Nov 27, 2012
Connecticut Accepted into Postsecondary State Policy Network
Eleven states were selected to participate in the Postsecondary State Policy Network — a multi-state collaboration committed to advancing state policy agendas that accelerate community college student success and completion.
The Postsecondary State Policy Network evolved out of the state policy efforts for the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network, including the Developmental Education Initiative. Jobs for the Future helps teams from the 11 network states maximize peer learning and develop and implement policies that promote community college student success. In the coming year, states — including Connecticut — will pursue a range of evidence-based reform initiatives from piloting performance-based scholarships and improving transfer success, to fundamentally transforming the delivery of developmental education. These reforms are crucial in meeting the national demand for a more college-educated citizenry. Connecticut’s state policy team will participate in upcoming cross-state meetings to discuss best-practices and lessons learned in this area with representatives from the selected states, Achieving the Dream and Jobs for the Future.
“Connecticut is a leader in innovation to improve student success and completion,” said Richard Kazis, Senior Vice President, Jobs for the Future. “The Postsecondary State Policy Network provides them with a high-impact vehicle for efficient sharing of proven strategies for implementing policies that make a difference.”
“Involvement with Achieving the Dream’s State Policy Network has afforded Connecticut leaders access to some of the best thinkers and resources on issues of college completion, and during this time in Connecticut’s history of major reform, maintaining these connections will be invaluable to our work,” said Braden Hosch, Director of Policy and Research and Interim Director of Academic Affairs at the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
“Particularly in this economic environment, we need to help our students earn a market-valued credential to help them succeed in whatever career path they may choose,” said David Levinson, Vice President for Community Colleges at the Board of Regents and President of Norwalk Community College. “At the same time, we’re being asked to do this in an era of decreased state and federal funding. Being able to partner with organizations like Jobs for the Future and Achieving the Dream, as well as other states around the country, to discuss new and innovative ways of doing this is critical to our collective success.”
“While a significant number of students walking through the community college front door may not be college-ready, Achieving the Dream and our National Reform Network believe that all students walking through the door are college-material,” said Carol Lincoln, Senior Vice President, Achieving the Dream. “We will work closely with Connecticut to ensure that the reforms are guided by our values of equity, excellence, and evidence.”