College Foundations Program

Target Audience & Aims

The College Foundation Program (CFP) is designed for students who have completed high school but are not yet ready to attend college or live on their own. CFP provides instruction and support to advance students’ abilities in academics, social settings, independent living, and employment. Students in CFP participate in on-the-job experiences as well as appropriate academic enhancement classes, working toward the goal of entering college and living on their own.

Program Format

CFP offers a yearlong format on a Monday through Thursday schedule. Each morning participants visit local businesses to develop their workplace skills. Supervised by the instructor, they perform a variety of tasks to gain an understanding of proper job site behavior and to sample various types of jobs.

Upon returning to campus, students attend hour-long classes that focus on reading comprehension and real-world math skills. The subject matter in these classes is customized to meet each student’s specific needs. A goal of these sessions is to improve the participants’ level of proficiency in academic fundamentals.

In the afternoon, members of the CFP engage in sessions that focus on independent living skills. These classes address a wide variety of topics ranging from budgeting, shopping, and cooking to navigating around a given area, using transportation options, and managing domestic tasks. The areas of personal hygiene and appearance are also covered.

The PEERS Curriculum

Social skills growth is fostered through implementation of the PEERS curriculum — Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills. Students also receive instruction in computer programs that are important for college such as Canva and Excel.

The CFP can be a one year or multi-year experience, depending on the students’ needs and their desired level of proficiency. As stated above, the aim of the College Foundations Program is to help students bridge the gap from high school graduation to a post-secondary placement and living an independent life.

Tuition and Calendar

The College Foundations Program follows Eaton Academy’s Independent Study Program calendar, with first semester running from the middle of August through mid-December and second semester January through May.