Board of Ed for March: college access

 Johnston: to increase college access and affordability

trends of college enrollment slowly increasing in the state after a decade of declining enrollment
huge increases in community college enrollment (preliminarily 24%); many taking advantage of tuition and fee free community college

huge gaps with historically marginalized students
FAFSA completion: schools can see individual student level data
dropped during COVID, recovered slightly, down again
this year, above last year to date

Recommendations:

1. creating communities of practice
2. increase exposure of higher ed to K-12 students
3. re-engage adult learners
4. strengthen and develop innovation admission models

state has doubled amount of financial aid funding over past two years

My College and Academic Plan: covering career development, academic, learning and planning, personal, social, and mental health; aligned with skills, talents, passions and strengths
this sounds like a lot of work which is very separate from the work of the classrooms
requires FAFSA to be completed senior year
(which again leaves out anyone endangered by turning family information over to the federal government)

Moriarty asks about remedial coursework at college
many colleges dropped remedial math courses

Stewart: English learner FAFSA completion and enrollment being down so far
response: a lot more students who are coming in who are working, have limited proficiency, have interrupted education; getting through to high school graduation itself is a victory
Rocha: wondering about FAFSA and students who are in mixed status families (FINALLY!!)
response: mixed status is tough; "things are strange"
many families chilled from applying
FAFSA is easier now to fill out

My CAP: "highly recommend that parents involved in annual conversations" on their planning
"student, family, and teacher meetings" a recommendation
this feels very removed from the experience of many families

Grace: automatic admission at community college matters
social media push for filling out FAFSA; trust gap
waiting to hear if anyone going to ask about the IRS sharing information with ICE
response: social media use
Craven asks about local community organizations connection

And adjourned