Cal State LA and Alliance College-Ready Public Schools signed a Joint Statement of Commitment Tuesday, Sept. 29, to help Alliance graduates make the transition to college, stay on track, and earn their degrees. 

Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Alliance Chief Executive Officer Pablo Villavicencio signed the agreement at the university. The signing formalizes and expands work the institutions began more than a year ago with Insights2Action to better understand how Alliance graduates are doing in college and where they need support. 

Through a secure data-sharing agreement and the Student Success Data Collaborative, the partners will examine graduates’ progress from enrollment through graduation. Information about their first-year experiences and academic progress can help the partners identify challenges earlier and connect students with support, including summer programs, academic writing assistance, and mentoring. Alliance will also use what it learns to strengthen college preparation for future graduates. 

“When Alliance was founded, fewer than half of our students graduated from high school. We changed that trajectory and now we must bring the same ambition to college completion,” said Villavicencio. “Our students’ journey does not end when they receive an acceptance letter. Timely information about their progress will help us work with Cal State LA to address obstacles before they prevent students from earning a degree.” 

“Through this partnership, students will have a clear pathway to university admission and the support to thrive once they arrive,” said President Eanes. “We are proud to bring together the expertise of our institutions to help more Los Angeles students earn their degrees and realize their full potential.” 

The partners also plan to strengthen connections between Alliance’s high school counselors and Cal State LA so students can learn about campus resources before they enroll and know where to turn for help once they arrive. 

“This is more than a dashboard. It is a way to understand what happens to our students after they leave Alliance and act on what we learn,” said Debra Griffith, Alliance’s chief equity programs officer. “We want to help graduates get the support they need at Cal State LA while using their experiences to make the path stronger for the students who follow them.” 

“Students arrive at college with hopes and plans for their future, but an early academic setback can put those plans at risk,” said Jeff Gold, chief executive officer of Insights2Action. “By looking at signs of difficulty sooner, the partners can ask what is happening and respond while there is still time to help a student stay on course.” 

Founded in 2004, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is a nonprofit network of 25 public charter schools serving more than 12,000 students across Los Angeles. Insights2Action helps schools and colleges turn information about student progress into strategies for improving college success.