The October 2006 policy forum featured a briefing of the report, “Double the Numbers for College Success: A Call to Action for the District of Columbia,” with comments from DC leaders on local efforts to increase the numbers of students in our high school-to-college graduation pipeline.   The report set out a 10-point plan for increasing the numbers of students from DCPS and the charter schools who enter and complete high school and graduate from college within five years. 

The December policy forum continued this theme by exploring local and national programs, practices and strategies to increase the number of high school graduates ready for college and other postsecondary options.  

Forum speakers addressed some of the following questions:

• How do college access programs work to open the doors to postsecondary education?
• What makes these programs successful and what does a successful program look like in the District of Columbia?
• What efforts are being made to strengthen and support the expansion of proven systemic and school-level college access programs?
• What efforts exist to educate DC students and families about the prerequisites of college, costs and ways for paying for college, as well as the value of a degree?
• What programs link secondary and postsecondary education?
• What policy areas must be considered in the creation, expansion and support of these programs?

Speakers included:

• Alex Chough, Director, External Relations, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
• Jennifer Brown Lerner, Program Associate, American Youth Policy Forum
• Rustin M. Lewis, Executive Director, College Bound
• William Ellis, Associate Provost, University of the District of Columbia and Liaison for Early College High School programs at Bell Multicultural High School and Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter High School

To access speaker bios, speaker presentations, and a summary of college access programs in D.C., please select from the following list:  

• Speaker Bios*
• Alex Chough's Presentation*  
• Rustin M. Lewis' Presentation*
• William Ellis' Presentation*    
• College Access Programs in the District of Columbia*