• Work at WestEd
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Don't Miss Out!

Subscribe to the E-Bulletin for regular updates on research, free resources, solutions, and job postings from WestEd.

Subscribe Now

WestEd E-Bulletin

close

WestEd

WestEd
Improving learning, healthy development, and equity in schools and communities
  • Areas of Work
    • Areas of Work

      Building leadership, skills, and knowledge across critical topics.

      • College & Career
      • Early Childhood Development & Learning
      • English Language Learners
      • Health, Safety, & Well-Being
      • Literacy
      • Schools, Districts, & State Education Systems
      • Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
      • Special Education
      • Standards, Assessment, & Accountability
      • Teachers & Leaders
      • Featured Initiative
      • Charters & Choice
      • Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement
      • Trauma-Informed Practice & Resiliency
      • View all Featured Initiatives
  • Professional Development
  • Research & Evaluation
    • Research & Evaluation

      Conducting research and evaluation studies to help improve education and other important outcomes for children, youth, and adults.

      • What We Do
      • How We Can Help
      • WestEd Insights
      • Reports & Publications
      • Other Pages of Interest
      • National TA Centers
      • Consulting & Policy Support
  • Technical Assistance
    • Technical Assistance

      Build systemwide capacity to plan and implement research-informed solutions that ensure positive outcomes.

      • Technical Assistance Services
      • National Support Networks
      • Policy Analysis & Other Support
  • Resources
    • Resources

      A rich portfolio of resources that promote educator effectiveness, inform policy, and support positive outcomes for all learners.

      • Resources Home
      • New Releases
      • Best Sellers
      • Top Downloads
      • Research
      • Free Resources
      • Webinars
      • Catalogs
      • R&D Alert Articles
      • Reprint Permissions
      • Customer Support
      • Contact Publications Center
      • Login/Create Account
  • Events
  • About Us
    • About Us

      Trust unparalleled expertise from WestEd to help all learners succeed.

      • Overview
      • Board of Directors
      • Leadership
      • Staff
      • Programs
      • Offices

      • Work at WestEd
      • Work with WestEd
      • News
      • Events
      • Subscribe
      • Contact Us
  • Work at WestEd
Menu

News

Read about WestEd's work with schools, districts, and state and federal governments to improve education for all learners. In addition, keep up-to-date with our latest research, resources, projects, professional development opportunities, and more.

College Student

WestEd News

California's College Promise Programs Offer More Than Money to Help Students Succeed

College Promise programs incentivize college enrollment, persistence, and completion by providing financial support to students based on where they live or where they attend school.

A new report, written by WestEd’s California College Promise Project (CCPP), discusses the characteristics of California’s programs, and highlights perceptions from leaders and practitioners about this increasingly popular model.

WestEd’s CCPP tracks the growth of College Promise programs, leads statewide convenings, and provides research, evaluation, technical assistance, and other resources to influence a strong college-going culture throughout California. Earlier this year, CCPP surveyed or interviewed more than 150 practitioners, leaders, and policymakers about their perceptions of College Promise programs in California.

Most expressed an overall sense of optimism and belief that the College Promise model is here to stay. At the same time, respondents report that the current period of transformational change in the California community college system is a crucial time for the future of College Promise. They stressed the importance of collaborating with external partners and aligning with other community college initiatives, such as guided pathways and the use of multiple measures to determine course placement.

While providing financial support is a key feature of College Promise, CCPP’s research found that programs in California emphasize more than just monetary assistance, pairing financial aid with academic and student support services, such as assigning students to a learning community or requiring them to meet regularly with an academic advisor or attend student success workshops.

The recent passage of Assembly Bill 19 (AB19, California College Promise) resulted in a $46 million allocation in the 2018/19 state budget for community colleges to use toward increasing community college access, completion, and transfer, and reducing and eliminating achievement gaps for low-income and underrepresented students. In the time since CCPP’s study was conducted, the number of programs has grown dramatically. At least 69 programs serve students across the state, up from 42 before AB19 passed. An amendment to AB19, extending College Promise funding from one to two academic years, was introduced on December 3, 2018 (AB2, California College Promise).

Supported by the California-based James Irvine Foundation, this report represents the latest in WestEd’s growing footprint in the College Promise sector. Earlier this year, CCPP’s work with Los Angeles County’s Promises That Count initiative was featured in Forbes magazine. In the coming months, CCPP will release a guidebook for institutions that are launching new Promise programs or expanding existing ones, accompanied by a series of workshops throughout California.

Visit the CCPP website to access the report and learn more about how the team is serving College Promise communities across the state.

Posted on December 7, 2018

College & careerEquityResearch and evaluationResource

View More News

 

Contact Us

Ask a question, request information, make a suggestion, or sign up for our newsletter.

Areas of Work

  • Areas of Work
  • College & Career
  • Early Childhood Development & Learning
  • English Language Learners
  • Health, Safety, & Well-Being
  • Literacy
  • Schools, Districts, & State Education Systems
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
  • Special Education
  • Standards, Assessment, & Accountability
  • Teachers & Leaders
  • Featured Initiatives

Professional Development

  • Professional Development

Research & Evaluation

  • Research & Evaluation
  • What We Do
  • How We Can Help
  • Reports & Publications
  • WestEd Insights

Technical Assistance

  • Technical Assistance
  • Technical Assistance Services
  • National Support Networks
  • Policy Analysis and Other Support

Resources

  • Resources
  • Resources Home
  • New Releases
  • Best Sellers
  • Top Downloads
  • Free Resources
  • Research
  • Catalogs
  • Webinars
  • R&D Alert Articles

About Us

  • About Us
  • Overview
  • Board of Directors
  • Leadership
  • Staff
  • Our Programs
  • WestEd Offices
  • Our Clients and Funders
  • Work with WestEd
  • WestEd Insights
  • News
  • Events
  • Making a Difference
  • Work at WestEd
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • WestEd in Georgia
  • WestEd in NY

Copyright ©1995 - 2019 WestEd | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer

Return to top of page