The A2B4Equity pilot program was launched by Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) and the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, in partnership with the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) at the University of Illinois and funded by ECMC Foundation. World Education, Inc. is providing technical assistance to the participating colleges and states.
This two-year pilot program will test using college promise program funding to pay for the first six credit hours of Ability to Benefit (ATB) students’ college and credential journey. Once these students successfully pass the first six credit hours, they will be eligible for federal student financial aid such as Pell Grants. The pilot will focus specifically on Black, Hispanic, and other underserved students who have traditionally been left behind in both secondary and postsecondary education.
Four community colleges will participate in the pilot — two in the City Colleges of Chicago system and two in the state of Michigan.
A goal of the project is to learn from the pilot and codify the use of college promise funding to support ATB students earning eligibility for federal student aid to continue their studies. The pilot program began in spring 2022 and will last through April 2024.
World Education strives to build lasting relationships with partners across diverse geographic regions and technical sectors to produce better education outcomes for all.
