Streamline Key Learner Transitions | Ascendium Education Group

EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

How We See the Problem

Leveraging workforce training systems, transferring between postsecondary providers and entering or re-entering the workforce are pivotal moments in a learner’s career or academic journey. Institutions and systems can implement policies and practices that inadvertently make these transitions difficult. For example, when curricula don’t align, or information systems are incapable of sharing data effectively, students risk losing credits, momentum and money. The jump from postsecondary education into the workforce also presents challenges, especially when institutions offer programming that does not align with the skills employers need.

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Ascendium's Approach

An investment priority to...

Explore diverse pathways to technical education and workforce training

Means we support...

Identifying, validating and scaling high-quality career and technical credentials, training and certificates
Promoting collaboration between postsecondary education systems and non-degree credential providers

Which will lead to...

Learners understanding the credentialing landscape and viable pathways to careers
Learners earning career and technical credentials that enhance their readiness and access to employment, sustainable career pathways and additional postsecondary education
The traditional academy recognizing high-quality workforce training and technical credentials, resulting in accessible and equitable pathways to careers

An investment priority to...

Ease transitions between, and returning to, postsecondary providers

Means we support...

Identifying and scaling high-quality prior learning assessment policies and practices that provide equitable on-ramps to postsecondary education
Improving alignment and application of transfer/reverse transfer policy and practice, and supporting infrastructure collaboration for new transfer pathways at system, state and regional levels
Diversifying reengagement strategies

Which will lead to...

“Potential completers” with some college/no degree re-enrolling to complete a degree or high-quality credential that leads to meaningful employment
Learners accumulating and transferring credits into a program of study that leads to a timely degree or credential without excess credits

An investment priority to...

Smooth transitions between postsecondary education and the workforce

Means we support...

Promoting postsecondary alignment and collaboration with workforce and economic development
Expanding data infrastructure and information sharing between postsecondary education providers and the workforce
Scaling effective institutional policies and practices that ensure learners are prepared for workforce transition

Which will lead to...

Postsecondary and workforce systems sharing data to provide learners with relevant education that meets economic and workforce needs and learners’ goals
Institutions demonstrating commitment to career development and readiness

Grants to Streamline Key Learner Transitions

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

Sheboygan Area School District|$47,880|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

Watertown Unified School District|$37,975|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

Racine Unified School District|$47,865|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

West Allis West Milwaukee School District|$47,835|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

School District of La Crosse|$47,910|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

St. Francis School District|$38,020|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

School District of South Milwaukee|$38,025|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting

Scaling

Adams-Friendship Area School District|$38,020|9/2018 - 12/2020

This grant supports 13 Wisconsin public school districts in launching summer melt text nudging to help increase on-time college enrollment rates.

Text Steps Summer Melt Texting-Signal Vine, Inc. fees for Wisconsin school districts

Scaling

Signal Vine Inc|$46,920|8/2018 - 9/2020

This grant supports licensing and setup fees for the Signal Vine texting platform for the 13 school districts participating in the Text Steps project.

FAFSA Completion Challenge

Scaling

National College Attainment Network|$1,000,000|4/2018 - 8/2020

This grant supports the National College Access Network in helping 30 large cities with lower-than-average FAFSA completion rates implement plans to increase communitywide rates.

View All Ascendium Grants

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Latest News

November 19, 2020

Training for Online Math Teaching, a New Rural Podcast Series and New Resources

College Math Instructors Praise Timely Training for Online Teaching
Vera Institute of Justice Works to Develop Guidelines and Supports for Postsecondary Education in Prison
Podcasts Raise Up Leaders in Rural Places

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November 13, 2020

Grant Explores How to Take Competency-Based Education to a System Level

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System Foundation is launching a yearlong planning project to research what it would take to implement a competency-based education platform at scale within its general education, career, technical and workforce training programs. Ascendium’s investment of $614,000 supports the project under our grantmaking focus area Streamline Key Learner Transitions.

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Resources

Streamline Key Learner Transitions

This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for streamlining diverse pathways into and through postsecondary education and learner transitions into the workforce, and the desired outcomes of that support.

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About Ascendium Education Philanthropy

This overview of Ascendium's education philanthropy details our strategic approach to philanthropy: how, where and what we fund, our four focus areas and our belief in the power of education for upward social mobility.

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View All Resources for this Focus Area

Ascendium Education Philanthropy is a division of Ascendium Education Group. Ascendium Education Group has helped millions of learners pursue postsecondary education since 1967, when it was formed to help fulfill the promise of the landmark Higher Education Act of 1965. Over the years, Ascendium has grown to become not only the nation's largest federal student loan guarantor, but also one of the most active postsecondary education philanthropies.

About Ascendium Education Group