FUTUREPREP PROGRAM BREAKS BARRIERS

Karma Club Teen announced outcomes last week of its FuturePrep pilot program, which paid Advanced Placement exam fees for 620 students across Terra Linda and San Rafael high schools during the 2024- 25 academic year. By covering the cost of 1,250 AP exams, the program aimed to remove financial barriers that can prevent students from participating in college-level coursework. The results showed a 25% increase in students taking AP exams compared to the previous year, according to Karma Club Teen. AP exam scores remained consistent with past performance, proving students maintained high achievement and dedication despite the cost of exams being fully covered. “We often hear the misconception that if something is free, students won’t take it seriously,” said Sally Newson, executive director of Karma Club Teen. “This pilot proves just the opposite: When barriers are removed, students rise to the occasion. They stepped up, prepared and earned strong scores — demonstrating realcommitment to their education and future.”
FuturePrep was created to advance educational equity and college access and readiness by ensuring no student is excluded from AP opportunities due to financial barriers.
Karma Club Teen is a community nonprofit offering a free after-school teen center, dedicated to empowering and elevating underserved youth in MarinCounty through career-readiness, college access, academic and social/emotional wellness support, as well as initiatives like FuturePrep, the Future Healers Academy health care career exploration program in partnership with Dominican University and Sutter Health, and the new Karma Farms outdoor wellness program.

For more information about Karma Club Teen, visit karma-club.org.