College Promise is a non-partisan initiative that builds broad public support for funding the first two or more years of postsecondary education for students in order to ensure those students have access to quality educational opportunities and support. Since its launch in September 2015, College Promise has led a movement embraced by diverse stakeholders to increase the quality and quantity of College Promise programs providing scholarships and student support across the US.
Why We Invested
Student parents face several key barriers to completion, from inability to access affordable child care to a lack of social capital to degree and course offerings that do not meet their needs for flexibility. This student population often needs additional support to meet the competing demands of school and family, successfully complete their degrees, and transition to meaningful careers. College Promise’s Promise Ecosystem Initiative brings together key stakeholders to better understand the ecosystem for five student populations including student parents, and will work to identify best practices and policy recommendations to bolster these ecosystems. Our investment supports the intiatiive’s research and efforts on student parents.
College Promise builds broad public support for funding the first two or more years of postsecondary education for hardworking students. Parents comprise of 25 percent of all undergraduates in America. We must make sure that parents, thousands of whom struggle to cover the cost of childcare, have access to quality education and opportunities that Promise programs ensure.
Martha Kanter, CEO, College Promise