The Education Foundation of Sarasota County received a $15,000 grant from the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation Trust to support the new Student Success Center at
Sarasota Military Academy (SMA), a free charter high school near downtown Sarasota.vAt this center, SMA students across grades 9–12 can access one-on-one advising and coaching with an Education Foundation Student Success Coach. Coaches help students identify their purpose and interestsvand then develop a plan for life after high school. They provide expert knowledge of colleges and financial aid and assist students at every step of the college search and application process.vAdditionally, students can access web-based technology to manage applications and to identify their strengths and their interests and map those to possible education and career pathways. They canvattend workshops on essay writing, financial aid, financial literacy, and more. They can attend Free Application for Federal Student (FAFSA) open houses to get help from experts to complete the application. Student Success Coaches are also piloting the Students Active in Leadership (S.A.I.L) peer-to-peer leadership program. Student leaders participate in monthly meetings, learning about and discussing life skills as well as college and career readiness. S.A.I.L. leaders bring their peers to meetings and share their knowledge with other classmates to develop a stronger culture of readiness throughout SMA. More information about the Education Foundation and its programs that support student success is available at EdFoundationSRQ.org.