Florida College Access Network Ensures Students are College Ready, Florida

Ensuring students are prepared for success in postsecondary education takes intentionality and planning. Helios Education Foundation’s partner, the Florida College Access Network, is assisting school districts across the state focus on college readiness metrics through their College Ready Florida (CRF) initiative. And, having strong success.

In September 2021, FCAN launched the first-ever CRF All-Stars Incentive program. The local schools were encouraged to engage with the initiatives and reach one of three levels: silver, gold, platinum. Silver-level schools have to:

• register for the CRF initiatives by the deadline,
• meet the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Challenge of at least 5% increase of FAFSA completions from the prior year, and
• complete an FCAN College Decision Day/Plan It Florida survey.

Schools reaching these goals will receive a Florida College Systems pennant kit that further promotes college in their school. Gold-level schools have to complete all the silver requirements and submit the Apply Yourself Florida survey. These winners will receive a Florida HBCU pennant kit, a Florida State University Systems pennant kit, and a complimentary Talent Strong Florida Summit registration. The highest honor of Platinum-level schools requires that all the previous requirements are met along with the completion of the three surveys and exceeding the FAFSA Challenge 5% goal. Recipients of this honor will receive the previously mentioned pennant kits and complimentary registration for the Summit, along with an Ivy League pennant kit and a Big Ten pennant kit.  

“FAFSA completion is one of the strongest predictors of postsecondary enrollment. Ensuring students, particularly low-income and Black students in Florida, are academically and financially prepared will not only increase enrollment, but also degree completion” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.