Agenda Item
c. Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): College Aim, Inc. (Not to exceed $215,000) ~ Updated 8.8.2025
Summary: Presented by: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the Memorandum of Understanding between College AIM, INC., and the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), one additional year for an amount not to exceed $215,000. The contract renewal is through July 31, 2026, and will be in accordance with the existing fee structure.
Why: The DeKalb County School District’s Strategic Plan Goal Area I: Student Success with Equity and Access prioritizes graduating students who are ready to thrive in college, career, military, and life. DCSD is committed to students who have historically been underserved in the traditional public education system by providing the post-secondary readiness support and services they need. Through a partnership with College AIM INC., students will benefit from a flexible, non-traditional approach to earning their high school diploma and/or vocational certification. In addition, more than $1 million will be awarded to DCSD students and alums during 2025-2026 through College AIM-specific and partnered scholarships.
Details: College AIM guides and supports high school students to and through college, including technical colleges, two-year colleges and four-year institutions, by (among other things) running workshops to help students explore and connect to post-secondary opportunities, providing individual post-secondary advice, taking students on college visits, counseling students regarding financial, academic and social support services through college graduation, and providing scholarships and access to scholarship opportunities.
Once scheduled with the school administration, counseling departments and other school and district staff, College AIM will provide full school “post-secondary prep” programming at McNair, Stone Mountain, Towers, Cross Keys, and Lithonia. Programming would include post-secondary advice for 12th grade students, continued postgraduate coaching for enrolled students and post-secondary exposure for 9th-11th grade students.
To fulfill these roles, a team of two College AIM staff members will support each partner high school, which includes a Post-secondary Access Coach and a Post-secondary Success Coach.
Financial impact: The cost to renew the College Aim program for a not-to-exceed amount of $215,000 includes the following: $40,000 in funding per school partner, totaling $200,000; school buses for local college exposure programming, with nine trips per school, totaling $15,000.00, which will be funded under Purchased Tech/Prof Services Account Code: 100.2210.530000.00011.7040.9990.8010.090.0000.
Contact: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-676-1811
Mr. Christopher Key, Executive Director of Student Advancement, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-485-9544
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
DATE RECEIVED: ______________
MATTER ASSIGNED TO: _________
Request for Legal Assistance
DCSD Office of Legal Affairs
ATTORNEY – CLIENT COMMUNICATION
PLEASE SUBMIT COMPLETED REQUEST FORM TO
DCSD OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS.
*** This request is a confidential communication and should be treated as such ***
DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST
Title of Item/Topic:
25-26 College AIM MOU and Data Sharing Agreement
________________________________________________________________
(e.g., contract review, policy matter, etc.)
July 10, 2025 July 16, 2025
Date of request: ___________ Due Date: ___________ (Allow 3 to 5 business days)
College AIM Contract Renewal for the 25-26 school year
Background information/Detail: __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
PROCUREMENT DETAILS (if applicable)
Include details confirming that all applicable DCSD procurement policies and requirements have been
N/A
adhered to: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Please attach/include any additional supporting documentation that are relevant to your request.
MOU, DSA and Board Agenda Item attached
Description of supporting documentation, if any ____________________________________________
REQUIRED AUTHORIZATION
Christopher Key
Requested by: _____________________________________________________________________
christopher_key@dekalbschoolsga.org
Email: __________________________ 6784859544
Telephone: ____________________________________
Student Advancement, Division of Wrap Around Services
Department: _______________________________________________________________________
N/A
Cabinet Member authorizing the request: _______________________________________________
LEGAL APPROVAL
Approved as to form by the DCSD Office of Legal Affairs? ☐ Yes ☐ No
-OR- (check one only)
Approved as to form by Outside Legal Counsel? ☐ Yes ☐ No
*Referrals to Outside Legal Counsel must be coordinated and approved by the DCSD Legal Dept.
Approving Attorney (and law firm if Outside Counsel ____________________________________
Comments: __________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________