Steppingstone Foundation, Inc.

OUR PROVEN PROGRAM MODEL Steppingstone prepares students from historically marginalized communities in Boston for educational achievement, while also addressing the systemic barriers that many will encounter in pursuing access to college. Our programmatic approach to improving college outcomes for these students is distinct in the way that it combines the following four elements into an effective completion strategy. These elements are based on our 30 years of experience, research in the field, and learning from our National Partnership for Educational Access which gathers and analyzes best practices among programs across the nation. 1. We intervene early, before the important middle school years. Preparation for college must begin early, as students who do not build a strong academic foundation in middle school will struggle with a college preparatory curriculum in high school. It is also an ideal time to become part of a college-bound peer group and begin to think about college as a realistic possibility. 2. Our experienced teachers provide rigorous academic programming during the summer and school year to help students prepare for middle or high school entrance exams and a college preparatory curriculum in high school. Steppingstone Scholars begin to prepare academically, socially, and emotionally for the path to college in Grade 5 or 6. They bridge academic gaps and build organizational and study skills that will benefit them in middle school and beyond. 3. We help Scholars place into or select the best possible middle and high schools for them, based on a combination of educational quality and personal fit. Attending a competitive high school with a strong college preparatory curriculum significantly increases a student’s likelihood of earning a college degree. We help students prepare for entrance exams and provide guidance around the application and selection process for Boston public exam and independent schools. For those Scholars who do not place into a public exam school or independent school (or who do not wish to apply), Steppingstone advisors help Scholars and their families navigate the complex high school selection process and choose the best public (including pilot and in-district charter), charter, or parochial/Catholic school option for them. 4. Our professional advisors provide supportive services to students all the way through college to encourage persistence and help them overcome obstacles that may interfere with success. We work to ensure that high school Scholars meet the progress indicators that will keep them on track. OUR NATIONAL REACH Steppingstone creates platforms for learning and idea exchange through our National Partnership for Educational Access to strengthen the field of college access and success. With more than 360 member organizations in 37 states serving more than half a million students across the country, NPEA drives progress, innovation, collaboration, and excellence in the field.

With more than 30 years of experience, an evidence-based approach, and proven results, Steppingstone is recognized as a national leader in the field of college access and success. Our core program model, The Steppingstone Academy, continues to produce strong results. Over the past 30 years, 99% of Steppingstone Scholars have graduated from high school, 93% have enrolled in a four-year college, and 80% have obtained a four-year college degree within six years.* These results well exceed both local and national high school and college graduation statistics. To date, more than 900 Steppingstone Scholars have earned a college degree. Since our first class of 14 Scholars in 1990, Steppingstone has taken The Steppingstone Academy model of preparing students for success at independent schools and . . . 1. Developed programming to prepare students for Boston’s three public exam schools. As admissions have become increasingly competitive, Steppingstone has been recognized as one of the most effective ways for Boston students from low-income neighborhoods to gain admission to these selective schools. 2. Added program entry points and admissions options to increases students’ opportunities to gain admission to a right-fit college-preparatory school at multiple grade levels. 3. Expanded services to include college readiness and college admissions support for high school students and extended support to college-age Scholars to ensure persistence and, ultimately, college graduation. 4. Modified our program model to create a college-going pipeline within Boston public schools through the creation of the College Success Academy. 5. Replicated our program model in Hartford and Philadelphia, both of which serve hundreds of Scholars and have further innovated to meet the needs of their communities. 6. Established the National Partnership for Educational Access, a membership association that connects the people, practices, and innovations essential for eliminating barriers to educational access and college and career success for underserved students. *Among Scholars who completed our academic preparation program and for whom information is available.

The Steppingstone Foundation is a data-driven organization that tracks the progress and educational outcomes of Steppingstone Scholars from program acceptance in fourth or fifth grade through college completion. Our goal is to increase the number of students from historically marginalized communities in Boston who graduate from a four-year college. We work to successfully meet or exceed the following objectives among the more than 1,500 Scholars enrolled each year: 1. Academic preparation and placement period a. 85% complete The Steppingstone Academy’s 14-month program in grade 5 or 6 b. 75% complete the College Success Academy’s 26-month program in grades 5 to 8 2. Middle and high school placement: 100% of Scholars attend the best middle or high school for them based on academic quality and personal fit. 3. 90% of Scholars in The Steppingstone Academy place into an independent or public exam school. 4. 99% of Scholars graduate from high school. 5. 90% of high school graduates enroll in a four-year college. 6. 80% will earn a four-year college degree within six years. Data for these measures are collected from student report cards, results on state testing, and from information reported by Scholars to their Steppingstone advisors. Steppingstone keeps detailed records on Scholar program attendance and school placements, collected annually. Our evaluation database captures each Scholar’s journey through the middle-grade, high school, and college years, tracking matriculation to various schools and years of graduation. College enrollment and completion information is verified with the National Student Clearinghouse’s database. As an additional source of program measurement, Steppingstone administers pre- and post-summer testing to Scholars enrolled in summer session programs to assess the ability of Steppingstone’s instructional classes to promote learning gains and prevent summer learning loss.

Over the past 30 years, 99% of Steppingstone Scholars have graduated from high school, 93% have enrolled in a four-year college, and 80% have obtained a four-year college degree within six years.* These results well exceed both local and national high school and college graduation statistics. To date, more than 900 Steppingstone Scholars have earned a college degree. Since Steppingstone opened our doors nearly 30 years ago, we have been driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of as many students as possible, in the City of Boston and beyond. In order to continuously respond to opportunities and the changing educational landscape, Steppingstone’s culture has prioritized innovation, evaluation, and impact. As a result, what started as a small program preparing 14 sixth graders for admission to independent schools now admits 10 times that number. With programming that spans fifth grade through college graduation, Steppingstone annually serves 1,500 Scholars who attend a wide range of schools in the Boston area, including independent, public, and Catholic/parochial schools. Over the years, Steppingstone has expanded its reach across and within Boston public schools, replicated its core program model in Hartford and Philadelphia, and created a national association to connect hundreds of programs that were working in isolation to improve college access and success for historically marginalized students across the country. Steppingstone undertook a strategic planning process (completed in June 2019) with the purpose of providing a roadmap to guide the organization over the next three years. Four overarching goals emerged: 1. Provide intentional and meaningful services to Scholars across multiple identified pathways to college, building on the strengths of The Steppingstone Academy and College Success Academy. 2. Leverage our successes and concentrate our efforts, with emphasis on strengthening our services to Scholars attending Boston public schools in order to achieve greater impact. 3. Foster a culture of consistent evaluation and reflection to evolve and improve our programming. 4. Position ourselves for future growth by investing in what we know works. To achieve these goals, Steppingstone identified two strategic priorities: 1. Develop one Steppingstone direct-service program that incorporates the strengths of both The Steppingstone Academy and the College Success Academy, recognizing that there are multiple pathways to college and strengthening the services provided to Scholars who attend BPS middle and high schools. 2. Increase alignment between Steppingstone and the National Partnership for Educational Access in order to increase the profiles of both entities, with a focus on deepening our impact in Boston and New England. Achieving these goals will increase our ability to ensure success not only for Steppingstone Scholars in Boston, but for students served by NPEA college access organizations across the United States.