Collaborating to Enhance Student Success Nationwide

Sharing best practices, creating connections, and collaboratively tackling challenges to improve student success was the purpose of the recent Promise Neighborhoods and Full-Service Community Schools National Network Conference. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Westat hosted the event, which welcomed over 500 professionals from across the nation with the theme Marching Forward for Student Success.

With 22 Promise Neighborhoods and 93 Full-Service Community Schools grantees in attendance, participants gathered to share insights and learn collaboratively. Sean Freeman, the manager of the Hope Zone Promise Neighborhood, expressed the enthusiasm of attendees, stating, “Just being able to problem-solve with [other Promise Neighborhoods] is great, especially in the in-person conference, where we have breakout sessions where we’re able to talk to other grantees and problem-solve in real time.”

Sharing Trends and Best Practices

Grantees led most of the 27 breakout sessions, which showcased topics, trends, and best practices relevant to their field. Sessions addressed cradle-to-career support systems, growing initiatives, data analysis and evaluation, and family engagement. Westat experts collaborated with partners at Urban Institute, along with grantees and speakers. Grantees and external experts shared their knowledge, and speakers incorporated engagement strategies and access to resource materials. The conference also included a Neighborhood Walk and a Regional Rally.

Improving Student Attendance

During the Neighborhood Walk, grantees shared data and stories about how they address attendance and chronic absenteeism—a critical challenge in communities nationwide. See Figure 1. With over 70 interactive displays, the Walk supported networking and exchanging effective strategies. “The Neighborhood Walk was buzzing,” shared Kristen Pugh, conference manager and Westat Research Associate. “This vibrant exchange of ideas and experiences emphasized the collective commitment to improving student attendance.”

Figure 1 Image Description.

Enhancing Regional Collaboration

The Regional Rally brought grantees together in 4 regional groups—Midwest, Northeast, Southern, and Western—to discuss shared challenges and successful strategies, initiatives, partnerships, and policies within their region. Participants gathered in state-specific groups to identify actions they could take at the state level to enhance collaboration and explore potential partnerships that could help achieve their goals as part of a statewide asset mapping activity.

The conference was not only an opportunity for dialogue but also a celebration of collective progress and commitment to enhancing student success nationwide. Facilitating learning experiences like these is just one technical assistance tool that Westat uses to meet clients’ needs and ultimately improve educational outcomes for all.

Learn More About Westat’s Work and Impact

Promise Neighborhoods GPRA Data and Results

Making the Case for Promise Neighborhoods (PDF)

Knox Promise Neighborhood: Attend Today – Achieve Tomorrow

Deer Creek Promise Community’s Early Learning Programs: Setting the State for Lifelong Success COVID-19 Response and Recovery in Promise Neighborhoods 2020-2022 (PDF)