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EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

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Sharing knowledge is at the heart of our mission. Explore Ascendium’s growing library of publications that examine the complex challenges facing postsecondary learners, and how we’re helping our partners address them.

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states take steps
RAND Corporation

States Can Take Steps to Address Potential Barriers to Equity in Stackable Credential Pipelines

April 2023
To ensure that stackable credentials are advancing equity, states and institutions can take actions to scale initiatives in ways that ensure learners from low-income backgrounds have access to and succeed in these pathways. A new research brief offers insights and recommendations for stakeholders based on a study of potential barriers within stackable credential pipelines.
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stacking cred
RAND Corporation

Do Low-Income Students Benefit from Stacking Credentials? Descriptive Evidence from Colorado and Ohio

April 2023
Stackable credential programs may be especially helpful for learners from historically underserved communities as they provide greater flexibility to pursue postsecondary education and workforce training. Using data from Colorado and Ohio, this research brief details the differences in credential-stacking and labor market returns from stacking for learners from low-income backgrounds versus middle- and high-income learners.
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stackable
RAND Corporation

Stackable Credential Pipelines and Equity for Low-Income Individuals: Evidence from Colorado and Ohio

April 2023
The ability for learners to “stack” short-term credentials in order to gain specific skills needed for in-demand jobs is a strategy gaining momentum around the country. This report features findings from two states pursuing stackable credential initiatives. It details what they’ve learned from analyzing administrative data to describe patterns in credential-stacking and earnings for learners from low-income backgrounds relative to middle- and high-income learners.
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MDRC Deg to dollars
MDRC

From Degrees to Dollars: Six-Year Findings from the ASAP Ohio Demonstration

April 2023
This brief shares college attainment and employment outcomes for learners six years after the implementation of the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) model at three community colleges in Ohio. Based closely on City University of New York’s ASAP program, the Ohio program boosted participants’ earnings and graduation rates, raising attainment of both associate and bachelor’s degrees.
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Rural Matters
Rural Matters

Advancing Rural Communities Through Apprenticeships and a Stronger Public-Sector Workforce (Part IV)

April 2023
The fourth and final episode in a podcast series features representatives from Reach University and The Council of State Governments. Each shares thoughts on the potential for apprenticeship programs to help fill jobs in rural America and what their organizations are doing to connect learners in rural communities to high-quality jobs.
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AR 2022 NewsRelease Featured

2022 Education Philanthropy Report: Meeting the Moment

April 2023
This year’s report is all about overcoming the challenges presented by our changing world. Inside, you’ll read about the tremendous efforts of our grant partners to improve postsecondary education and workforce training systems so that learners from low-income backgrounds can succeed beyond high school.
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Screenshot 2023 04 28 at 1.08.09 PM
Academic Intelligence

Higher Ed’s Role in Growing Economies

April 2023
In this podcast episode, Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo speak to Brēyana Ray of the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI). Brēyana talks about CORI’s work in rural communities to build tech ecosystems and bring awareness to these good jobs. When rural learners stay in their region and take advantage of local postsecondary education and training opportunities, they can achieve upward mobility within the growing digital economy.
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new america
New America

When Community Colleges Offer a Bachelor’s Degree: A Literature Review on Student Access and Outcomes

March 2023
State policymakers are increasingly allowing community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in order to meet growing demand for credentials in high-demand and applied fields. This report synthesizes research about such programs’ ability to improve student access and outcomes.
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APIAReport resource
APIA Scholars

Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders in Higher Education: A Collection of Campus Research to Inform Student Success

March 2023
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander learners are one of the most overlooked student populations in postsecondary education. A significant barrier to including these learners in broader postsecondary education discussions is the lack of research that can provide insight into their educational journey. This report shares findings from a research initiative that helps stakeholders better understand Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander learners and the institutions that serve them.
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RANDReport resource
The RAND Corporation

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Prison Education

March 2023
This report from RAND Corporation looks at trends in the COVID-19 infection rate for the U.S. state prison population and uses the results of a 2022 survey to examine how the health crisis and response efforts affected postsecondary education in prison programs.
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MappingComm
Teachers College, Columbia University

Mapping Community College Finance Systems to Develop Equitable and Effective Finance Policy

March 2023
With a view toward equity, researchers from HCM Strategists have mapped and compared three very different state systems to reveal the diversity and complexity of how community colleges are financed. They also provide an analytical framework for informed and effective reforms so that these institutions can be better equipped to help their students complete degrees.
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ColeridgeConvening
Coleridge Initiative

3rd Annual National Convening: Cross-Agency Collaboration for Evidence-Building

March 2023
The Coleridge Initiative hosted a convening highlighting the potential of collaborations amongst government agencies and researchers to produce actionable insights that could improve government programs. Presenters at the event included members of Ascendium’s Education Philanthropy. The convening report spotlights the potential of federal, state, and private data owners working together to answer policy questions, particularly those with relevance to postsecondary education and workforce training outcomes.
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