Photo: (L-R) Chuck Tiernan, Jennifer Libby, Robert Mohr, Anna Corman, Denise Savino, Marcos Murillo, and Robert M. Nelson III celebrate the opening of a new Student Center for Postsecondary Exploration (SCOPE) at Lennard High School in Hillsborough County, Florida on Dec. 12, 2024.
In a significant step toward increasing college enrollment rates among students, the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) and the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation have partnered to support seniors at select Title I high schools. The Post-High School College Enrollment Innovation project, which involves 13 local college access networks (LCANs) from across the state, represents one of the largest coordinated, community-based initiatives to-date, with a goal of boosting college enrollment rates at participating schools by a minimum of 4% for the Class of 2025 and 2026.
“This project is truly transformative for our students and communities. We are not only aiming to increase college enrollment rates, but also to create systemic change that can impact communities for years to come,” said Braulio Colón, executive director of FCAN.
The project addresses systemic barriers that can discourage a college-going culture among economically disadvantaged students. By supporting Title I high schools, which predominantly serve low-income families, the initiative aims to ensure that more students from historically underrepresented populations pursue and complete education after high school.
Thirteen LCANs have been selected to join the statewide initiative. The goal is to provide intensive support to approximately 2,300 students directly, with thousands more impacted indirectly through systemic changes and community-wide engagement efforts.
The 18-month effort will focus on implementing evidence-based interventions, including data collection strategies, innovative outreach practices, and enhanced family engagement, to ensure the most at-risk students are reached. As the project progresses, FCAN and its partners are hopeful the outcomes will not only meet the goal of a 4% increase in enrollment rates, but also provide valuable insights into scalable and replicable best practices.
FCAN will provide tailored technical assistance to ensure each LCAN identifies key metrics specific to their communities to leverage data-driven practices, monitor results and adjust along the way to maximize success.
Building a Learning Community for Lasting Impact
To ensure the success of this ambitious initiative, FCAN is launching the College Enrollment Innovation Exchange, a bi-monthly learning community where LCANs will share emerging practices, workshop challenges, and build collective knowledge. These structured sessions will bring together practitioners from across Florida to accelerate learning and impact.
“We’re not just providing funding – we’re creating a supportive ecosystem where LCANs can learn from each other and access the resources they need to succeed,” explains Kimberly Krupa, FCAN Network Development and Engagement Consultant who will lead the technical assistance efforts.
The comprehensive support structure includes:
- Data support for tracking college enrollment outcomes
- Process coaching for project implementation
- Shared learning opportunities among grantees
- Storytelling and communications assistance
- Regular check-ins with FCAN staff
“This project represents what we want to see more of – elevating Florida’s infrastructure to support college access,” notes Braulio Colón. “By sharing these stories and demonstrating impact, we can attract more resources to support this critical work across our state.”
Regional Partners:
North Florida:
In Northwest Florida, Achieve Escambia is collaborating with four Title I high schools and the broader community to directly support 200 seniors and indirectly impact 2,000 students. A key initiative includes hosting FSA ID and FAFSA completion workshops with the area’s largest employer, alongside outreach to schools and parents.
“We are particularly interested in learning from others about data harmonization,” said Ruthie Noel of Achieve Escambia.
ASPIRE Capital Region will build on their past successes at Godby High School, a large Title I school in Leon County, where they have nearly doubled FAFSA completion rates among the senior class, increasing from 46.8% to an impressive 88%. Their next step is to broaden their work to all grade levels and institute onsite support where students can plan their postsecondary journey.
“Our key strategy is to expand by adding a staffed College and Career Readiness center on site,” said Morgan Evers of ASPIRE Capital Region.
Earn Up, powered by JAXUSA Partnership, is launching Level Up, a year-round outreach initiative targeting Title I schools across Northeast Florida’s seven counties. Their program aims to increase college-going knowledge, FAFSA completion, and career readiness through boot camps that offer industry credentials, badges, and hands-on engagement with local businesses. This innovative approach connects students to in-demand career pathways and regional economic opportunities.
“Our Level Up initiative bridges the gap between education and industry by equipping Title I students with the tools and credentials they need to pursue postsecondary success and connect with growing career opportunities in Northeast Florida,” said Anna Lebesch with Earn Up.
Central Florida:
The Citrus County Coalition for College and Careers is tackling significant challenges to support students in three high schools. Amid the devastation of two hurricanes, a flood, and a tornado that left over 7,000 homes damaged and hundreds of students homeless, the coalition is working to ensure every one of the 1,000 graduating seniors is guided toward postsecondary opportunities.
“We are forming mentorship teams in each of our three high schools to support our most at-risk 20% of students. Our goal is to guide them toward earning a standard diploma and enrolling in a postsecondary program despite the incredible challenges our community faces,” said Patrick Simon with Citrus County College Coalition.
Polk Vision is working with three high schools in Polk County to reach over 100 seniors. Their focus is on financially insecure students from non-English-speaking households. A key strategy involves engaging parents in financial aid workshops, scholarship sessions, college application guidance, and campus tours to break down barriers and foster confidence in the college-going process.
“We aim to bridge generational and cultural gaps by including parents in workshops and college tours, ensuring they understand the pathways to postsecondary success for their children,” said Amy Nickerson with Polk Vision.
UpliftED is focusing on Colonial High School, particularly Latino males, with a culturally tailored approach to FAFSA education and postsecondary planning. By incorporating Spanish-language materials and targeted community engagement, they aim to increase college-going rates and expand their program in the future to serve more students.
“We’re dedicated to supporting students with culturally relevant resources and community engagement to increase FAFSA completion and college enrollment,” said Daisy Franklin with UpliftED.
South Florida:
In Broward County, Bridge 2 Life is addressing low FAFSA completion rates, low college enrollment, and economic challenges at three high schools through a comprehensive three-phased approach. The initiative begins with in-person general assemblies to inspire students about higher education and help them discover their passions. This is followed by a virtual webinar on financial aid and concludes with a hands-on FAFSA completion workshop.
“We’re thrilled to launch this three-phased approach, tracking enrollment, FAFSA completion, and gathering student feedback at every step to ensure impact,” said Colleen Lockwood with Bridge 2 Life.
Graduate Miami Dade, powered by United Way Miami, will lead the NoMi program, a collaboration between Florida International University’s TRIO program, the North Miami Public Library, and United Way Miami. The program plans to expand its reach from 50-60 North Miami senior high school students to 100-120. They will offer workshops, comprehensive support, and field trips to college campuses. One innovative strategy they are implementing is hosting FAFSA workshops at the North Miami Public Library, a trusted community hub.
Tampa Bay Area:
LEAP Tampa Bay is spearheading the opening of two new Student Centers of Postsecondary Exploration (SCOPE) in Hillsborough County’s East Bay and Lennard high schools in partnership with the Hillsborough Education Foundation will serve rural, low-income, and English-as-a-second-language students. Modeled after successful college and career centers in Pinellas County, the initiative aims to expand college and career readiness opportunities. LEAP Tampa Bay is partnering closely with Hillsborough County’s newly hired workforce program advisors, who are leading FAFSA efforts, to deliver workshops and deepen community impact.
“By opening SCOPE centers in Hillsborough County and partnering with workforce program advisors, we’re expanding access to college and career readiness for students who need it most,” said Jennifer Libby with LEAP Tampa Bay.
Spark Pasco Hernando is focusing on Pasco High School to directly impact 100 students in their senior class, with a broader goal to improve FAFSA completion and college applications. By amplifying existing resources and creating a comprehensive support center, they aim to ensure every student has a viable post-secondary plan. A key challenge they will tackle is differentiating data from historical impact to better account for their senior class cohorts.
“We’re focused on amplifying existing support systems to ensure every student graduates with a concrete post-secondary plan, not just a diploma,” said Jenny Batchelor with Spark Pasco Hernando.
Southwest Florida:
PlanIt Sarasota, powered by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, is working with Northport High School to support around 100 low- to middle-income students through its Future Ready Scholars Program. The initiative aims to address barriers to postsecondary attainment and includes a new Summer Bridge Program to ensure continuous engagement and success during students’ first year of college.
“Our Summer Bridge Program builds on the Future Ready Scholars initiative by providing ongoing support to help students transition to college and thrive in their first year,” said Trish McNamee of PlanIt Sarasota.
UnidosNow, in collaboration with REACH Manatee, is working to enhance FAFSA completion and financial literacy for 200 students and families in Manatee County’s high schools, with a focus on underrepresented Hispanic/Latino communities. The initiative aims to empower seniors with the tools and knowledge to successfully transition from high school to postsecondary education, supported by workshops, one-on-one coaching, and a rigorous summer program.
“By empowering students to take the lead, we not only encourage them to become representatives within their schools but also guide and support them develop essential leadership skills that will ultimately continue to impact our community,” said Evelyn Almodovar of UnidosNow.
East Coast:
In Brevard County, Elevate Brevard is taking an innovative approach to address persistently low college enrollment rates in one of the county’s most economically challenged communities. Their project targets 220 students at a Title I high school where only 29% of the community has achieved any postsecondary education.
The program combines evidence-based strategies of high-quality mentoring with financial incentives to motivate students through key college-going milestones. Students can earn rewards for completing critical senior-year tasks such as FAFSA completion, attending college fairs, developing resumes, and submitting college applications. Launched in August 2024, the initiative has already gained momentum with 15 dedicated mentors and volunteers supporting students’ postsecondary journeys.
“In our research, we discovered this isn’t just about individual student choices – it’s about addressing systemic community barriers to college attainment,” said Shayla Murray Smith of Elevate Brevard. “We’re focused on de-stigmatizing college-going and incentivizing students to pursue paths they may have never seen modeled in their community. By combining mentorship with tangible rewards for progress, we’re showing students that college is both achievable and worthwhile.”
The project, supported by Family Promise of Brevard as fiscal agent, aims to create lasting change by embedding college-going supports within the school’s culture while building stronger connections between students, families, and postsecondary opportunities. Through this community-driven approach, Elevate Brevard is working to break intergenerational cycles and establish new patterns of educational achievement.
“This statewide effort truly demonstrates the power of collaboration and illustrates the tremendous value of a strong state college access network such as FCAN,” said Colón.
“Through this coordinated, community-focused approach, Florida’s college access networks are setting the stage for a brighter, more prosperous future for students, ensuring the next generation has the opportunity and support to succeed in higher education and a rewarding career.”