We are a network of policy and research partners, institution and systems leaders, and foundations taking collective action to ensure students get the support they need to succeed in their first year of college.
Reforming developmental education so every college student succeeds in their first year.
Strong Start to Finish scales reforms in developmental education across higher education systems, so every student is set up to pass credit-earning courses in English and math in their first year of college. In particular, we support college success for Black, Brown, Asian American and Indigenous students, students with low incomes and returning adults, who have been underserved by the education system.
Our Network
Knowledge
Center
We share reports, research and toolkits from our network so systems and institutions can learn about and enact efforts to reform developmental education.
Our Approach
We work to correct systemic inequities that are barriers to student success by convening our network, sharing research and tools and helping higher education systems scale proven approaches.
Learning Network Convening 2021
Last March, nearly 150 members of our network gathered virtually to listen and learn together. Watch videos from the sessions and download resources to help you and your colleagues ensure every college student gets a strong start to finish.
Featured Resources
Success & Equity Through Quality Instruction
Too few of today’s students — in particular racially minoritized, returning adults and those from low-income families — will hold a college degree in the coming decades. Increasingly, colleges and universities are recognizing the important role of faculty in student success efforts. This toolkit provides resources and rubrics for colleges and universities to fully engage faculty in the student success movement.
Developmental Education Self-Placement Approaches
This brief from Phase Two Advisory shares approaches taken by colleges around the U.S., to understand how self-placement can support ongoing, focused efforts to increase equity. We hope colleges will use these strategies to design their own self-placement systems with equity at the center.
ACUE Back to School Webinars
Featured experts and faculty provide practical teaching approaches that can be immediately put to use to ensure every student feels welcome, can engage in their studies, and stays on a path to success.
Deficit Language in Course Descriptions
Student-Ready Strategies found that many institutions use deficit language in their developmental education courses. Their research demonstrates that negative, deficit-based words send strong signals to students, particularly students of color, about the institution’s perception of their ability to succeed.
Stories & Insights
Advancing Methods to Measure Student Outcomes
Within-group comparisons support the achievement of student groups who are marginalized by identifying ways to measure advancements and identify institutional barriers. Learn how combining between- and within-group comparisons can support addressing inequities in this blog by SStF Director Maxine Roberts.
Read moreMeet our Funders
Our work to advance developmental education reforms is made possible with the support and guidance of our philanthropic partners.
