In 2005 the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) was providing services to more than 30,000 individuals annually through nearly 30 different programs. Its extensive program portfolio served clients of all ages and of many ethnic and racial groups in five Texas cities. All signs were pointing to growth: AAMA's services were in increasing demand given the soaring Latino population; AAMA's leadership was eager for the organization to magnify its impact; multiple funding partners were interested in investing in AAMA's expansion.

While the growth imperative was unambiguous, the specific path was not. Should AAMA's leadership expand all of the organization's programs, or concentrate on a few? To chart a course, they got crystal clear about the people they most wanted to serve (first and foremost at-risk Mexican American youth in Texas) and the benefits they wanted to help create for these individuals (e.g., increased college graduation rates, improved job preparedness, decreased substance abuse). Reviewing AAMA's programs, they saw that some were better aligned with these priorities than others. Acting on this information, they concluded that AAMA could do the most good by focusing its energies on enhancing and growing the tightly-aligned programs.

College graduation rates for minority students are often shockingly low. And most institutions have significantly lower graduation rates for black students than for white students. But, as Research and Policy Manager Kevin Carey documents in a new Education Sector report, these high-failure rates are not inevitable: Some institutions are graduating black students at a higher rate than white students.

College graduation rates for minority students are often shockingly low. And most institutions have significantly lower graduation rates for black students than for white students. But, as Research and Policy Manager Kevin Carey documents in a new Education Sector report, these high-failure rates are not inevitable: Some institutions are graduating black students at a higher rate than white students.

College graduation rates for minority students are often shockingly low. And most institutions have significantly lower graduation rates for black students than for white students. But, as Research and Policy Manager Kevin Carey documents in a new Education Sector report, these high-failure rates are not inevitable: Some institutions are graduating black students at a higher rate than white students.

For low-income students, education can be easily derailed by a temporary financial emergency, like the loss of a job or a car repair. This final report offers lessons from two programs created by Lumina Foundation for Education that provide emergency grants or loans to help students at risk of dropping out. Eleven community colleges participated in Dreamkeepers, and 26 tribal colleges or universities participated in Angel Fund.

For low-income students, education can be easily derailed by a temporary financial emergency, like the loss of a job or a car repair. This final report offers lessons from two programs created by Lumina Foundation for Education that provide emergency grants or loans to help students at risk of dropping out. Eleven community colleges participated in Dreamkeepers, and 26 tribal colleges or universities participated in Angel Fund.

Achieving the Dream is a multiyear, national initiative, launched by Lumina Foundation for Education, to help community college students stay in school and succeed. The 82 participating colleges commit to collecting and analyzing data to improve student outcomes, particularly for low-income students and students of color. This baseline report describes the early progress that the first 27 colleges have made after just one year of implementation.

Achieving the Dream is a multiyear, national initiative, launched by Lumina Foundation for Education, to help community college students stay in school and succeed. The 82 participating colleges commit to collecting and analyzing data to improve student outcomes, particularly for low-income students and students of color. This baseline report describes the early progress that the first 27 colleges have made after just one year of implementation.