Network for College Success
Mission
Network for College Success works to cultivate postsecondary readiness and success for all students by translating research into practice and supporting high school leaders to organize their schools for improvement and innovation.
Vision
The Network for College Success (NCS) envisions the transformation of public high schools to communities of powerful learning for students and educators. We imagine schools in which all students excel academically and develop the agency, integrated identity, and competencies necessary to have successful lives as adults.
At the Network for College Success, we champion the transformative power of education by engaging with key stakeholders dedicated to fostering excellence and equity in schools. Our reach extends to:
- CPS District Leaders and Regional Champions
- Principals and School Visionaries
- Dedicated Educators, Counselors, and Support Staff
Although our services directly engage with these crucial figures, our impact resonates beyond their immediate circles, positively affecting over 20,000 students in CPS each year.
These are guiding principles we use with districts, schools and educators, as well as how we work together as an Network for College Success (NCS) team.
Challenging leaders to create the conditions to interrupt inequities in schools and districts is vital to transforming schools.
Students become independent learners when teachers challenge and develop their intellectual capacity, explicitly grow their academic mindsets and non-cognitive skills, and engage them in building knowledge and competencies.
School-based leaders drive transformation in schools. Leveraging and building their capacity as leaders is an essential lever for school improvement.
Educators have the capacity to solve their own problems when they have actionable data, research-based strategies, collaborative teams, and professional trust.
School improvement happens when adults make their practice public and critically examine their work collaboratively. Trust is essential to adults’ willingness to engage in this process.
Data is a compelling tool when it empowers practitioners to surface inequities, trace causes, seek solutions, and guide change. Data can be destructive when it is only used to judge and punish.
The application of research and data is essential to postsecondary work. In this Component, you will find tools to further your understanding of the key research and data so you can implement effective postsecondary plans and practices. Access the Data Toolkit.
NCS In Action
The Network for College Success partners with educators, school leaders, and districts to build transformational high school experiences that prepare all students for academic, career, and community-based success after graduation. NCS works with schools in Chicago, the Midwest region, and nationwide to cultivate effective leadership, high-quality instruction, and an environment where everyone is working together to help students grow holistically.
NCS offers practical support and takes into account each school’s specific context so that teams can build on what is working. NCS provides: Cross-school professional learning and networking, Job-embedded coaching, Data strategy and analysis, as well as Professional development workshops and institutes.
By being part of the NCS network, educators belong to a larger community of more than 400 professionals each year who share their experiences and work together to improve their practice. Through our partnerships with schools and districts, we seek to transform educational systems that were designed to exclude and marginalize Black and Latinx students and co-create anti-racist institutions of equitable learning.
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NCS designs and provides high-quality services that focus on adult professional development within high schools. We support leaders, beyond preparation, to implement effective practices and whole school change in their unique school contexts.