A recent NCAN webinar explored how NCAN members can, and should, approach K-12 districts and schools to assist them with college and career readiness activities and services. NCAN members can view the June 30 webinar in NCAN’s webinar archives. NCAN also proposed these partnerships in a previous blog post.
As part of the webinar, NCAN released a template letter for members to use in approaching potential K-12 partners.
Three pieces of federal legislation, including the American Rescue Plan (ARP), have established three Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds totaling more than $190 billion for funding recovery and renewal that can drive transformation
and change nationally. Given that the federal government spends about $80 billion annually on elementary and secondary education, these funds represent a massive investment and commitment to students and schools.
School districts have “considerable flexibility” in how to obligate ESSER funds, and state departments of education do not have the authority to
limit how they are used so long as districts observe a broad set of parameters.
The good news for community-based and nonprofit NCAN members is that an FAQ from the
U.S. Department of Education specifically highlights work to support high school seniors, college and career transition activities, and summer programs run by “non-profit or community organizations” as allowable uses (see C-17, C-18, and C-25 in the
link above).
In making the case for a partnership, community-based organizations should remind schools or districts that:
NCAN members have the content (and technical) knowledge to quickly assist students and families with their most pressing milestones.
Many college access organizations have been delivering these services virtually for the past year.
Working with a college access organization means that a district or school does not have to hire (or train) more specialized staff of its own to deliver services. District and school administrators who are worried about the sustainability of recovery-related
staffing can put that worry aside by working through a partnership.
Time is short. We are already in July, and students are making decisions now that will affect their potential fall matriculation. Immediate enrollment following high school graduation is associated with eventual completion. Students who fall off a
postsecondary pathway now are at significant risk for never rejoining one.
On the webinar, Dr. Michele Scott Taylor, chief program officer at College Now Greater Cleveland, joined NCAN. Members would be well-served by viewing the webinar recording (at about the 35-minute
mark) to hear her incredibly valuable insight from working with school districts in and around Cleveland, Ohio.
The ARP funds provide a valuable window for NCAN members to approach, and partner with, K-12 districts and schools. Now is the time to seize that moment.
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