What We Do

CONNECT EDUCATION LEADERS

to co-design and initiate innovative institutional strategies that facilitate equitable student success to and through college into impactful careers
ILLUMINATE
Utilize research to articulate and align programs, practices, and policies of education-focused institutions to advance students to and through postsecondary. Click for more information

ILLUMINATE

The work of the RLC to advance students to and through college engages Partners in examining and reflecting on disaggregated data, credible evidence, and research to illuminate assets, challenges, root causes, and promising practices in light of the needs, hopes, and realities of students, families, communities, and educational organizations.

It does this while also exposing and debunking myths about student needs, institutional realities, and achievement gaps which stigmatize non-traditional pathways to college. Data Sharing and Use Agreements (DSUA) with all partner institutions ensure access to data and other indicators of needs and successes. With the support of the Core Support Team, the RLC:
  • Conducts environmental scans of institutions and communities
  • Administers needs assessment surveys and process tools
  • Reviews institutional programs, policies, and practices to identify overlap and gaps
  • Analyzes credible evidence and data to unearth root causes
  • Gathers and reviews research and resources
  • Engages focus groups of students, staff, parents, administrators, and community
RLC Data Sharing and Use Agreements facilitate cross-segmental data analyses. As the RLC investigates programs, practices, policies, and outcomes within and across segments, it maintains neutrality by keeping success for all students illuminated as the single agenda.

Measurement and Evaluation

The RLC measures and evaluates the impact of its actions, processes, and outcomes to generate and share valuable knowledge to close gaps in practice and inform and influence policy. This includes:
  • Assessing and conducting research on the impact of implemented strategies.
  • Evaluating the organizational health and capacity building of the RLC network
    and its partner institutions as the ripple effect of outcomes is sustained and
    embedded in other projects
  • Disseminating learnings (through publications and presentations)
    to the broader education research and practice community to provide research
    and resources to re-engineer the pipeline strategies among our nation’s low
    income, first generation students.
Through enhanced capacity, skills, systems, and relationships (enhanced by Data Sharing and Use Agreements with all institutions), RLC participants are empowered to initiate  and sustain their efforts and commitment to promising practices for high impact on low-income and first-generation students.

See the RLC Strategic Plan for details of results and impact of high-impact strategies.
INCUBATE
Innovate transparent and progressive thinking and ideation among RLC Partners that bridge research and practice in co-created strategicplans. Click for more information

INCUBATE

Grounded in its Strategic Plan, the RLC brings together multiple, complex pipeline institutions and systems, each with differing needs and processes, who mutually benefit from a collaborative environment that is culturally sensitive and promotes ongoing and transparent communication, trust, and innovation. This solution-centered culture facilitates co-creation of innovative systems that bridge institutional realities and serve student needs.The research-based RLC Framework which details Strategic Plan implementation has been submitted for publication
Current RLC Strategic Priority Areas include

Pipeline articulation, alignment, and advising (PA3)

Dual enrollment

Near peer college mentoring

Transfer culture, infrastructure, and advising

High school college prep courses

impact
Implement and evaluate high-impact strategies that restructure pipeline experiences for students and institutions and lead to equitable access, opportunity, and outcomes. Click for more information.

Impact

Through ongoing collaboration and communication, RLC partners implement their identified strategic priorities and align individual and collective institutional policies, programs, and practices to support the strategic actions.

Individual and collective capacity for coherent, evidence-based, and systematic cross-segmental institution collaboration has resulted in positive structural, systemic, academic, and social achievements within the P-20 education and career pipeline.

As an example, RLC’s early focus on the transition between high school and community college to reduce the number of students placed in developmental courses led to:
  • Collaboration of RLC partner leaders to implement multiple measures and corequisite education supports.
  • Reversal of the college matriculation/persistence trend in two short years.
  • Significant increases in students enrolled in and completing credit-bearing, transfer level courses.
The RLC Strategic Plan includes additional details about the RLC’s expansion and impact on over 100,000 students.
Strategic Plan
The work of the RLC is to promote vertical articulation, alignment, and advising across all segmental transitions within the cradle to career pipeline toensure equitable access, opportunity, and outcomes for all students. Over 80% of the Pomona Unified School District students initially served are low-income; nearly one-third are English Learners; and 86% identify as Latino and5% Black. The City of Pomona is a large, low-income, urban community in Los Angeles County, where 31% of adults do not graduate high school, compared to 17% in its home state of California, and only 18% complete college compared to 33% statewide (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).
As a result of the focus on the strategic priority areas, students are provided access to:
  • Articulated and aligned college and career readiness experiences across the pipeline from elementary to postsecondary, including dual enrollment courses.
  • Holistic and long-term advising provided by counselors at all levels -- elementary, secondary and higher education.
  • Near peer mentors to help students navigate their  individual paths to be successful in career and life.
  • Career & Life Plan Courses (CLP) for college knowledge and career exploration in grade 9, culminating in the development of individual student education plans.
  • Planning tools and resources, including the online RLC Navigator: Student and Family Roadmap to College & Career.
  • Student surveys and focus groups for them to provide input and feedback on strategic actions and outcomes.
  • Parent support and resources to assist students at all stages of their career planning and implementation.
RLC Achievements
Innovated the concept of a pipeline network and built a Collaborative that has consistently engaged partners for over five (5) years.
Incubated and applied  innovations across all of our college campuses, impacting nearly 100,000 students annually.
Expanded dual enrollment to students who needed it most -- those from low-income families. More
Increased dual enrollment courses offerings from 2 to 16, with 60% of students at lowest performing high school graduating with college credit.More
Flipped the ratio from 86% of District students enrolling at the local community college in non-college credit courses and dropping out without earning any college credits to 86% being enrolled in credit bearing courses in their first year.More
Implemented multiple measures placement and corequisite education prior to the introduction of California Assembly Bill 705.More
Developed curriculum and training for college peer mentors to support midrange and Tier 2 performing students.More
Piloted high school college and career preparation curriculum in the transitions from 8th grade to high school and from high school to college.More
Changed habits of mind around data use and decision making to ensure that students and their needs remain at the center.More

TESTIMONIALS

As a testament to the effectiveness of the RLC, all original RLC pipeline partners remain engaged in the Collaborative and additional members and institutions have joined, resulting in a membership of nearly 100 individuals committed to restructuring the education transition pipeline for low-income and first generation students and students of color.
I am surprised at the level of engagement and willingness of high-level partners within a collaborative that is not technically within anyone’s job description or requirements.
- RLC Member
Many have tried this before, but no one has gotten this far. You have my full support.
- President of Community College
...the most successful Collaborative we fund.
- College Futures Foundation
It is important that we continue improving opportunities for all students in the region to access post secondary education.
- Superintendent
We have already impacted 10s of 1000s of students, and we are committed to building on these tremendous outcomes for students and families.
- Mayor of City of Pomona

ILLUMINATE

The work of the RLC to advance students to and through college engages its members and thought partners in examining and reflecting on disaggregated data, credible evidence, and research that illuminates the assets, root cause, challenges, and hopes of students, families, communities, and educational organizations.

It does this while also exposing and debunking myths about student needs, institutional realities, and achievement gaps which stigmatize non-traditional pathways to college. Data Sharing and Use Agreements (DSUA) with all partner institutions ensure access to data and other indicators of needs and successes. With the support of the Core Support Team, the RLC:
  • Conducts environmental scans of institutions and communities
  • Administers needs assessment surveys and process tools
  • Reviews institutional programs, policies, and practices to identify overlap and gaps
  • Analyzes credible evidence and data to unearth root causes
  • Gathers and reviews research and resources
  • Engages focus groups of students, staff, parents, administrators, and community
As the RLC investigates its individual and collective programs, practices, and policies, it maintains neutrality by keeping student success illuminated as the single agenda.

Measurement and Evaluation

The RLC measures and evaluates the impact of its actions, processes, and outcomes to generate and share valuable knowledge to close gaps in practice and inform and influence policy. This includes:
  • Assessing and conducting research on the impact of implemented strategies.
  • Evaluating the organizational health and capacity building of the RLC network
    and its partner institutions as the ripple effect of outcomes is sustained and
    embedded in other projects
  • Disseminating learnings (through publications and presentations)
    to the broader education research and practice community to provide research
    and resources to re-engineer the pipeline strategies among our nation’s low
    income, first generation students.
Through enhanced capacity, skills, systems, and relationships (enhanced by Data Sharing and Use Agreements with all institutions), RLC participants are empowered to initiate  and sustain their efforts and commitment to promising practices for high impact on low-income and first-generation students.

See the RLC Strategic Plan for details of results and impact of high-impact strategies.