Celebrating Pride Starts with Supporting Students
This blog originally appeared on act.org. Prior to becoming the Principal Strategist for Diversity and Inclusion at ACT, I spent more than two decades as
This blog originally appeared on act.org. Prior to becoming the Principal Strategist for Diversity and Inclusion at ACT, I spent more than two decades as
Navigating education and career paths involves making choices and meeting challenges along the way to achieving goals. Young people from underserved populations are particularly vulnerable
Summer melt is a phenomenon by which postsecondary-intending students fail to matriculate in the fall following high school graduation. This pernicious scourge is one whose
On May 14 and 15, the American College Application Campaign hosted its annual national convening in Washington, D.C. for the campaign state coordinators. Nearly all
If we want to help a student, we should help a teacher. If we want to help a teacher, we should help school and district
April 29-30, 2019 marked the third annual Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Legislative Assembly and Advocacy on the Hill, and the fifth annual
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, a week dedicated to showing teachers and staff in schools across the nation appreciation for the important roles they play in
The American Indian College Fund, with generous support from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, has published an invaluable tool for Native American high school students seeking
Can you remember the thrill (and perhaps a little anxiety) you felt as you weighed your college decision? Would it be the right choice? Would
Originally posted on act.org May 1, 2019. As millions of high school seniors across the nation prepare to graduate, many of them are also making
The college decision-making process has really changed since I was a high school student. These days, students have so many options to get the information
During the 2018 American College Application Campaign, a record-breaking 7,109 high schools* reported hosting college application completion events. And we’re thrilled to share those host
Applying for college was definitely a difficult experience for me during my last couple years of high school. Since I started high school, I was
On March 21, ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning—in collaboration with our partners at Univision Contigo—convened a group of 100 education leaders and funders from
Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. -Unknown Several years ago, I saw this quote posted
When I reflect on my formal education – and my leadership journey to lead a community of learners as the superintendent despite statistical disparities and
What are some of the challenges in school counseling today? The most persistent challenges I see are: Imbalanced counselor-to-student ratios. The absence of school counselors in
In January, ACT announced that the American College Access Campaign (ACAC), previously housed at ACE, was becoming part of ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning.
To us, equity is about ensuring that if some students are given a head start that the rest are not left behind. This means that
Anyone involved in education can tell you that there are starkly disparate outcome patterns, on a number of different measures, for students of different races
What is the ACT U Lunch Buddy program? ACT U Lunch Buddies is a program guided by our partnership with the Iowa City Community School
This blog originally appeared on act.org. Just as I started high school in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford signed a proclamation declaring February as Black
February 4-8 is National School Counseling Week. We are highlighting the important work school counselors do and the challenges they face in schools today. What
January is National Mentoring Month, launched in 2002 by the National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to raise
January is National Mentoring Month. Mentors can play an important role in young peoples’ lives and the need for mentors has never been greater. This
Mentorship is a time-proven way for providing guidance and creating awareness of new pathways for young people. Now, more than ever, the need for mentors
We are wrapping up another busy year in ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning. We will be taking some time off from our usual
ACT recently hosted a convening, which gathered together several postsecondary institutions who are participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Pell Grants Dual Enrollment Experimental
ACT recently hosted a convening, which gathered together several postsecondary institutions who are participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Pell Grants Dual Enrollment Experimental
Picture this: You are a first-generation college student, stressed out as you enter your first finals week of your college journey. You are all alone—without
“Don’t they know we’re [American Indians] still alive?” As an adult, I’ve grappled with this question many times. More often than not, I’m ashamed to
College Horizons is a nonprofit organization that encourages and facilitates the higher education of Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native youth. This year marks
Originally posted to ACT.org November 27, 2018 On this Giving Tuesday, an international day of giving to commemorate the start of the holiday season, I
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, is the key to unlocking federal, state, and institutional aid to help pay for college.
Thanksgiving time is upon us. It seems to come back around quicker each year. With so much going on in the world today, we wanted
Growing up, I was certain I would never be an educator. I dreamed of being a lawyer, FBI agent, world traveler – anything but a
According to the 2018 ACT Condition of College and Career Readiness report, students who meet at least one underserved criterion (first-generation college student, low-income, or
Recognizing the widening gaps in the postsecondary attainment of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) compared to majority students, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
The demand for a college degree in the workplace is increasing, putting Native Americans at a disadvantage. With only 13.8 percent of American Indian and
From October 3‒4, ACTNext convened its annual Education Technology and Computational Psychometrics Symposium (ETCPS) in Iowa City, a recognized hub for innovative psychometric research. The
Equity, access, and visibility for and of indigenous peoples is the heart of the American Indian College Fund’s mission. We believe deeply in the power
Native American Heritage Month is observed in the month of November. We will feature stories from Native Americans, or institutions who serve them, and their journeys, their struggles,
All students must have access and opportunity to reach their full potential. Ensuring that students have access to a high quality, holistic education that will
Alliance is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit charter school networks in the nation, operating 25 high-performing, public charter schools that educate 13,000
I am a first-generation immigrant and college student. I come from a small poor town in Guatemala where opportunity and a future look dim and
Ever since my family and I immigrated to this country from Peru, my main objective was to receive a good education. Anytime I tried to
By: Amy Nicknish, program manager Imagine what it’s like to be homeless as a child and going from one foster family to the next with
There are currently 492 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the United States—up from 189 just over two decades ago—which collectively comprise 15 percent of American colleges
September 15-October 15 is traditionally observed as Hispanic Heritage Month. We will feature stories from Hispanic Americans who will share their journeys, their struggles, and
Imagine going to school and being asked to complete a homework assignment that requires you to search for material online and write a brief summary
By: John H. Pryor, researcher, Pryor Education Insights LLC Evidence has been mounting to show the positive outcomes for college students engaging in experiential education
September 15-October 15 is traditionally observed as Hispanic Heritage Month. We will feature stories from Hispanic Americans who will share their journeys, their struggles, and
By Melissa Caperton, director, American College Application Campaign September means the start of a new school year, football season and college application season. The American
By: Juan Garcia, director, Client Relations September 15-October 15 is traditionally observed as Hispanic Heritage Month. We will feature stories from Hispanic Americans who will
By: Audra M. King, events coordinator, University of Iowa Center for Advancement As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating
By: Shannon Hayes, Policy Analyst, State & Federal Policy As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students. A
By: Katie Gragnaniello, Manager, Policy Communications, State & Federal Policy As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students.
By Tina McCoy Hearn, director for social impact, ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we
By: Karolyn Trumpold, program coordinator, Talent Strategy As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students. A First-Generation College
By: Kim Bauer, director, Implementation Services As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students. A First-Generation College Student
By: Savanah Schott, senior program manager, State Engagement As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students. A First-Generation
By: Christian A. Latino, Alex Casillas, PhD Prior research tells us that several pieces of student information, such as high school GPA and ACT Composite
By: Ada Woo, senior director, Strategy Implementation and Operations, ACTNext As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students.
By: Nate Scheib, recruiter, Talent Acquisition As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students. A First-Generation College Student
As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students. A First-Generation College Student is defined as a student whose
By: Teresa Niner, senior manager, Benefits & Wellness, Talent Strategy As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students.
By: Becky Bobek, director, Learning, Assessment, & Navigation Experiences Research As students across the nation head back to the classroom, we are celebrating First-Generation students.
By: Alex Casillas, Principal Research Scientist, Design-based Research, ACT The number of first generation college students (FGCS) in the United States is higher than many
By: Martha Kanter, Executive Director of the College Promise Campaign, and Yanelle Cruz, Policy and Development Fellow, College Promise Campaign At the College Promise Campaign,
By: Jim Larimore, Chief Officer This blog was originally posted to the ACT website Friday, July 13. We do not live in an equitable world.
This article originally appeared on July 11, 2018 in Opportunity Nation The Opportunity Index is an important and vital resource which has been meaningful to
By: Amber O’Connor, Program Coordinator Summer melt, the phenomenon of students who have applied to and been accepted to college and don’t show up for
By: Katie Gragnaniello, Manager, Policy Communications, with support from ACT’s State and Federal Policy Team Summer’s here and many teachers are taking on additional jobs—waiting
By: Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, contributor to Education Week This article originally appeared on June 18, 2018 in Education Week and Getting
By: Jim Larimore, Chief Officer for the Center for Equity in Learning, is a guest contributor for the Reach Higher initiative When LeBron James steps
By: Katie Gragnaniello, Manager, Partner Communications Again this year, we were thrilled to support and be part of College Signing Day in Philadelphia on May
By: Shannon Hayes, Policy Analyst, Public Affairs The true picture of Latino college completion must be measured on a longer scale than the traditional six
By: Dr. Martha J. Kanter, Executive Director, College Promise Campaign Why National Community College Month? Community colleges change lives and build productive, happier, and healthier
By: Katie Gragnaniello, Manager of Partner Communications College Signing Day is almost here! This year, we will mark the event with our friends from Better
By: Maya Cade-Special to ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning My first introduction to the concept of paying it forward was watching the 2000 feature
When kids are struggling academically, parents struggle too. Recently, ACT’s New Product Development has been interacting with a lot of such parents as we test
By: Katie Gragnaniello, Manager of Partner Communications Investing in STEM education in the U.S. is an investment in innovation, opportunity, and our global competitiveness. The
This post was first published on ACT’s Blog on 3/15/18 Last week marked International Women’s Day. Recognizing such an important day allowed me to reflect
This post was first published on the Committee for Economic Development’s Blog on 3/14/18 By: CHRISTINA GORDON, Senior Director, Center for Equity in Learning Business
Happy International Women’s Day! International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and recognize the important achievements of women around the world. All month long
It’s that time of year again! Our friends at Excelencia in Education are now accepting nominations for this year’s Examples in Excelencia. Examples of Excelencia
We are honored and excited to have our friend, supporter, and advocate for first-generation college students, Yolanda Norman, share her experience about being the first
By: Juan Garcia, Senior Director, Center for Equity in Learning ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning participated in the 32nd Career and Education Day in
By: Nycole Stawinoga, Program Manager, Research & Communications I wasn’t supposed to be in the gifted program in grade school. My placement scores were considered
This opinion piece was first published in The Hill on 2/3/2018 By: Jim Larimore, Chief Officer, ACT Center for Equity in Learning The debate about the
We are thrilled to have our friend Eric Waldo, Executive Director of the Reach Higher initiative, share his experiences with his mentee, Verlando Brown. Eric
By: Nycole Stawinoga, Program Manager, Research and Communications, Center for Equity in Learning A recent report by UNCF and The University of Georgia, “HBCUs Make
We are excited to have Dr. Laura Owen, our friend and the Director of the Center for Postsecondary Readiness and Success at American University, guest blog
By: Alex Casillas, Ph.D., Principal Research Psychologist and Christian A. Latino, Research Assistant, ACT Demographics in the U.S. are changing. Today, most first-generation college students,
By: Nycole Stawinoga, Program Manager, Research and Communications, ACT Center for Equity in Learning On Tuesday, American University School of Education launched its Center for
By: Bobby Rush, District Manager, ACT State Organizations ACT State Organizations serves as a volunteer arm for ACT and is bolstered by more than 11,000
By: Jim Larimore, Chief Officer for the Center for Equity in Learning, guest contributor for the Reach Higher initiative A coworker of mine recently had a
By Juan Garcia, Senior Director, Center for Equity in Learning with support from Lew Montgomery, Maria Vasquez, and Tina McCoy Hearn Partnerships continue to drive the equity work of
By: Kurt Burkum, Senior Director of Research, with support from Nycole Stawinoga The last three months of 2017 saw ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning’s
As the Center for Equity in Learning continues to advance ACT’s mission to help all people achieve education and workplace success, there are increasing numbers