Mother - Daughter Program

The Plano KEYSS Mother-Daughter Program

Program Description:

The Plano Mother Daughter Program, also known as KEYSS (Keeping Education Your Stepping Stone), is designed as a pro-active approach to drop-out prevention.

In keeping with the district and state of Texas initiative of high school completers, the program is geared toward improving the academic and personal growth of at-risk adolescent females with the support of their mother/mother figure. This is done through education and support services that will prepare and motivate the students to finish school and pursue higher education. Thus, breaking the generational cycle, as the girls will be the first in their family to attend college.

Additionally, KEYSS addresses a need in our minority population, especially the Hispanic female population who is typically over-represented in the drop-out rate and under-represented in higher education. The program also strives to prevent truancy, teen pregnancy, and other risk behaviors.

The students benefit directly from the support received from their campus sponsors who keep track of their attendance and academic progress. The sponsors cover a variety of topics in the campus meetings such as: time management, study skills, communication, team-building, responsibility, career exploration, and the importance of higher education.

Saturday conferences, attended by both mother and daughter, cover topics related to higher-education such as: preparation for the college admissions process, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, information on majors, and what the parents and students can do now to prepare for college. The conferences also address personal development and social issues such as: substance abuse and teen pregnancy prevention. Team building and character building skills are also taught at the conferences.

The program requires participation by the mother/mother figure in an effort to provide reinforcement at home of the learned, necessary life skills. Additionally, this provides the opportunity for more meaningful communication and stronger bonds between a mother and her daughter.

The students also complete a community service project every year. Projects they have sponsored are: Creating activity books, puzzles, and games for the hospitalized children of Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, and gathering Christmas gifts for the children at Hope’s Door (Homeless shelter). Individually, the girls and their mothers volunteer countless hours at various community agencies, like the Plano Children’s Clinic and Phoenix Ministry’s Clothing Closet.

The program is currently held in two middle school campuses, Bowman Middle School and Wilson Middle School, and two high schools, Clark and Vines.