For low-income people, community colleges offer an important pathway out of poverty and into better jobs. But a host of factors, including inadequate financial aid or student services and poor developmental classes, can keep them from enrolling in and completing postsecondary education.  more

Improving U.S. Global Competitiveness and Combating Poverty by Growing the Proportion of Adults with College Degrees A college degree is increasingly imperative in the knowledge-based global economy. In recent years, college completion rates in the U.S. have fallen behind those of several other nations. A growing body of evidence suggests that innovations in financial aid, curriculum and instruction, and student services can increase students’ persistence and success in college. Does Education Increase Economic Mobility? MDRC Announces Doctoral Fellowship Program for Summer 2010 MDRC to Evaluate National Developmental Education Initiative MDRC Releases 2009-2010 Corporate Report

Guiding Developmental Math Students to Campus Services An Impact Evaluation of the Beacon Program at South Texas College Created as part of the national Achieving the Dream initiative, a “light touch” intervention targeting students enrolled in lower-level math courses increased the number of students using campus tutoring and academic services. While the program has not improved math class pass rates or persistence in college overall, it has had positive effects for part-time and developmental students. Paying for College Success An Introduction to the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration Building Student Success From the Ground Up A Case Study of an Achieving the Dream College More Guidance, Better Results? Three-Year Effects of an Enhanced Student Services Program at Two Community Colleges