Gateway to College: Lessons from Implementing a Rigorous Academic Program for At-Risk Young People

“This report describes the implementation of Gateway to College. It has two main goals. The first is to provide an in-depth account of the Gateway to College model and to more precisely define the youth population the program serves. A clearer picture of the service population can provide insight into Gateway to College’s unique value and identify the students who might benefit most from it. The second goal is to describe the implementation of the Gateway to College model at three sites, assess the extent to which it is implemented as designed at those sites, and draw lessons for other Gateway to College sites” (p.iii).

“The implementation study draws on data from a baseline information form, a follow-up student survey administered approximately 12 months after students entered the study, program administrative data drawn from Gateway to College National Network’s management information system, and qualitative data collected during in-person field visits. The qualitative data include interviews with Gateway to College program staff members (instructors, Resource Specialists, directors, and staff members charged with conducting student outreach); focus groups with Gateway to College students; follow-up phone interviews with a subset of control group students; interviews with postsecondary and K-12 school district partners; program documents such as organizational charts, lists of alternative educational options nearby, and course syllabi; and observations of instruction” (p.ES-2-ES-3).

 (Abstractor: Author)

“Given the small number of program sites that ultimately ended up participating in this study, the findings outlined in this report are not broadly generalizable. However, those findings do point to important lessons related to the program model and its implementation, which can serve as launching points for further exploration and discussion. The population served by Gateway to College at these three program sites is both challenged and promising” (p.ES-4). “At a broad level, the three Gateway to College program sites that participated in this study implemented the core model as designed. The strong relationships between program staff members and students are among the model’s areas of strength. The program as implemented in these three locations also succeeds at maintaining a shared culture of support for students and pedagogy that focuses on helping students find solutions to their problems” (p.ES-5). “The biggest challenges that Gateway to College faced at these three program sites were retaining students during the initial (Foundation) term and ensuring their transition to the mainstream community college. Given the challenges and wide range in retention and transition rates across the three program sites, Gateway to College may want to consider additions to strengthen the model. These additions may need to be supported with more explicit guidance about implementation and technical assistance from the National Network” (p.ES-6). “From students’ perspectives, Gateway to College fills an important niche: It provides a mature and respectful learning environment for at-risk young people who are ready, willing, and able to commit to a rigorous academic program and who are interested in pursuing a postsecondary education” (p.ES-7). (Abstractor: Author)

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2015
• Author(s): Willard, Jacklyn Altuna; Bayes, Brian; and Martinez, John.
• Organizational Author(s): MDRC
• Funding Source: Funding source not identified
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Long Dang
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies