College & Career Readiness
There is overwhelming evidence that a college degree significantly improves life outcomes. Yet not enough high school students—especially young people of color and those from underserved communities—are prepared to succeed in post-secondary. To help students get on the right path, the Foundation supports federal and state policies to: 1) align K-12, higher education, and workforce systems; 2) increase access and success in rigorous courses; and 3) increase access to high-quality work-based learning activities connected to careers with family-sustaining wages.
The Dual Enrollment Fund: Catalyzing the Next Chapter of Dual Enrollment Research
A new Dual Enrollment Research Fund launched to usher in a new wave of scholarship focused on equitable dual enrollment policies and practices.
Joyce Statement in Response to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision
The Supreme Court’s ruling could unravel the years of progress towards diversifying college campuses. The decisions will hinder colleges/universities from considering race in admission decisions, reversing decades of legal precedent.
Aspen Prize guides giving to community colleges
The rigorous Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is being credited with guiding philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in her recent barrage of giving to higher education institutions.
New project seeks to improve retention and graduation rates for students of color at University of Illinois: ‘They have a platform, they have the resources.’
On the heels of a statewide action plan that calls for greater investment in Black college students, a new coalition will examine racial equity at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and offer strategies to improve diversity.
Source
Chicago Tribune
K-12 “toolbox”
School districts across Illinois have received a “toolbox” of recommendations for helping teachers and students rebound from lost learning after a year of interruptions during the COVID 19 pandemic.