting for each student, higher expectations from ALL students, uniforms or dress code, increase in parental involvement, and reinforcement of the importance of taking care of your community. As a result of the BPEF involvement in this work, three students from the Bridgeport public high schools took part in a soon to be released documentary. One lucky student and BPEF's Executive Director were invited to the Kettering Foundation Symposium, held in Washington D.C., as panelist to discuss the project "closing the achievement gap."

An additional component, the College Assistance Program, was added in 2003 to ensure that students who attend college complete their studies.

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