Tech training program aims to help poorstudents

Xavier Raygoza, 17, (left) and Sara Rabadan, 17, take a computer apart in a Tech Connect class at Orosi High School in

Orosi, California. Tech Connect gives students experience with computers and computer repair, and every student who

has participated in the program since it started in 2009 has gone on to college. Silvia Flores/Fresno Bee/TNS

OROSI, Calif. — Emilio Isazaga is only 17 years old. Yet he has already had a hard

life. His mother had to leave the United States. She was in the U.S. without permission. It

was against the law. The U.S. government made her go back to Mexico.

Emilio and his sister live with his grandmother. Emilio got in trouble with the police. He

hopes going to school will help him. Emilio hopes his education will give him a good life.

After school, Emilio goes to a program called Tech Connect. The program wants to help

students like Emilio. All of its students get extra help. The students all go on to college.

Helping Poor Kids

Miguel Castañeda started Tech Connect. Miguel wants to help poor kids. He wants them to

have the same chances as rich kids.

By Fresno Bee, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.28.16

Word Count 344

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

It is hard to live in Emilio's town. Orisi is in the state of California. There are many farm

workers. They make little money. Orisi is also quite dangerous. There are some bad groups

of people.

Students go to Tech Connect Class for one year. There are only 30 spaces. More than 100

students sign up. Miguel does not just take kids with straight A's. He takes students who

love to learn.

Emilio is one of those kids. Emilio loves Tech Connect. Miquel is like a father to him. "He’s

a role model,” Emilio said about Miguel. Emilio makes better choices now.

He Doesn't Give Up On People

At Tech Connect, students learn how to fix computers. Miguel knows a lot about

computers. He also takes students to visit colleges. He helps them find jobs, too.

Sara is another student in the program. Miguel "doesn’t give up on people," she said.

Another big part of the program is helping the town. The students are required to make

Orosi a better place to live. The students feed the homeless. They clean up the town. They

also teach adults how to use computers.

Emilio hopes to go to college. He hopes more education will help him have a better life.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2

Quiz

1 Which sentence from the section "Helping Poor Kids" explains how students are chosen to be

part of Tech Connect?

(A) Students go to Tech Connect Class for one year.

(B) More than 100 students sign up.

(C) Miguel does not just take kids with straight A's.

(D) He takes students who love to learn.

2 What information do you get from the section "He Doesn't Give Up On People"?

(A) what college Emilio hopes to go to

(B) why Miguel doesn't give up on people

(C) what students do in the Tech Connect program

(D) why students have to help the town in the program

3 Read these sentences from the article.

She was in the U.S. without permission. It was against the law.

What does the phrase "without permission" mean in the first sentence above?

(A) without her family

(B) without friends

(C) without the police

(D) without being allowed

4 Read the sentence from the article.

He wants them to have the same chances as rich kids.

Which word could replace "chances" WITHOUT changing its meaning?

(A) jobs

(B) ideas

(C) computers

(D) opportunities

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3

Answer Key

1 Which sentence from the section "Helping Poor Kids" explains how students are chosen to be

part of Tech Connect?

(A) Students go to Tech Connect Class for one year.

(B) More than 100 students sign up.

(C) Miguel does not just take kids with straight A's.

(D) He takes students who love to learn.

2 What information do you get from the section "He Doesn't Give Up On People"?

(A) what college Emilio hopes to go to

(B) why Miguel doesn't give up on people

(C) what students do in the Tech Connect program

(D) why students have to help the town in the program

3 Read these sentences from the article.

She was in the U.S. without permission. It was against the law.

What does the phrase "without permission" mean in the first sentence above?

(A) without her family

(B) without friends

(C) without the police

(D) without being allowed

4 Read the sentence from the article.

He wants them to have the same chances as rich kids.

Which word could replace "chances" WITHOUT changing its meaning?

(A) jobs

(B) ideas

(C) computers

(D) opportunities

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4