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FCAN is pleased to share that the Helios Education Foundation has released a new report on how local college access networks in Florida are working across sectors to ensure that all Floridians have the opportunity to achieve an education beyond high school and a rewarding career.
In the newly published brief, Collective Impact that Advances Postsecondary Degree Attainment in Florida, researchers at Helios Education Foundation describe the efforts of cross-sector coalitions called “local college access networks” (LCANs) to increase the number of individuals who access and complete a postsecondary education. Currently, 17 LCANs collectively serve 30 Florida counties and 82% of the state’s population. FCAN partners with and supports LCANs by providing technical assistance, a learning community, and capacity-building opportunities.
“Education changes lives and strengthens communities,” said Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “We hope this brief informs leaders throughout Florida of best practices to increase postsecondary degree attainment and the number of people who are workforce ready.”
LCANs use the collective impact framework to work together to better coordinate and leverage resources to lower the barriers preventing low-income students, students of color, and other underserved students from succeeding in college and career. “While a number of communities rely on collaboration between various sectors, implementation of the collective impact framework has proven successful in breaking silos and creating a pathway that leads from education to employment,” said Dr. Paul Perrault, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at Helios Education Foundation.
While each community’s approach to addressing local needs is unique, what LCANs share is each member’s ownership of their collective goal. “Under the collective impact framework, LCAN leaders are co-owners of the goal. They share responsibility for that goal. The level of buy-in is more powerful in terms of getting metrics to move,” said Laurie Meggesin, Executive Director of the Florida College Access Network.
The Florida College Access Network is honored and grateful to the Helios Education Foundation for publishing this valuable report. Download it at http://www.helios.org/news-media/publications.
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