AVANCE to College

Strengthening Futures Through Education

AVANCE to College, an extension of the Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP), was established in 2021 to support student parents in pursuing their postsecondary goals and to impact families’ immediate and long-term economic mobility. In collaboration with local community colleges, AVANCE to College supports parents and caregivers – including expecting parents, extended family, and foster families – in becoming their child’s first teachers at home while also introducing them to the possibilities and opportunities for continued education and workforce upskilling.

Why AVANCE to College?

By 2027, Latino/a students will make up 30% of the K-12 public school population.

Parents’ educational levels are strongly associated with their child’s academic achievement.

Many Latino/a adults have started but never completed a degree program, and many more have never even considered postsecondary education.

The AVANCE to College program engages entire families in the educational process, building on their strengths, nurturing family bonds, and empowering parents and caregivers with the confidence, knowledge, and skills to build brighter futures for themselves, their children, and their families.

How it Works

Through the partnership with local community colleges, AVANCE to College is offered as a non-credit bearing course so that when parents enroll in the program, they become registered college students with access to on-campus resources, such as academic advising, college readiness workshops, and financial aid guidance. Throughout the program, parents attend weekly sessions on campus, where they receive tailored support, including:

Culturally responsive parenting education based on AVANCE’s evidence-based Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) and designed to help parents grow their skills and self-confidence in parenting.

Leadership development lessons that help parents build confidence and strengthen their skills in communication, planning, time management, and advocacy for themselves and their children.

College & Career Readiness lessons that introduce parents to postsecondary pathways, financial aid, career exploration, and workforce programs, along with individualized transition planning to support enrollment and completion.

Program Impact

From 2021 to 2025, AVANCE to College served 132 Participants, of whom 99% are Hispanic/Latino.

80%

of graduates were enrolled in education courses and/or a workforce program shortly after graduation

75%

demonstrated an increase in parent empowerment

63%

reported an increase in social connectedness

88%

demonstrated an increase in positive parent-child interactions

Interested in enrolling in AVANCE to College?

I want to enroll in the QCCM program

Contact:

Julia E. Hernandez
4301 Dacoma St.
Houston, TX 77092

JEHernandez@avancehouston.org

Terms & Conditions

This website is supported by the Grant Numbers Early Head Start/Head Start 06CH011541, 06HP000564, 06HP000534, FRAMEWorks: 90ZB0030 and Ready for Life: 90ZD0003 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of AVANCE-Houston, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

4281 Dacoma St, Houston, TX 77092 | (713) 812-0033