ONWARD WE LEARN

ONWARD WE LEARN ADVISORY:EACH YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION RECRUITS A NEW CLASS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES (6-8) AND PROVIDES THEM WITH ONGOING SERVICES THROUGH THEIR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE. SERVICES INCLUDE COACHING AND MENTORING SERVICES, WHICH ARE DELIVERED BY 30 ADVISORS WHO OPERATE IN 40 MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND AT THE STATE'S THREE PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE DOZENS OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS THAT FOCUS ON ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CAREER EDUCATION, AND POSTSECONDARY PREPARATION. ONWARD WE LEARN ADVISORS WORK CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS TO HELP IDENTIFY AND CONSIDER THE POSTSECONDARY PATHWAY THAT IS THE BEST FIT FOR THEM AND WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER RESOURCES TO MAKE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AFFORDABLE.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:IN FY 2025, WE PROVIDED $814,417 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO 604 STUDENTS TO SUPPORT POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS. THESE RESOURCES WERE CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND COLLEGE COMPLETION EFFORTS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS STUDYING ONWARD WE LEARN DISCOVERED THAT ONWARD WE LEARN GEAR UP PARTICIPANTS IN RHODE ISLAND WERE 48% MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR CLOSELY MATCHED PEERS TO EARN A COLLEGE CREDENTIAL WITHIN SIX YEARS OF EXPECTED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. ACROSS EVERY MAJOR MILESTONE ON-TIME GRADE PROGRESSION, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, AND COLLEGE COMPLETION ONWARD WE LEARN GEAR UP PARTICIPANTS SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPERFORMED COMPARISON STUDENTS. ONWARD PROGRAM OUTCOME REVEALED PARTICULARLY STRONG IMPACTS FOR LOW-INCOME, BLACK, AND HISPANIC STUDENTS, AND FOR STUDENTS WITH LOWER ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY OR BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS. ONWARD WE LEARN'S LARGEST CUMULATIVE GAINS OCCURRED BECAUSE FEWER STUDENTS "FELL OFF" AT KEY TRANSITION POINTS FROM 6TH GRADE THROUGH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.