ABSTRACT
Rosa Gutierrez is the older of two children, and the first in her family to go to and graduate elementary school, junior high school, and high school. She makes every effort to ensure that her younger brothers also make it to college some day. Rosa’s comments speak to the significance of Gene Maeroffs efforts to get educators to understand academic enrichment in terms of education policy and practice. Of his theory of the “four senses,” it is clear that Neighborhood Academic Initiative has been successful at instilling in Rosa, a sense of connectedness with the institution and the program, as well as a sense of academic initiative, having the PSAT twice as a high school underclassman. Over the years Rosa’s parents have been given advice by NAI administrators about helpful ways to enhance their children’s academic success. Rosa’s comments demonstrate the positive effects of continuous parental challenge and support.
