1 of 15

LA COLLEGE PROMISE:

CLOSING EQUITY GAPS AND GUIDING STUDENTS TOWARD COMPLETION

Deborah Harrington, Dean for Student Success

2 of 15

LACCD Overview

    • Largest community college district in the nation
    • 9 individually accredited colleges serving approximately 100,000 unduplicated students (10,000 – 50,000)
    • Majority minority student body (~60% Latinx)
    • 62% age 18 - 24
    • ~50% First generation

3 of 15

LA College Promise: The beginning

  • Collaboration with the Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles Unified School District, City of LA Mayor’s Office, and the LA Chamber of Commerce
  • LA Mayor Garcetti committed funding to support the first year of tuition for all graduates of LAUSD. Beginning in 2018, funded by the state (AB19).
  • The District began an approach to have all colleges support a common standard for the program with unique components as needed to support the local population
  • Launched at scale – over 4000 students in the first cohort.

4 of 15

RESEARCH INFLUENCES

​

5 of 15

LACP Conceptual Model

6 of 15

LA College Promise - Snapshot

Who are LA College Promise students

(average 2017 – 2022)

  • Just under 30,000 studnets
  • 54% Receive Pell
  • 76% Latinx
  • 48% First Gen
  • Represent 1/3 of all first time students

​

Key Achievements

(Promise vs. Non-Promise peers)

  • LACP students are 2x more likely to complete in 3 years
  • LACP students are 3x more likely to complete Transfer English and Math in their first year
  • Promise students across equity groups do consistently better thantheir non-promise peers
  • Enrollment and Success stayed steady during Covid-19

7 of 15

LACP – Beyond The Tuition

If free tuition was all it took, then the California state fee waiver would have solved our problems years ago

How LACP goes Beyond Free Tuition…..

  • Includes additional financial support
  • Provides free technology (Chromebook and low-cost hotspot)
  • Requires participation in a Summer Transition experience
  • Requires students to take English and Math (as required by education goal)
  • Included Success Coaching & Required Student Success Activities
  • Unique to LA College Promise – 95% of funding goes directly to students

8 of 15

9 of 15

19 pts

14 pts

21 pts

17 pts

10 of 15

3 Year Completion

11 of 15

12 of 15

13 of 15

LA College Promise Legacy

  • Programs can launch and sustain at scale
  • Unified district program with common core elements and opportunity for local design creates district-wide success
  • Created stronger partnerships with LAUSD and improved perception among high school counselors and students
  • Opportunity to pilot partnerships that lead to systemic change

​

14 of 15

15 of 15

Questions?

harrindl@laccd.edu