Publications

By Jessica Giles, November 2023

Developed by DFER D.C.’s affiliate organization, ERN D.C., a non-partisan, non-profit thinktank.

D.C.’s Quiet Crisis in College Access & Completion

About
The report aims to influence policymakers in developing policies to improve postsecondary enrollment and completion outcomes for students of color in D.C.

Key recommendations in the report include:

  1. Focus on academic excellence, starting with improving student attendance.
  2. Implement flexible graduation requirements.
  3. Adopt financial literacy standards.
  4. Expand state-level financial aid offerings.
  5. Scale dual enrollment and early college opportunities and make them more accessible.
  6. Strengthen the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
  7. Collect and publicly share data on D.C. student outcomes.
  8. Help D.C. residents re-enroll into college and persist.