Project Rebound at California State University Los Angeles (Cal State LA) will address the equity gap for incarcerated women in California through their Prison to Career Equity Pathway program. Building upon Cal State LA’s existing Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI), which offers bachelor’s degree programs for justice-impacted students, the grant provides sustainable re-entry pathways beyond academic degrees. Recognizing that a degree alone may not prevent recidivism, the project focuses on creating meaningful career opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, leveraging resources from the Bureau of Justice Administration to pilot programs at Lancaster State Prison. With the potential to scale statewide and support over 8,000 justice-impacted women, the initiative addresses systemic equity challenges and empowers graduates to contribute to their communities through fruitful careers.

Generation Up (GenUp) is launching a transformative campaign within the University of California (UC) System to promote open educational resources (OER) and alleviate the financial burden of textbook costs for students. Led by California’s largest youth-led advocacy organization, GenUp plans to advocate system-wide to the UC Board of Regents, while also driving grassroots initiatives at individual campuses. Their approach includes leveraging successful models like the Affordable Course Materials Initiative at UCLA to advocate for OER adoption and create incentives for faculty to develop OER. By centering student voices and utilizing proven organizing strategies, GenUp will impact UC campuses while setting a precedent for OER advocacy nationwide. This project addresses immediate financial challenges and empowers students to shape educational policies, promising significant ripple effects across higher education in California and beyond.

Glendale Community College (GCC) is leading the way in improving student access to affordable course materials through a study on course marking. By enhancing their Student Information Systems (SIS) to include easy-to-spot, image-based markers indicating ZTC and low textbook cost (LTC) courses, GCC plans to deepen its understanding on how clear and consistent marking of ZTC courses may impact student experiences in finding and enrolling in these types of courses. Since 26 CCCs use the same SIS, GCC’s efforts and final report have the potential to impact how campuses with similar systems mark their zero cost courses and collect vital data on student decision making.

Chabot College, in collaboration with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI), is driving innovation through data-driven approaches to promote zero textbook cost (ZTC) degrees and open educational resources (OER) adoption across all of California’s degree-granting community colleges. Through the development of a scalable dashboard model, Chabot College is empowering institutions to make informed decisions and advocate for ongoing funding and policy support. With a focus on equity and collaboration, Chabot’s initiative to track ZTC adoptions via this dashboard will begin with a six-campus pilot and may be scaled statewide.

EveryoneOn will continue the Better Neighborhoods Through Broadband Equity project in 2024, which addresseses digital inequity exacerbated by COVID-19, particularly affecting Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities. Through 10 Better Neighbor Project events, with support from Michelson 20MM, EveryoneOn will provide digital equity resources, including digital literacy programs, low-cost internet and computer options, and information on accessing state and federal digital equity resources. The project seeks to increase awareness and access to digital resources, combating the digital divide in marginalized communities.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) will expand the LIFTED program to offer bachelor of arts (BA) degrees to approximately 25 students at Norco California Rehabilitation Center (Norco CRC). Building on the success of the UCI LIFTED program, which introduced the first UC bachelor’s degree-granting program in a California state prison, UCR LIFTED will provide face-to-face BA degrees in Education, Society, and Human Development. Additionally, UCR will develop animated videos to support the transfer and admission process for incarcerated students, facilitating access to higher education pathways and addressing challenges related to meeting Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) certification requirements. By sharing resources and establishing networks between current and future BA providers, UCR will lay the groundwork for expanding BA programs in prisons across California, ultimately transforming the landscape of recidivism and improving countless lives.

The Pathways to College model, established by Homeboy Industries, has been shared with over 250 organizations around the world. To further the model’s reach, Homeboy Industries will host an educational summit, which will create a community of learning among smart justice organizations. During the educational summit at the annual Global Homeboy Network Gathering, they will share a structured framework so that attending organizations can replicate the program and tailor it for their communities. To do so, Homeboy Industries will invite local organizations, such as Anti-Recidivism Coalition and Rising Scholars, to join them for a panel discussion and create a community of learning among organizations committed to providing reentry services and educational opportunities to returning citizens.

Michelson 20MM has furthered its commitment to support the digital equity movement in California by backing the efforts of the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE) and contributing to the grantmaking priorities of the digital equity pooled fund. This includes bridging knowledge gaps for digital equity advocates and local municipalities, providing educational resources such as recorded Q&A sessions and one-pagers, coordinating sessions for policymakers and department leads, countering industry efforts to reduce funding and accountability measures, regionalizing technical assistance hubs, establishing mechanisms for rural-urban collective action, building grassroots organization capacity, and developing social media kits for advocacy purposes. The grant seeks to strengthen digital equity advocacy efforts and ensure equitable access to digital resources and opportunities across the state.

The Workforce Development Policy Institute project, led by California Competes, educates elected officials and their staff on workforce issues to enhance their capacity in crafting effective policies. This initiative includes hosting nonpartisan, invitation-only events for legislators and legislative staff in both in-person and virtual formats. By delving into key policy issues with experts, participants will be equipped with strategies and solutions to address challenges in higher education and the workforce system, ultimately aiming to improve economic outcomes for individuals and communities across California. Through regional analyses and discussions on systemic changes, the project seeks to bolster community vibrancy and the state’s economy, which will enable those who possess the talent and desire to have the opportunity to succeed no matter who they are or where they live.

Early Edge California is advocating for improved access to childcare and early learning programs for student parents. Their efforts include conducting research to understand the challenges faced by student parents in accessing childcare, gathering data to highlight its impact on higher education pursuits, academic success, graduation rates, and overall well-being. Early Edge plans to craft a compelling message using personal stories and testimonials to underscore the importance of accessible childcare, while also outlining the benefits of such investments based on successful policies from other regions. Collaborating with advocacy groups, they aim to amplify their message, gather resources, and propose policy changes, leveraging input from their parent advisory group to develop recommendations for enhancing support for student parents and sharing them widely with policymakers and stakeholders in education and childcare.

The California Student Parent Pooled Fund fosters belonging among student parents, a crucial factor against stressors like mental health issues and financial insecurity. As an inaugural cohort grantee, Northwestern University’s College Belonging and Connection for Families (CBCF) Initiative will be adapted to three college environments, offering student parents opportunities to reflect on their strengths, engage with peers, and co-design strategies with faculty and administration. The project will focus on adapting the initiative and curriculum to the context of California Community Colleges, with activities including a scoping review, assessing existing support strategies, identifying interested colleges, providing technical assistance, and co-creating an implementation strategy. The initiative promotes positive academic, social, and psychological outcomes for student parents at multiple levels, culminating in a final report, policy brief, and virtual webinar to share findings and discuss opportunities for replication and scaling.

The Tribal Public-Private Partnership (TPPP) Capacity Building Project will substantially improve digital equity in tribal communities, particularly in California, where a quarter of households lack adequate broadband service. Through support for the Tribal Resource Center (TRC), the grant focuses on enhancing connectivity and empowering tribal communities to manage their own broadband networks. The initiatives include expanding TRC’s online platform to facilitate knowledge sharing among tribal leaders, coordinating virtual gatherings to disseminate best practices, and developing resources to guide tribes in forming public-private partnerships for broadband infrastructure projects. By providing critical guidance and tools, such as partner qualification checklists and sustainability planning, the grant seeks to ensure that all California tribes can effectively navigate partnerships and retain control over their digital infrastructure, ultimately advancing digital equity and sovereignty within tribal communities.

People-Centered Internet’s Community of Practice fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among tribal leaders in the broadband and digital equity space, particularly within California’s tribal communities. Administered through the Tribal Resource Center (TRC), the grant supports the expansion and management of an online platform called “The Community Forum,” which serves as a hub for sharing best practices emerging from Tribal Broadband Bootcamps and other relevant discussions. Additionally, TRC will host virtual convenings to facilitate dialogue and distribute resources to tribal communities. By providing a space for tribes to exchange ideas and access valuable resources, the project seeks to strengthen tribal networks and enhance digital equity efforts across California and beyond.

Unite LA’s Workforce Development Practitioner Consortium advances and scales programmatic best practices and evidence-based models in California’s workforce development sector. The consortium will serve as a community of practice, fostering collaboration, learning, and capacity building among diverse stakeholders. Key activities include conducting a landscape analysis, recruiting stakeholders, and hosting roundtable discussions to define and share best practices in workforce development. By engaging grassroots organizations and compiling findings into an issue brief, the consortium seeks to influence public conversations, inform policy, and elevate workforce development priorities to philanthropy and policymakers, ultimately driving innovative solutions and fostering a progressive agenda in the field.

The Urban Institute, an inaugural California Student Parent Pooled Fund grantee, will guide and support student parents through the California Skills and Training in Action Research (STAR) Fellowship program. They will provide expertise in research methods and policy analysis, training California STAR Fellows—current student parents—as consultants. These fellows will develop policy-relevant research questions related to student-parent issues in California, using data resources provided by the SPARK Collaborative. The Urban Institute will collaborate closely with other partners to ensure the fellows receive comprehensive training and support. At the end of the fellowship, the students’ contributions will help produce actionable insights and recommendations designed to enhance educational opportunities for student parents in California.

Believe in Students’ #RealCollege Curriculum leverages learnings from the traditionally offered#RealCollege Convening, which has helped hundreds of higher education professionals understand and tackle basic needs insecurity. To further the accessibility and reach of the curriculum, Believe in Students will leverage a Spark Grant to transform the impactful curriculum into an online offering. Through the digital medium, and with the support of longtime California partners and advocates, Believe in Students anticipates reaching professionals who serve at least 20,000 students and will advance student persistence as a result.

One in five California Community College students experience homelessness. While many attempts to address student homelessness have been siloed, the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges plans to understand how to cross-house students across California’s higher educational systems with the goal of establishing a scalable housing solution. Home to 220,000 students, with strong ties to the California State University system, the Los Angeles Community College District is uniquely positioned to identify and incubate the solution.

The Institute for College Access & Success’ (TICAS’) research has shed light on how affordability issues in California lead to lower completion rates and increased student debt, particularly affecting low-income and underrepresented students. With the added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating these challenges, the grant supports TICAS in educating stakeholders about student basic needs issues and solutions. Through surveys of California college students, TICAS will gather data to inform actionable solutions, providing insights into the financial and personal challenges students face during the pandemic.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse will investigate and address critical issues surrounding student data privacy in digital instructional materials within higher education. The organization will produce a comprehensive report focusing on three main areas: an analysis of the current legal and regulatory landscape at both state and federal levels, a review of existing data-related policies and practices in the marketplace, and recommendations for enhancing student privacy while promoting accessibility to instructional materials. The report will highlight potential gaps in regulatory protections, examine data practices of educational technology providers, and propose strategies to safeguard student information. Targeted at policymakers, data privacy advocates, and education access proponents, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse’s effort intends to influence policy discussions and advocate for stronger privacy protections in digital learning environments.

The Education Trust—West will conduct a California State University Student Parent Sense of Belonging Survey to comprehensively understand and enhance the experiences of pregnant and parenting students across CSU campuses. By conducting a mixed methods study, The Education Trust—West will evaluate the impact of academic and student life policies, available services, and overall campus environment on student parents. The project, funded by a Michelson Spark Grant, intends to produce detailed survey findings and demographic analyses, highlighting bright spots from exemplary campuses, and formulate actionable recommendations for improving resources and support systems, which will be shared with decision makers such as the CSU Chancellor’s Office to advocate for better supports for student parents.