The Starting Gate college readiness program, offered by The Race For Education engages families and youth of central Kentucky to improve grades, study skills, and post-secondary preparation, while also imparting the value of continued education via college or vocational school. Immediate results include an improvement in GPA and study habits while long-term results include preparing more students for college, helping them qualify for merit scholarships and instilling within them the importance of education and why they need to invest in their own future. The program is open to all at-risk youth in the community as determined by the school’s guidance counselors.