1 Working Together for Student Success: How Two National Nonprofits Are Working Locally to Increase College Access and Success for First- Generation, Low-Income, and Underrepresented Students NPEA Conference, April 27-29, 2016 Bob Freund, Pennsylvania College Advising Corps, Franklin & Marshall College Sarah Gomez, KIPP Philadelphia Schools, KIPP Through College Preston Kilgore, PA College Advising Corps and KIPP DuBois High School

Agenda Introductions and overview of the organizations represented Overview of the national KIPP Foundation/College Advising Corps partnership What do partnerships look like at the regional/local level between Franklin & Marshall College and KIPP Philadelphia? What does the day-to-day partnership look like at KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy? Lessons learned 2

College Advising Corps Mission College Advising Corps aims to increase the number of low-income, first-generation college, and underrepresented students entering and completing higher education. It is our goal to work in partnership with schools, families, and communities to provide greater access to college for youth. 3

CAC Innovative Model Near-peer college advisers serving full-time in high schools Research-based, “college match” strategy Open-door, whole school approach Service through partnership Anchored and co- invested by higher education institutions 4

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School Demographics, At an average school: 70% are students of color 72% are eligible for F/R lunch Average racial composition: 32% Black or African American 33% Hispanic or Latino 4% Asian/Pacific Islander 2% American Indian or Alaska Native 3% Two or more races 30% White In , 532 advisers will serve 531 schools and 160,000+ students.

76% of students identify as a person of color 70% of advisers identify as a person of color The near peer model is a key CAC priority.

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KIPP was created in 1994 to transform the lives of students in under-resourced communities. 10 Today, KIPP is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college- preparatory public schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. 13,500+ college-age KIPP alumni. KIPP’s national mission is to create a respected, influential, and national network of public schools that are successful in helping students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, and character to succeed in college and the competitive world beyond.

There are currently 183 KIPP schools in 20 states and DC serving nearly 70,000 students Elementary Schools 90 Middle Schools 22 High Schools

12 ~10% of students from low income families graduate from college by their mid-20s The challenge when KIPP was founded is the same challenge today.

KIPP’s Five Pillars serve as the guiding principles for all KIPP schools Giving students more time in school learning 2.Providing students with high expectations for achievement 3.Understanding that attending KIPP is a choice and requires a fundamental commitment 4.Giving educators the power to lead and the freedom to innovate 5. Focusing on results to monitor and sustain high levels of achievement

14 KIPP has achieved extraordinary results in educationally underserved communities: 87% eligible for federal free or reduced price lunch 96% African-American or Latino (49% boys, 51% girls) KIPP alumni are now in college, with thousands more matriculating each year in the future KIPP is making strides to bridge the education gap in underserved communities.

15 KIPP’s comprehensive approach addresses the factors impacting college completion: Academic rigor There are no shortcuts! KIPP offers rigorous instruction led by amazing educators, builds in more time for learning, and is expanding to serve more of our students PK-12. Character development Building character is core to KIPP culture. From the earliest grades, KIPPsters learn to build character strengths such as curiosity, grit and optimism. Institutional match By exposing students to college early and often, and through the support and counsel of the KIPP Through College team, students will be better informed and ultimately better matched to the right college Social and academic integration KIPP Through College teams continue to support KIPPsters throughout college, providing advising, building cohorts of KIPPsters, and directing students to university resources. Affordability and financial literacy KIPP Through College helps students and families plan for the financial challenges of college, from advising on savings to helping families complete the FAFSA. KIPP has a comprehensive approach to support KIPPsters to and through college.

16 KIPP Through College provides essential knowledge and preparation for success in college. KIPP Through College is a part of the overall KIPP curriculum and offers comprehensive supports for students and their families beginning in middle school all the way through college. Middle School High school transition and counseling Social support/mentoring Financial literacy and college knowledge Support in pursuing financial aid for high school High School High school support and advisement College placement counseling Financial literacy and college knowledge Support in pursuing financial aid College Social and academic advising Support in pursuing and sustaining financial aid All Career awareness Staying in touch, tracking and supporting academic progress and attainment

National KIPP / CAC History – Phase – 2014 Initial grant from the Kenan Foundation Hired Advising Corps alumni as college advisers in KIPP Through College sites. Hard to recruit alumni because of time of year Also, was an off-model program because alumni advisers were working with students at many high schools in a region Placed advisers in 4 KTC sites KIPP and CAC pleased with the partnership, but wanted to make improvements 17

National KIPP / CAC History – Phase present Wanted to expand the partnership and also switch to the Advising Corps standard model College Advising Corps places recent college grads (not CAC alumni) as FT college advisers in up to 11 KIPP High Schools (not KTCs.) We mapped cities where KIPP high schools and College Advising Corps programs overlap. 18

11 CAC advisers are placed in the following 11 KIPP high schools: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate KIPP Austin Collegiate KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate KIPP Pride (Gaston, NC) KIPP Generations (Houston) KIPP Houston KIPP Sunnyside (Houston) KIPP New York City Prep KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy (Philadelphia) KIPP University Prep (San Antonio) KIPP King Collegiate (Bay Area) 19

KIPP and CAC in Philadelphia CAC adviser reports to the Managing Director of KTC for the region who in turn reports to the region’s CEO CAC adviser works closely with the HS’s Dir. of College Placement for the Senior class and also performs other school- based responsibilities such as arrival/dismissal duty 20

KIPP and CAC in Philadelphia CAC adviser meets for weekly check-ins with MDKTC and also meets regularly with the DCP, participates in KTC team meetings and supports other team members and participates in select school- based or regional PD. Effort was made to ensure CAC adviser feels integrated into each team (KTC and HS) MDKTC completes mid-year and end-of-year evaluations as per KIPP Philadelphia’s model based on the goals of the DCP and also completes CAC’s evaluations and signs off on time sheets 21

KIPP and CAC in Philadelphia As appropriate, the CAC adviser takes the lead on certain projects or initiatives such as the scholarship application work with the Senior class 22

KIPP is a unique placement school for CAC There is already a strong college-going culture at KIPP schools and there is an established set of national and local goals around college placement and college match as well as a specific set of tools that KIPP teams use. At KIPP, the culture is geared towards 4-year colleges where as at other PCAC placement schools, post- secondary is more flexible Other PCAC advisers work in rural schools and need to put in work to create a college-going culture at their placement schools. Demographics of the school staff are also different with KIPP staff tending to be younger and do not always come from the community in which they work. 23

LESSONS LEARNED 24

Lessons Learned #1 Take time to get to know the expectations of both organizations and look for overlap/ways to make overlap useful and avoid inefficiencies –Clearly outline the role the CAC adviser will play, what it is and is not –Discuss and share counseling and reporting tools that will be used –Understand the demographics of the student population and review any historical data so CAC adviser can prepare for the expectations –Compare calendars to ensure training dates don’t overlap 25

Lessons Learned #2 In order for both organizations to reach goals, both common goals and individual program goals, flexibility is required 26

Lessons Learned #3 As for all CAC advisers, humility is required—ensure you understand the role isn’t to take over the placement school or organization, but to supplement gaps and add extra hands to current programming 27

Lessons Learned #4 Requires strong and flexible program directors on either end with open communication to best guide the CAC adviser 28

Additional things to consider Clarify lines of communication Think through the different reporting requirements of each, again, look to create efficiencies How is data shared, when and with who? 29

WRAP UP AND QUESTIONS 30

Questions? 31

@PCAC_FM

Contact Info Bob Freund Program Director Pennsylvania College Advising Corps, Franklin & Marshall College Sarah Gomez Managing Director of KIPP Through College KIPP Philadelphia Preston Kilgore College Adviser Pennsylvania College Advising Corps, KIPP DuBois High School 33